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Westmeath Hurling thread

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Replying To Dheen:  "This years minor team and next years are supposed to be strong enough as well, and the age group underneath todays team is as strong as well. There's definitely been a steady improvement across the board and it's a testament to the work going on in some of the clubs."
To be fair most of the clubs are now producing intercounty hurlers at underage level.ok still not at the level of the big 3 but now Clan Na Gael and Na Piarsaigh are powerful players with Plunketts,Southern Gaels and Cullion improving.We need St Vincent's,Delvin,Fr Dalton's and Brigid's to up their game

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1457 - 24/02/2024 18:01:55    2527872

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Replying To jobber:  "To be fair most of the clubs are now producing intercounty hurlers at underage level.ok still not at the level of the big 3 but now Clan Na Gael and Na Piarsaigh are powerful players with Plunketts,Southern Gaels and Cullion improving.We need St Vincent's,Delvin,Fr Dalton's and Brigid's to up their game"
Midfielder Dean Kelly from the schools final today is from Brigids and he is a big powerful skilful hurler.
Great effort by our seniors down in Thurles, final score Tipperary 3-25-2-21 Westmeath.
The four u20 lads were excellent.
Another great effort to follow on from the Limerick game. We should have zero fear of Antrim and Dublin in Mullingar in the last two games, let's try finish with two wins.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 791 - 24/02/2024 18:14:16    2527875

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David Williams with 2-12 today, exceptional from the youngster.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 791 - 24/02/2024 18:18:42    2527876

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Replying To Dheen:  "David Williams with 2-12 today, exceptional from the youngster."
Especially against a strong team like Tipp. Fair play to him.

Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2123 - 24/02/2024 19:42:04    2527886

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Replying To Dheen:  "David Williams with 2-12 today, exceptional from the youngster."
His brother Conor was exceptional for Westmeath schools today also

westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 220 - 24/02/2024 19:45:36    2527887

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Replying To Dheen:  "Midfielder Dean Kelly from the schools final today is from Brigids and he is a big powerful skilful hurler.
Great effort by our seniors down in Thurles, final score Tipperary 3-25-2-21 Westmeath.
The four u20 lads were excellent.
Another great effort to follow on from the Limerick game. We should have zero fear of Antrim and Dublin in Mullingar in the last two games, let's try finish with two wins."
That's the attitude to have!

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11874 - 24/02/2024 19:52:23    2527889

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Replying To Viking66:  "That's the attitude to have!"
Totally agree we can really target those games but the Dublin game is in the hell hole.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1457 - 24/02/2024 22:14:46    2527921

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More positive news. Aonghus Clarke has returned to the Westmeath panel.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 791 - 25/02/2024 12:34:50    2527976

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Replying To Dheen:  "More positive news. Aonghus Clarke has returned to the Westmeath panel."
Great news a fully fit and match ready Clarke is a top player who can be used from half back to half forward.
After a dodgy start 2024 IS beginning to look promising.I think the Antrim Game IS potentially huge for us

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1457 - 25/02/2024 13:44:23    2527983

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Aonghus being back would be a boost, the remaining league matches confidence builders for the championship, we're going to be in division 2 regardless of results.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1496 - 25/02/2024 15:52:33    2528013

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Aonghus being back would be a boost, the remaining league matches confidence builders for the championship, we're going to be in division 2 regardless of results."
Maybe so but if we beat Antrim which is a possibility we will play Dublin for 4th place presuming they don't beat Galway which means a play off with the 4th in the other division so let's have ambition and have a real rattle at Antrim.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1457 - 25/02/2024 17:06:40    2528043

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Replying To jobber:  "Maybe so but if we beat Antrim which is a possibility we will play Dublin for 4th place presuming they don't beat Galway which means a play off with the 4th in the other division so let's have ambition and have a real rattle at Antrim."
I think they did away with the play-off for 4th, think they're doing it based on the 4th placed team in either group with the most points (Or points difference if level on points)

ElGranSenor (Wexford) - Posts: 245 - 25/02/2024 17:49:37    2528058

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Replying To jobber:  "Maybe so but if we beat Antrim which is a possibility we will play Dublin for 4th place presuming they don't beat Galway which means a play off with the 4th in the other division so let's have ambition and have a real rattle at Antrim."
The u20 lads have absolutely stepped up and not look out of place against the likes of Limerick and Tipperary, and the fact you have Killian Doyle, Robbie Greville, Davy Glennon and Aonghus Clarke coming back into the side off the back of good performances losing to Limerick by 6 and to Tipp away by 7, why shouldn't we show a bit of ambition and confidence. The super u15 team along with the performance vs Tipperary has been a nice shot in the arm to Westmeath hurling this weekend.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 791 - 25/02/2024 17:54:12    2528060

