National Forum

Westmeath Hurling thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


It is ludicrous to be playing a summer sport at the the of year pitches are either like swamps or rocks

alalalalalum (USA) - Posts: 210 - 06/01/2026 08:49:36    2649997

Link

A brief clarification may have been necessary but I'd fully agree that the long-winded pretentious nature of the statement was unnecessary.

If the Leinster GAA post was accurate in stating that the pitch at Lomans was 'deemed' unplayable following a pitch inspection then it could only have been deemed so by the referee.

It would be very interesting to know the status of the pitch on the Register of Synthetic Turf Fields compiled by the GAA, which would have been useful information in our clarification statement, as it would seem to be a 3G pitch in name only.

Regardless, being an approved/ 'authorised venue' or not, it was still subject to a pitch inspection. According to Leinster GAA it failed the inspection. We should have accepted it and moved on.

Maroooned (Westmeath) - Posts: 2 - 06/01/2026 11:41:21    2650018

Link

Replying To Maroooned:  "A brief clarification may have been necessary but I'd fully agree that the long-winded pretentious nature of the statement was unnecessary.

If the Leinster GAA post was accurate in stating that the pitch at Lomans was 'deemed' unplayable following a pitch inspection then it could only have been deemed so by the referee.

It would be very interesting to know the status of the pitch on the Register of Synthetic Turf Fields compiled by the GAA, which would have been useful information in our clarification statement, as it would seem to be a 3G pitch in name only.

Regardless, being an approved/ 'authorised venue' or not, it was still subject to a pitch inspection. According to Leinster GAA it failed the inspection. We should have accepted it and moved on."
Where do you get your info from? There was a match played on the pitch at 11.30. There was no frost on the Astro after that. Referee did not call off game or deem it unplayable. Kilkenny refused to play on the Astro, that's it.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2519 - 06/01/2026 12:37:10    2650031

Link

Replying To Claretandblue:  "Where do you get your info from? There was a match played on the pitch at 11.30. There was no frost on the Astro after that. Referee did not call off game or deem it unplayable. Kilkenny refused to play on the Astro, that's it."
Get over it lads Kilkenny put player safety first and rightly so in my opinion thats what the medical staff are for.

Tiger1 (Wexford) - Posts: 426 - 06/01/2026 13:13:06    2650035

Link

Replying To Claretandblue:  "Where do you get your info from? There was a match played on the pitch at 11.30. There was no frost on the Astro after that. Referee did not call off game or deem it unplayable. Kilkenny refused to play on the Astro, that's it."
But that is not it according to the Leinster GAA post on X, that also stated -

'Further details re-outcome of the fixture will follow later.'

According to the Rules if Kilkenny refused to play then there would be an immediate forfeiture (with penalties), and not the widely reported coin toss that took place, with them going unsanctioned into the shield.

So the most trustworthy source I have at the minute is the info from Leinster GAA.

Maroooned (Westmeath) - Posts: 2 - 06/01/2026 13:46:40    2650042

Link

Replying To coffey:  "That 3g pitch is not fit for purpose"
Interesting, and I don't think that's true at all. There are hundreds of games there every year including school and college games with very few negative reports or if there are issues I've never heard anything serious. Let's be fair Kilkenny put zero value on the game and couldn't care less if it went ahead.

OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 201 - 07/01/2026 08:14:47    2650122

Link

Replying To OverTheHill85:  "Interesting, and I don't think that's true at all. There are hundreds of games there every year including school and college games with very few negative reports or if there are issues I've never heard anything serious. Let's be fair Kilkenny put zero value on the game and couldn't care less if it went ahead."
The 3G pitch in Loman's is completely unfit for a senior inter-county game where the intensity would be at the highest level. The pitch was installed almost 20 years ago and has never been refurbished or re-done. It is used mainly for school and college matches ONLY. Loman's senior team doesn't even train on it as players refuse to play on the surface.

From Kilkenny's point of view they likely didn't place much importance on the game, which explains the decision. It made more sense not to play it than to risk a serious injury to one of their players, such as an ACL or Achilles tear.

In my opinion Kilkenny come out of this looking good. It shows they care about player welfare.

Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 600 - 07/01/2026 10:07:38    2650135

Link

Best of luck to St Mary's tomorrow vs Offaly schools. The game is fixed for 1pm in Castlepollard.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1075 - 07/01/2026 11:03:56    2650144

Link

Replying To jobber:  "Totally agree it will be very difficult against a combined team but they can do it.
It's a pity the PRO of the school is more interested in promoting some rugby match than a major hurling match."
The Mary's team might play better as a team than a combined schools team. Counts for a lot.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17922 - 07/01/2026 13:47:59    2650165

Link