King of the tramps - maybe they do maybe they don't but picking a big trial panel does have benefits much greater than getting a 15 on the field. Firstly he's giving them personalised training programmes, 106 players are going to be in a privileged position getting a programme designed by the chief of high performance in Ireland. While there are excellent fitness coaches out there I can only assume this will be a fitness programme a lot of the players will never have had before. Players who might have been struggling with fitness and want to get back to form can use this and get back to where they want to be, challenging for the 32 and the 15. For those not yet up to the standard they have benefiited from a winter on a programme they would never have done waiting for their clubs to kick back into gear especially (and no disrespect meant) the junior and intermediate club players. Consequently the new year begins with 106 player from all over the county across all clubs with a base they didn't have. When the football begins and league games kick off those players are a lot sharper, the football is quicker and all the club players in the county have to step up especially in division 1 and 2. Its a two fold process as far as I can see, get to see everyone who will possibly make it, see their attitude and ask the tough questions and secondly giving a huge amount of westmeath footballers a good winter to kick off and try and improve their physical condition. then football ability and conditioning as well as atttitude and motivation end up in the 32 and rest go back fitter and hopefully hungier to their clubs to improve the club football across all grades.

stonecold (Westmeath) - Posts: 23 - 13/10/2009 17:30:22    453267

Gentlemen after having a look through our knew 100 strong senior panel and to say the least I couldn't but laugh! In all fairness how killucan can have eight players named is beyond me. By far the worst team in the senior championship. Bun hav 6 or 7 and got relegated. Lomans have 2 players there that rarely featured at senior level this year and wasn't due to injuries as far as i know and the same with a couple of the shamrocks lads named. Darren moore isn't named either who was one of the stand out players by far for shamrocks this year. How some of the intermediate teams have 5 and 6 named is beyond me, if they had that many good players they would be playing senior grade.

Shamboss (Westmeath) - Posts: 7 - 13/10/2009 21:20:27    453564

I think they should publish that list to all the local papers, give people a bit of a laugh.

breast (Westmeath) - Posts: 133 - 13/10/2009 23:46:11    453784

Shamboss and Breast your comments are not at all helpfull to Westmeath GAA. I think you guys are just here for the sneer rather than to discuss Westmeath GAA matters. Hackett has requested a committee to come up with the list of players that they feel are worthy of a look. Its a great idea. You may not think some of the players on the list are good enough but this committee do and they are the people who know and who matter.

There are players who would raise questions but what harm is there in having a look at them. They obviously have some qualities that the committee reckon are worth another look and if they dont make it at least they were given the opportunity.

Meridian (Westmeath) - Posts: 678 - 14/10/2009 10:50:15    453944

that senior panel is an absolute sham there at least 4o players on it that i could name that wont have anything to do with the county senior team come the first round of the o byrne cup in january. its a waste of county board money feeding these players after training etc this money could be used to provide vital funding for underage hurling in this county thats been neglected for years

groundhurler (Westmeath) - Posts: 3 - 14/10/2009 12:03:07    454009

I think Westmeath are the only county who pick players for a county set up who cant even make their own club team

basilbrush (Westmeath) - Posts: 19 - 28/12/2009 20:02:34    521713