Shane Ryan and Ciaran Whelan coming out in sombre tones telling us all they fear for Westmeath. If I was a Westmeath fan or player I think I'd find it patronising. They're almost talking as if the Westmeath lads don't belong in a Leinster Final with The Greatest Gaelic Football Team Ever.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 10/07/2015 12:29:05    1750943

Just like these guys failed to belong to the elite who have All-Ireland medals!

Maybe all the see in others is what they feel about themselves

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 10/07/2015 12:36:13    1750947

Whelan and Ryan certainly are not disrespecting Westmeath..
Dublin defeated Longford by 27 points and Kildare by 19 was it?
Westmeath got torn to shreds by Meath in the first half and if Meath were any way on form should have been at least 15 points in the clear.
Meath collapsed in the second half.. they helped Westmeath beat themselves. (I won't take away that as a result Westmeath deserved to win and also defeated Louth and Wexford en route)

At the end of the day if Westmeath come within 18 points of Dublin that would be a result for them.

Royalio11 (Meath) - Posts: 757 - 10/07/2015 12:37:48    1750951

Have to say westmeath deserve respect and to be taken seriously. They are in the final on merit and the day will come when Dublin will have legitimate challenger(s) again in leinster. Whether that is this sunday or from westmeath I don't know. They have a lot of things in their favour. Young team, hunger, finish games brilliantly so are definitely on the upward curve. Not sure they are ready to beat Dublin yet but just let's see what comes to fruition on sunday. Not sure whether ryan and whelan's comments are direct quotes or contain a little bit of editing by journalism but really they should know what it is like to be dumped out of leinster by so called weaker counties, westmeath 2004 and laois 2013 so overall they would be better keeping their thoughts to themselves but I am sure that 99% of people concur with their opinions. Best of luck westmeath from a true blue but hopefully this is just another step for us on the direct route to regaining SAM.

Adamski (Dublin) - Posts: 339 - 10/07/2015 12:39:27    1750954

Or, maybe they are being brutally honest about it?

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 10/07/2015 12:41:15    1750956

It's not just ex-Dubs so don't really see it as dispespect. All form suggests a comfortable win for Dublin.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12120 - 10/07/2015 12:45:34    1750959

Roundball would you rather they gave the usual BS like ''dublin arent looking past Westmeath, they know there in for a tough challenge'' bla bla bla. The fact is the lads gave their honest opinion, that being they fear for WM. I agree with them.

Call it cocky, I call it honesty.

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 10/07/2015 12:51:13    1750964

They are realistic and also dead right, im not bitter because the Dubs would give Meath an unmerciful hiding aswell!
Look at it impartially, the 15 point handicap from the bookmakers is being generous to Westmeath.

It will be a bloodbath, if they played anyone else from Leinster it would be a bloodbath, they're the best team in Ireland at the minute have no doubt.

highking12 (Meath) - Posts: 184 - 10/07/2015 12:52:00    1750967

It's called being honest and giving their truthful opinion

No underhanded cute-hoor BS... false modesty...

Etc Etc

Its actually refreshing to see...

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 10/07/2015 12:52:10    1750968

They are only telling the truth, do you want them to patronise Westmeath by saying they have any possibility of victory.

Meath scored 2-18 and missed many chances, what do you think the blue juggernaut will accumulate? I say 6-27

KYTitletown (Kerry) - Posts: 816 - 10/07/2015 13:05:08    1750978

Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
Give over will you , some people are never happy.

SLLY (Dublin) - Posts: 463 - 10/07/2015 13:19:00    1750992

There's that word again "disrespectful", well I think Westmeath have a great chance!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8592 - 10/07/2015 13:23:20    1750996

Ah here, theres no point in having interviews with theses lads if they are going to be too afraid to call it honestly. It will probably be 20 points+. I would be concerned as a Dublin fan at not having any competitive games before August

Daith (Kildare) - Posts: 1171 - 10/07/2015 13:30:30    1751001

I agree with Kerry poster above....what dya want them too say...There saying how it's going to be in there opinion and there 100% spot on. Let's face it, westmeath are in for a hiding

southmeathgael (Meath) - Posts: 888 - 10/07/2015 13:31:48    1751003

Ah lads surely its patronising if they gave Westmeath a chance?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 10/07/2015 13:49:04    1751011

Let's be honest now lads, Dublin are 1/500 to win and the bookies rarely get it wrong... are Westmeath the biggest underdogs ever in a provincial final?

mayo_hurler (Mayo) - Posts: 113 - 10/07/2015 13:50:21    1751014

Sadly I agree with them....they are only saying what everybody else is thinking. Look it I hope we are all wrong. The whole country will be shouting for Westmeath like they will for Sligo against us next week. Everyone loves an underdog...but while I see SLigo giving us a game next week I just can't see Westmeath staying with Dublin. Dublin don't take a foot of the gas against the so called lighter weight teams.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11231 - 10/07/2015 13:52:26    1751016

I dont think they were patronising anyone. If they were then my bookie is doing the same and patronising Dublin by only giving me 1/100

DoireCityFC (Derry) - Posts: 1580 - 10/07/2015 13:57:06    1751022

unlike tomas o se comments on cork
whelan and ryan did back up their theorys with winning margins of 27 and 19 points
where as o se could only recall one game cork didnt perform in 2015
and yet semingly never looked at his own countys form this year as they had done nothing of note.
as for their opinion I dont agree
westmeath have played similiar in their last two games
and if they find themselves in the position they were against meath behind to dublin
then they can draw on the fact they didnt throw the towel in their last two games and scored heavily on the run in
so surely dublin will be aware of that and should make it a 70 minute game
all dublin will be focusing on is winning the game
let the others who arent involved say what they like

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 10/07/2015 14:26:31    1751036

Whatever about the ex players "disrespecting" Westmeath

The current team aren't.

And because of that

Dublin will trounce Westmeath.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 10/07/2015 14:31:47    1751043