Like Kildare,Westmeath are a decent team,with a fine work ethic and,seemingly,massive fitness reserves.Theyve come on strong in second halves v Wexford & Meath.The way they went about dismantling Meaths lead was impressive.And in Heslin,Westmeath do indeed have one of the games most accurate forwards.All in all,Westmeath have done brilliantly to get to a Leinster final.And none of us have a crystal ball as to what will happen.
Where Westmeath may be in trouble if Heslin is kept quiet(and he will be targeted),Dublin have 6 quality forwards to cause a lot of damage.And another 2 or 3 off the bench.That will make all the difference i feel.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 04/07/2015 16:45:49    1747404

If Westmeath go man for man it'll be very difficult for them

Dublin will win this game regardless but can Westmeath even make it competitive?

I just don't see it...

But all the best in your preparation but Meath def would have offered more of a threat

Westmeath are in for a bit of a reality check

It'll be a credit to them if they keep it below 10 points

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20601 - 04/07/2015 19:37:37    1747478

The way i see it, WestMeath have eventually beaten Meath in championship and have a leinster final to look forward to. So id say this year they have exceeded what they expected. lose and they still will be in the championship. with one game to get into the quarterfinal. So a good performance is probably the most important thing for them .
On the pitch 15 lads will play against 15 lads . WestMeath are very fit and full of confidence. I expect Dublin to win because we have very strong players in key positions and really punish teams unless they can stay with us for long periods of the game, only teams playing a well organised blanket defence have either beaten us or kept scorelines down under Jim Gavin when we have had a strong team out. The size of the scoreline will be decided on how long WestMeath can keep the heads up if we get a lead or stay focused if they get a few early scores. They didnt drop the heads against Meath and eventually won the game ,so that will give them confidence.
Meath last year ran out of legs after 30 odd mins. Kildare this year missed a few points early on that could of kept them in the game a bit longer.
Will WestMeath offer something different, we will see ?

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 04/07/2015 21:04:21    1747528

Last sunday was a great day for Westmeath football, And like every single Dublin supporter in the ground in those last 20 minutes, We cheered as loudly as we possibly could for you.

Unfortunately, that was as good as its going to get for Westmeath i reckon.

We will win next week. Its as simple and as straight-forward as that.

The reason why is because this Dublin team is unbelievable.

The fact Westmeath coughed up 2-18 to that Meath team makes me firmly believe that Dublin can, and ulitimately will, Rack up whatever score they like.

They have been relentless in their two games thus far, And complacency in a leinster final wont be an issue as this team is awesome in finals.

People can mention cockyness or arrogance, Look call it what you like, Fact is the Dublin team wont be having a bang of it, And that will make next sunday a very long afternoon for Westmeath and their supporters

Westmeath will bring a desire, a passion, a hunger and they will undoubtably leave nothing in the dressing room when they take to the field, But Dublin will brush them aside and progress to another All IReland quarter final, against Cork or Kerry i reckon and they will really start to focus on the serious stuff then.

It will be as tough for Dublin as they want to make it for themselves. If they want to end it in the first quarter and keep some energy in reserve for the tests that lie ahead, They will do exactly that

But make no mistake about it, What Westmeath came up against in Croker last week, and what they will come up against this day week, Are black and white in comparison. Chalk and cheese. They will never have come up against a side as focused as this Dublin team. They will come up against players who will literally eat them whole.

Dubs win, comfortably pulling up.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 05/07/2015 18:39:21    1747889

I genuinely hope Westmeath make a fist of it for their own sake, it will be very deflating and will take the gloss of beating Meath if they get destroyed. Furthermore, they need to perform to the extent that they will be happy enough going into their qualifier(if of course Dublin win, stranger things have happened). This qualifier could put them through to an AI QF, I think the last time they got there they came up against us!

But it would be a significant achievement if they got there and would give them at least one more very big day out! Once they don't roll over I think they'll be looking forward to their next game with some anticipation!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8597 - 05/07/2015 21:52:40    1748037

Best of luck to the Westmeath lads Sunday! Everyones rooting for you. Give them plenty!! Onwards and Upwards!

