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Westmeath Hurling thread

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Replying To jobber:  "Absolutely there seems to be a kind of a Wild optimism about Plunketts. Firstly great news minor win this year after 20's winning in 2024.But they will need several more top underage teams before they can dream of being a top level competitor.
Why well firstly they will lose more players to other activities than a rural club and secondly because even in the best organized clubs the best one can hope for is that 4 or 5 will come through as proper senior players..
Don't get me wrong Plunketts great work so far is good news for Westmeath hurling as is the progress in Na Piarsaigh and Clan Na Gael but as Clonkill, Castletown and Raharney have shown it's year in year out."
Will they lose players, though? Given the strength of Shamrocks, Downs, and Lomans' senior football teams, it's hard to see many of them breaking into those squads for another two or three years. In contrast, they'd probably have a fair chance of getting senior 'B' game time with OPHC next year. I'm not saying they won't play senior 'A' football next season, but realistically it'll be a much bigger ask for the dual players - which is the majority. My point is that they might be better off focusing on the small ball at 18 or 19, where they'll get more game time and valuable experience playing junior football with their clubs.

Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 101 - 04/11/2025 23:33:20    2643081

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What's the mood in Castletown lads, after taking down Thomastown last year they certainly won't fear Ballacolla. Playing in Portlaoise tho will definitely aid the opposition.

Bigjoe1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 81 - 08/11/2025 08:57:07    2643467

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Replying To Bigjoe1:  "What's the mood in Castletown lads, after taking down Thomastown last year they certainly won't fear Ballacolla. Playing in Portlaoise tho will definitely aid the opposition."
I think the big pitch in O'Moore park might suit Castletown better than Cusack, time will tell though.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1063 - 08/11/2025 10:19:00    2643475

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Replying To Dheen:  "I think the big pitch in O'Moore park might suit Castletown better than Cusack, time will tell though."
Agree however it's all about how they prepared clough had more time and have been watching ctg closely they probably will be slightly favourites with home advantage but could go either way

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1092 - 08/11/2025 13:23:02    2643500

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Replying To Dheen:  "I think the big pitch in O'Moore park might suit Castletown better than Cusack, time will tell though."
That's what Pat O'Brien reckons anyway

stonemadbeany (USA) - Posts: 631 - 08/11/2025 15:12:51    2643510

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Replying To stonemadbeany:  "That's what Pat O'Brien reckons anyway"
Pat would be fairly knowledgeable and fair ij fairness but haven't seen clough much it could equally suit them too so it could balance itself out didn't they make leinster final before maybe I am wrong.

Who do people think win or their chances?
Downs in football probably have a kinder draw

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1092 - 08/11/2025 15:23:21    2643511

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Replying To Gaaforlife2023:  "Pat would be fairly knowledgeable and fair ij fairness but haven't seen clough much it could equally suit them too so it could balance itself out didn't they make leinster final before maybe I am wrong.

Who do people think win or their chances?
Downs in football probably have a kinder draw"
Realistically the draw could not be worse.Away to Clough Ballacolla and then away to the winners of Ballyhale and KK. It's very hard to call the Laois champions of 5 of the last 6 years against the WH champions of 3 of the last 4 in Portlaoise. Be there shout for CTG and hope for the best.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1819 - 08/11/2025 22:13:29    2643581

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Castletown unlucky, home advantage and the extra man decisive in the end. Mick Heeney outstanding in second half, three brilliant points, CBC defence was solid, no goal opportunities, great effort by the Castletown lads especially in second half, fought till very end, presume Ballyhale won other quarter final.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2469 - 09/11/2025 15:08:18    2643642

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Sending off was the crucial point in the end..robbed again

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 814 - 09/11/2025 15:22:16    2643643

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Replying To preddan:  "Sending off was the crucial point in the end..robbed again"
Harsh I thought but didn't want be biased did many others think same. Ctg also missed a few and goals were crucial.
I thought niall obrien not taking few frees were strange unless injured.