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Replying To Dheen:  "The u20 lads have absolutely stepped up and not look out of place against the likes of Limerick and Tipperary, and the fact you have Killian Doyle, Robbie Greville, Davy Glennon and Aonghus Clarke coming back into the side off the back of good performances losing to Limerick by 6 and to Tipp away by 7, why shouldn't we show a bit of ambition and confidence. The super u15 team along with the performance vs Tipperary has been a nice shot in the arm to Westmeath hurling this weekend."
100% agree we are well capable of competing with Antrim and Dublin so let's have a real cut at it.Then with humility and a big effort Mcdonagh.Offaly will be favorites,Laois will be tough and Kerry are never to be cocky with but we are contenders if we work at it and have luck with injuries.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1457 - 25/02/2024 18:14:54    2528068

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If we compete with Antrim and Dublin then how could Offaly be favourites for the McDonagh?? Offaly have been operating at a lower level at senior than Westmeath for the past 5-6 years minimum.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1496 - 26/02/2024 16:21:42    2528392

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "If we compete with Antrim and Dublin then how could Offaly be favourites for the McDonagh?? Offaly have been operating at a lower level at senior than Westmeath for the past 5-6 years minimum."
I'd say it'll be 50/50 between us and Offaly. The potential Joe Mcdonagh final, and what a tasty one.. would bring a good crowd to Croke Park. Westmeath bandwagon supporters would probably turn out for that one.
Shane Stapleton raving about David Williams on Our Game and rightly so, he's been outstanding, Stapleton had him with DCU over the past few months.
Having a forward line consisting of David O'Reilly, the Doyles, Joey Boyle, Niall Mitchell, Eoin Keyes, Davy Glennon and David Williams, with Darragh Egerton, Jogger, Gaffney, Greville, Aonghus Clarke, Regan etc behind them, we should be aiming to try beat Antrim and Dublin and power into the Joe Mcdonagh then.
Is Mitchell the captain for this year??

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 791 - 26/02/2024 17:15:40    2528418

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "If we compete with Antrim and Dublin then how could Offaly be favourites for the McDonagh?? Offaly have been operating at a lower level at senior than Westmeath for the past 5-6 years minimum."
Bookies favourites are dependent on where the money is going. Not on who is actually more likely to win it.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11874 - 26/02/2024 17:39:20    2528426

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Replying To Viking66:  "Bookies favourites are dependent on where the money is going. Not on who is actually more likely to win it."
Both ourselves and Offaly are putting in good performances. I would say it's 50/50 as things stand. Of course you can't disregard Laois, Kerry either etc.
It has the makings of a great championship.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 791 - 26/02/2024 17:57:24    2528438

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "If we compete with Antrim and Dublin then how could Offaly be favourites for the McDonagh?? Offaly have been operating at a lower level at senior than Westmeath for the past 5-6 years minimum."
You need to ask Paddy Power that question not me.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1457 - 26/02/2024 18:14:29    2528441

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Replying To Dheen:  "I'd say it'll be 50/50 between us and Offaly. The potential Joe Mcdonagh final, and what a tasty one.. would bring a good crowd to Croke Park. Westmeath bandwagon supporters would probably turn out for that one.
Shane Stapleton raving about David Williams on Our Game and rightly so, he's been outstanding, Stapleton had him with DCU over the past few months.
Having a forward line consisting of David O'Reilly, the Doyles, Joey Boyle, Niall Mitchell, Eoin Keyes, Davy Glennon and David Williams, with Darragh Egerton, Jogger, Gaffney, Greville, Aonghus Clarke, Regan etc behind them, we should be aiming to try beat Antrim and Dublin and power into the Joe Mcdonagh then.
Is Mitchell the captain for this year??"
Always cautiously optimistic posts from you Dheen and nice to see on here.
Dublin and Antrim are not going great and Westmeath seem to have built up a nice head of steam with a lot of players creeping out of injury and back into the fold.
This could be a good league run ahead ( Galway flop aside) if the team play to their strengths.
The Mitchell Williams duo have really clicked and with Killian hopefully back to his best soon we could be looking at 3 marquee forwards on the team.
I'm cautiously optimistic myself this could be a good year for Westmeath hurling.
Underage teams seem to be shaping up really well also

35OLT (USA) - Posts: 90 - 27/02/2024 15:02:48    2528651

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