Joey Boyle is a machine to work and he chipped in with scores too. You can't coach players to score like Killian does but if our forward unit could tackle more like Joey we'd be closer to the top teams.
What a save by Conaty aswell!
Keyes is a wrecking ball up top when fit. I do think we need to give another defender a chance in the backs, we were very loose, young Charlie McCormack from pollard could be an option.
It's an even bigger win considering we only get 1 chance to stay up where Laois get two.

Gaawestmeath (Westmeath) - Posts: 74 - 26/03/2023 09:20:12    2466600

On a more sobering note, Laois had spent 10 years in division 1 prior to being relegated.
I can't remember them winning any matches over the years except for relegation playoffs. No seismic shift in the hurling culture there it would seem.
I believe that Westmeath could cement their place at this level but it will take a great effort at grass roots , particularly in the towns. The conveyer belt need to be moving well.
For a dual county that favours football, the hurlers have performed far better over the past decade or so.
We need to look no farther than Kildare to see what the next upwardly mobile county looks like.

35OLT (USA) - Posts: 90 - 26/03/2023 15:28:48    2466690

The criticism of McNicholas coming back looks foolish given his two superbly struck late points sealed the win, however the squad have trained close to 50 times since Nov and players who did those sessions must be wondering what's the point. Derek has played no club games to showcase his form, would this happen in a top tier county? Certainly not the player's fault, he has given fantastic service but not management's finest hour.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1489 - 26/03/2023 16:44:14    2466751

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11847 - 26/03/2023 17:45:50    2466801

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11847 - 26/03/2023 17:47:03    2466803

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1456 - 26/03/2023 17:55:16    2466809

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 213 - 26/03/2023 18:08:58    2466817

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11847 - 26/03/2023 18:22:43    2466828

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11847 - 26/03/2023 18:23:38    2466829

TJ Reid comparison is ridiculous, was he not training with his club up to late January, think prob at a reasonably high level!! Derek Mc's club were beaten last Sept in Westmeath, he didn't train with the county since last June, came back two weeks ago and played yesterday, yes he made a significant contribution in his few mins but my point was would this happen in a top tier county? What's the point of an extended playing panel? Shane Williams trained all over winter and was released from squad couple of weeks ago, Davy Devine has seen zero minutes, Charlie Mc likewise, relying on cameos from lads who had retired is short term thinking.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1489 - 26/03/2023 19:50:18    2466879

Offaly have not double the number of hurling clubs as Westmeath, not have Laois. At least stick to facts making an argument. To claim that Offaly have 30 hurling clubs and Laois likewise is far fetched in the extreme. Similar counties in both codes as ourselves and making excuses to the contrary is a defeatist mentality. Our aim should be to admire and then emulate what they've both done consistently well in the past in the small ball, particularly Offaly.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1489 - 26/03/2023 19:56:52    2466881

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 11847 - 26/03/2023 20:19:09    2466897

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 782 - 26/03/2023 20:50:14    2466908

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1456 - 26/03/2023 21:10:38    2466916

westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 219 - 27/03/2023 09:07:27    2466971

Laois have about 22 hurling clubs and the county leagues there's 6 divisions, with the top 5 divisions with 8 teams apeice and the 6th has 12 teams as far as I know.. That's what the Laois county is claiming. That's a serious amount of adult players, some clubs look to have 4 teams although there is probably cross over with players in teams so speculation on playing numbers is pure guesswork but as an example far exceeds what westmeath seem to have, offaly have around 21 clubs spread over 4 hurling league divisions, people can still say oh there's not that much more clubs in those counties but it's still say 5 or 6 clubs less that could have at least 20 to 25 adult players

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 736 - 27/03/2023 12:50:57    2467048

Good to see the hurling league underway at the weekend. A lot of expected results but one that stands out Raharney overturning Clonkill in Clonkill has to be noted a huge win for them with the bit of turmoil going on out there only recently getting new management. Few big performances quite notably to get them over the line with the younger keyes and hickey leading the way along with devin hill moving well. I hear the fennells have returned to the CTG set up which will be a massive boost for them there really going from strength to strength. The gaels winning well cant be much said against plunketts but good to see plunketts up playing the big teams.

Westmeath190801 (Westmeath) - Posts: 6 - 29/03/2023 17:30:19    2467657

Just our of the u20 game vs Offaly, a 7 point defeat but in truth we were better than them in large parts of the game. Two things, our decision making in the backline was very poor and when we had the wind in the second half we never used it properly to our advantage.
The referee had a very poor game also with a lot of questionable decisions going against us which was extremely frustrating for the players and supporters,
I don't want to be one to down a referee but sometimes you have to call them out when it's blatantly obvious.
More games to come for this team and I'm sure they'll improve and learn from today.
Peter Clarke, David Williams, Conor Gaffney (holding Adam Screeney scoreless from play) David O'Reilly and Mark Cunningham impressed for Westmeath.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 782 - 01/04/2023 15:27:30    2468142

Well done to the minors, another comprehensive win. They seem to be motoring well and the majority of them underage again next year.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 782 - 01/04/2023 16:24:13    2468151

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1456 - 01/04/2023 17:26:42    2468161