Aonghus was outstanding

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1092 - 09/11/2025 16:01:02    2643653

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Castletown unlucky, home advantage and the extra man decisive in the end. Mick Heeney outstanding in second half, three brilliant points, CBC defence was solid, no goal opportunities, great effort by the Castletown lads especially in second half, fought till very end, presume Ballyhale won other quarter final."
Goals crucial had chances and red card was bit harsh but cbc bit more clinical
Great effort is right

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1092 - 09/11/2025 16:01:52    2643654

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Replying To preddan:  "Sending off was the crucial point in the end..robbed again"
How were they robbed? Sending off was unquestionably a high yellow card, potentially a red card depending on ref's interpretation, no argument when red card was shown, was not malicious but anything around head area is borderline red

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2469 - 09/11/2025 17:10:57    2643678

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Replying To Gaaforlife2023:  "Pat would be fairly knowledgeable and fair ij fairness but haven't seen clough much it could equally suit them too so it could balance itself out didn't they make leinster final before maybe I am wrong.

Who do people think win or their chances?
Downs in football probably have a kinder draw"
Knowledgeable and fair. That is the best one yet.

Westmeath2024 (Westmeath) - Posts: 12 - 10/11/2025 10:57:24    2643818

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Replying To Westmeath2024:  "Knowledgeable and fair. That is the best one yet."
He is

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1063 - 10/11/2025 11:37:57    2643829

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Replying To Westmeath2024:  "Knowledgeable and fair. That is the best one yet."
Anyone who doesn't think Pat O' Brien is knowledgeable and fair knows nothing about the man or the game

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2469 - 10/11/2025 13:35:54    2643850

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Replying To Westmeath2024:  "Knowledgeable and fair. That is the best one yet."
Listened back to commentary yesterday he is a ctg man but was very fair I think k this is very harsh in fairness most of pundits on westmeath tv are .

Can I ask why you think not?
I think this is very harsh

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1092 - 10/11/2025 14:08:17    2643866

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Replying To Gaaforlife2023:  "Listened back to commentary yesterday he is a ctg man but was very fair I think k this is very harsh in fairness most of pundits on westmeath tv are .

Can I ask why you think not?
I think this is very harsh"
Look lets be honest anything near the head is red card potential especially away and especially in Portlaoise a graveyard for Westmeath teams.CTG had well known ambitions of getting to a Leinster final and if you are going to do that you need to be a few points better than Clough which overall we have to admit they were not. Decent performance but but.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1819 - 10/11/2025 21:49:26    2643906

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Replying To jobber:  "Look lets be honest anything near the head is red card potential especially away and especially in Portlaoise a graveyard for Westmeath teams.CTG had well known ambitions of getting to a Leinster final and if you are going to do that you need to be a few points better than Clough which overall we have to admit they were not. Decent performance but but."
I think if they had the full 15 on the field towards the end they would have won by 3/4 pts. CTG actually took over once Peter Clarke was sent off. They didn't play near their best though and when your away from home in Leinster you need to be at your best.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1063 - 11/11/2025 11:05:02    2643960

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Anyone who doesn't think Pat O' Brien is knowledgeable and fair knows nothing about the man or the game"
Not sure why this mass overreaction is about. Pundits on Iarmhi TV Podcast being treated as some sort of messiahs.
I find it strange that the comment being attributed to him on here (I did not listen to that particular podcast) that the bigger pitch would suit Castletown. O'Moore Park is marginally bigger than Cusack. Not near some of the larger differences that are out there. Would have limited impact. What would have far more impact is Castletown being at an away venue, that would have far more weight in my opinion
Also why was a podcast taken down earlier this year on foot of comments that were made. If I remember correctly many including you took issue with people being "slandered" on it and it was right to be taken down… did you think those comments were fair?

Westmeath2024 (Westmeath) - Posts: 12 - 11/11/2025 12:32:23    2643981

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Replying To Gaaforlife2023:  "Pat would be fairly knowledgeable and fair ij fairness but haven't seen clough much it could equally suit them too so it could balance itself out didn't they make leinster final before maybe I am wrong.

Who do people think win or their chances?
Downs in football probably have a kinder draw"
don't think so tullamore are very strong cula lucky to beat them last year.

oneshot (Tyrone) - Posts: 25 - 11/11/2025 17:13:55    2644034

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