National Forum

Westmeath Hurling thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To Gaaforlife2023:  "Raharney gaels final looking most likely"
Possibly but I'm going Raharney and Castletown

DanGer966 (Westmeath) - Posts: 55 - 23/08/2026 22:35:51    2691012

Link

Raharney wanted it more the fought like dogs for every ball were very impressive especially with the elder statesmen of the grevilles and boyles leading the charge. CTG have time to figure it out and get everyone back firing for semi final

Dazzler30 (Westmeath) - Posts: 91 - 24/08/2026 07:00:04    2691026

Link

Raharney were very good. The Gaels v Raharney should be a great match with the winner going directly to the final. It is a huge match for both as CTG will beat Delvin and have 6 weeks to get themselves in top shape when they will be a lot more dangerous than yesterday. But we have to wait a month for it which is a terrible pity,same for the senior B and intermediate how are clubs with dual players going to prepare? A football first mentality which is doing the game in the county untold harm. Delvin were brilliant and surely Dara Clinton is worth his place on the Westmeath hurling panel. Father Daltons were poor,nervous with poor touch and some selfish players.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 2000 - 24/08/2026 09:01:42    2691033

Link

Is there a fixtures planner available to view anywhere?

CleanShoulder (Westmeath) - Posts: 428 - 24/08/2026 13:10:28    2691062

Link

Winners and losers of the week..
Winners:
Raharney Solid performance and stalwart stepping up. 2nd team were well worth there win against Southern Gaels. Can't ask for more.
Delvin Despite a bad year and things not going well.They won the only game that really counted and should be enough to stay Senior.
St.Brigid's Done what they need to do and done it well. Plenty of young talent on display as well.
Clonkill Much improved performance despite the defeat and 2nd string were some what conformable beating Cullion first team.
Losers
Cullion still a chance of making knock outs but you would expect a lot more from a club who only dropped down from Senior B.
Fr.Dalton's If they drop down to Senior B it could be difficult for them to get back up again, Winning Senior B can be is not easy.
Southern Gaels 4 defeats in a row, certainly gone way back since last year. Underage is struggling with numbers as well.
Ringtown favourite for the drop to intermediate,.

Yellow&Green (Westmeath) - Posts: 53 - 24/08/2026 13:48:48    2691075

Link

Replying To jobber:  "Raharney were very good. The Gaels v Raharney should be a great match with the winner going directly to the final. It is a huge match for both as CTG will beat Delvin and have 6 weeks to get themselves in top shape when they will be a lot more dangerous than yesterday. But we have to wait a month for it which is a terrible pity,same for the senior B and intermediate how are clubs with dual players going to prepare? A football first mentality which is doing the game in the county untold harm. Delvin were brilliant and surely Dara Clinton is worth his place on the Westmeath hurling panel. Father Daltons were poor,nervous with poor touch and some selfish players."
You have to respect the fact that the footballers needed a break on club fixtures.... normally we start with 2 club football rounds in a row as they've extra rounds to play. The hurling delay is to allow the football catch up.... but point taken..it's a long wait.

midfield9 (Westmeath) - Posts: 119 - 24/08/2026 15:33:03    2691105

Link

Replying To CleanShoulder:  "Is there a fixtures planner available to view anywhere?"
Football for the next 3 weeks before the final round of hurling

martyW (Westmeath) - Posts: 364 - 24/08/2026 16:28:55    2691128

Link

Replying To jobber:  "Raharney were very good. The Gaels v Raharney should be a great match with the winner going directly to the final. It is a huge match for both as CTG will beat Delvin and have 6 weeks to get themselves in top shape when they will be a lot more dangerous than yesterday. But we have to wait a month for it which is a terrible pity,same for the senior B and intermediate how are clubs with dual players going to prepare? A football first mentality which is doing the game in the county untold harm. Delvin were brilliant and surely Dara Clinton is worth his place on the Westmeath hurling panel. Father Daltons were poor,nervous with poor touch and some selfish players."
Our football team won a Leinster Championship followed by a fairly tough schedule in the AI series; I think it was only fair that the club championship was squeezed out a few weeks. I would suggest a football first mentality in a football first county isn't a huge shock to anyone.