Genuinely think we have the attack to trouble them!! Rattle that net good and early! They were found wanting in the first few minutes of kildare match!!

wmeathgael04 (Westmeath) - Posts: 13 - 07/07/2015 15:10:34    1749317

I just hope Westmeath don't try a "Longford" and go toe-to-toe. Get the blanket out. It might not be pretty to look at but its the best bet if you're to have any hope. A few big target men as well that can be rotated.

Ádh mór oraibh.

northarmaghgael (Armagh) - Posts: 40 - 07/07/2015 15:59:41    1749356

As my old man is a proud Westmeath man I'll be taking a keen interest in this match. I also had a look through this thread....

cuederocket
County: Dublin
Posts: 2407

1747367
Jack,we embrace the challenge.We are used to fighting spiel and brave talk beforehand.We are also used to lowering hapless counties self esteem,and sending the hordes of expectant country folk on the long journey home with wings clipped and tails between legs.Well ye have been warned....

Jeez my wings were fairly intact and my tail wagging walking up the Drumcondra Road last August!

Westmeath look to have the fitness to stay with Dublin. Get in their faces, be very attritional and don't concede early daft goals like Kildare. Player for player Dublin are better but if Westmeath can put it up to them and stay close for 55 minutes or an hour then you never know. We've yet to see Dublin rattled this year and we all know what happened last time.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 07/07/2015 16:02:23    1749359

a complete blanket defence will keep score down 13 men behind the ball although they wont score more than 6 points at this. i dont think they will score much more than 6 without doing it. if westmeath do a donegal in 2011 i predict dublin 2-11 wesmeath 0-07 if not then dublin 5-26 w.meath 0-10

dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 693 - 07/07/2015 17:45:05    1749443

Don't be surprised if the Dubs lose deliberately just to p*** us off!

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 07/07/2015 18:15:34    1749456

According the the Westmeath capt, their best weapon is their attack, and attack is what they're going to do, apparently!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8597 - 07/07/2015 18:49:14    1749475

Lockjaw,i said hapless counties!As in Leinster counties in recent years.I certainly didnt mean Mayo,Kerry or yereselves.A lot of Leinster teams are beaten before they leave the the dressing room.I hope Westmeath have a good sports psychologist because whoever he/she is,they will earn their corn on Sunday.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 07/07/2015 19:05:36    1749482

Westmeath actually think they can beat Dublin!! Well You have to admire them!! :)

fathermurphy (Wexford) - Posts: 315 - 07/07/2015 20:44:11    1749527

Westmeaths sport pychologist is actually a very interesting character, Gerry Duffy. He ran 32 marathons in 32 days for charity amongst other things so when it comes to facing difficult tasks he walks the walk as well as talks the talk.

Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1018 - 07/07/2015 21:21:18    1749546

Sure Michael Dara Macauley does a marathon before breakfast.Get up ou da Jack Sparrow(:

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 07/07/2015 21:27:59    1749551

Reading this thread and listening to the media, it seems like people would prefer if Westmeath fans and team alike came out and said 'Actually, we haven't a hope this weekend, not sure why we're bothering to show up at all.' Whats wrong with a bit of optimism? Westmeath are in the final on merit, having put up three big scores in their games to date.

Dublin have a superb team, and are rightly strong favourites for this. But in the spirit of this thread, I'm going to say that Westmeath can win if they have the right attitude, the right set-up, and of course, a large slice of luck.

Anyway, best of luck Westmeath

petejoeduff (Donegal) - Posts: 329 - 07/07/2015 21:31:21    1749553

Good man cuederocket, you keep telling yourself ye have a chance ;)

Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1018 - 07/07/2015 21:37:26    1749557

Exactly Petejoeduff. They go on about teams being pyschologically beaten before they leave the dressing room yet they expect Westmeath to arrive in Croke Park having admitted defeat. No way Jose.

Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1018 - 07/07/2015 21:41:31    1749563