DelaneyCup2026 (Westmeath) - Posts: 35 - 24/08/2026 17:38:12    2691144

Link

Replying To DelaneyCup2026:  "Our football team won a Leinster Championship followed by a fairly tough schedule in the AI series; I think it was only fair that the club championship was squeezed out a few weeks. I would suggest a football first mentality in a football first county isn't a huge shock to anyone."
Can you nit see how hurling needs aittle bit more promotion and investment yes football always first vut jeez isnt much to ask

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1322 - 24/08/2026 21:18:17    2691163

Link

I'd argue that the Gaels winning a county title would be far better for Westmeath hurling than clonkill as most of them are hurling only players

valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1936 - 24/08/2026 21:47:15    2691167

Link

Replying To DelaneyCup2026:  "Our football team won a Leinster Championship followed by a fairly tough schedule in the AI series; I think it was only fair that the club championship was squeezed out a few weeks. I would suggest a football first mentality in a football first county isn't a huge shock to anyone."
Its not football first North of Mullingar or in Castletown Geoghegan though. There are a lot of hurling people in the county who wanted to be treated fairly.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1153 - 24/08/2026 22:22:04    2691172

Link

Replying To DelaneyCup2026:  "Our football team won a Leinster Championship followed by a fairly tough schedule in the AI series; I think it was only fair that the club championship was squeezed out a few weeks. I would suggest a football first mentality in a football first county isn't a huge shock to anyone."
The Leinster championship win was brilliant and enjoyed by everyone but the reality is since the last one in 2004 the hurlers have won 4 national titles and the footballers 1 so dont get carried away with a football first county. Maybe in Tunberclair and Caulry but certainly not anywhere north of Mullingar. The fact of no hurling for a month is as you say a football first attitude of a CCC which needs to be changed.
Hurling is losing out and the clubs need to raise their voice.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 2000 - 24/08/2026 23:18:07    2691175

Link

Let's be honest hurling is an inconvenience it seems for the county board whether they intend that or not that is the way it seems.

Whatever about fixtures is one thing, loosing another good managed team with a talented squad is a shame.

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1322 - 25/08/2026 09:39:31    2691196

Link

Well worth listening to Pat O'Brien at the beginning of last nights iarmhiabu podcast re the departure of the minor hurling management team. Reflects so so poorly on the county board. I know it's only one side of the story so it will be interesting to see if the county board come out and defend themselves.

westmeathforham (Westmeath) - Posts: 5 - 25/08/2026 14:18:01    2691244

Link

Replying To westmeathforham:  "Well worth listening to Pat O'Brien at the beginning of last nights iarmhiabu podcast re the departure of the minor hurling management team. Reflects so so poorly on the county board. I know it's only one side of the story so it will be interesting to see if the county board come out and defend themselves."
If the minor board cant respond convincingly to what O Brien has said they should be asked serious questions by our clubs. What he said was explosive and a massive condemnation of what our board does for hurling. The minor hurling management all volunteers were sending emails to the board who have a full time operations manager who i imagine is on a good salary and according to the podcast werent even given the respect of a reply. Is this true???. Surely its not and they can explain or can they?

Our hurling clubs deserve an answer, The minor teams management and players who on the field of play did very well deserve to be told if its different to what O Brien said.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 2000 - 26/08/2026 08:06:13    2691322

Link

Replying To westmeathforham:  "Well worth listening to Pat O'Brien at the beginning of last nights iarmhiabu podcast re the departure of the minor hurling management team. Reflects so so poorly on the county board. I know it's only one side of the story so it will be interesting to see if the county board come out and defend themselves."
Had a listen myself too and very honest words from him again. Sad to see Ger go, a good hurling man and principal who worked very well with everyone.

Even hearing about Martin Geary and those lads putting in so much effort, it's tough to see them go. The worst thing for me was the constant chasing for money, whether it was gear, physios, food or recovery. Having to ask the lads to bring a fiver and then management paying the rest just isn't fair on volunteers. Ger having physios and caterers chasing him for money is a terrible position to be in and I'd imagine other management teams had the same problem too.

On another note good to hear Adrian is back involved with the school. He mentioned they have a few new arrivals, obviously Conor Raleigh is one but do we know of anyone else coming in to play? He said they had over 50 at the meeting too which is huge numbers for them and great to see.

Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 232 - 26/08/2026 08:49:17    2691326

Link

Replying To westmeathforham:  "Well worth listening to Pat O'Brien at the beginning of last nights iarmhiabu podcast re the departure of the minor hurling management team. Reflects so so poorly on the county board. I know it's only one side of the story so it will be interesting to see if the county board come out and defend themselves."
How can they defend themselves though? The minor management put their proposal in through the proper procedure, where around 20 people had the opportunity to review and discuss it. Then seven weeks later they received a text message from Barry Kelly.
The county board will probably be begging him to stay quiet from the sounds of things. Pat could have really gone to town on just how "frustrating" it is trying to manage an underage team in Westmeath.

Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 232 - 26/08/2026 09:00:35    2691330

Link

Why did the board not engage with Ger and his management team, thats a very poor reflection on the board. I understand the management team were keen to continue, surely the least they deserved was a meeting to discuss the issues raised in the report. Hurling really needs help in this county, we need to help ourselves first, we're not going to get help from Croke Park or anywhere else. As Pat said in the podcast there is zero support from the county board for hurling at the moment, its a tick box exercise with no real vision or plan for the future.

Squareball.Squareball (Westmeath) - Posts: 5 - 26/08/2026 10:58:53    2691354

Link

Replying To Squareball.Squareball:  "Why did the board not engage with Ger and his management team, thats a very poor reflection on the board. I understand the management team were keen to continue, surely the least they deserved was a meeting to discuss the issues raised in the report. Hurling really needs help in this county, we need to help ourselves first, we're not going to get help from Croke Park or anywhere else. As Pat said in the podcast there is zero support from the county board for hurling at the moment, its a tick box exercise with no real vision or plan for the future."
List of priorities from CB,
1) intercounty senior football.
2)Senior club football.
3) Center of excellence.
4) underage development football squads.
5) Hurling in the county and intercounty.
Go back 20 odd yrs it never has changed. The hurlers make do with what they have every so often it clicks.
How many dual underage players are either forced or want to play football after minor exclusively. Leinster titles and all Ireland football is a lot more attractive at the minute than Joe Mcdonagh hurling. Hurling is back 8-10 years after this summer and that's the way it is unfortunately.

2maroonjerseys (Galway) - Posts: 191 - 26/08/2026 12:09:11    2691379

Link

Replying To 2maroonjerseys:  "List of priorities from CB,
1) intercounty senior football.
2)Senior club football.
3) Center of excellence.
4) underage development football squads.
5) Hurling in the county and intercounty.
Go back 20 odd yrs it never has changed. The hurlers make do with what they have every so often it clicks.
How many dual underage players are either forced or want to play football after minor exclusively. Leinster titles and all Ireland football is a lot more attractive at the minute than Joe Mcdonagh hurling. Hurling is back 8-10 years after this summer and that's the way it is unfortunately."
I'm not sure I agree with this. I think it's fair to say that both inter-county squads are treated similarly, and the overall costs at the end of the year would usually give a good indication of that.

At this point, I'm not sure it will matter what the CB says in response to Pat O'Brien's statement, because the narrative seems to have become that the CB is always in the wrong. Yet there doesn't seem to be the same criticism of the CB when Pat O'Brien is being paid for his co-commentary work on Iarmhi TV.

I think the podcast has taken a very anti-CB position now. Whatever the CB does or doesn't do seems likely to be interpreted through that lens, and I'm not sure any response from them is going to change that narrative.

One genuine question: where is the sponsorship revenue from this podcast going? The CB previously paid contributors for their time, so is the sponsorship revenue now covering those same people, or is it being used elsewhere?

westmeathfan25 (Westmeath) - Posts: 11 - 26/08/2026 12:24:35    2691383

Link