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Westmeath Hurling thread

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Nice 5 week gap to the final for Plunketts and Castletown.
Both out of u20s too so full focus one match for majority of players.
Ringtown have been hammers twice by Plunketts in finals since 2021 and Delvin have terrible record in finals.
Castletown won today pulling up and playing nowhere near their best. Very difficult to see them losing final.
Raharney were very competitive for large spells today.
Probably their best performance of the group stage.

Blackjack (Westmeath) - Posts: 6 - 14/09/2025 19:07:58    2636124

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Fr. Dalton's achievement in staying senior for a second year is a worthy one. Three points from their five games would have been considered impossible at the start of June. They are a small club in a football area, prob four or five football clubs in their team. Today they were excellent in the first half against the wind and seemed certain to win. Clonkill rallied but Dalton's stuck at it and equalised in injury time. Their fitness and strength told in difficult conditions. Eamon Gallagher's coaching cv continues to grow

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2352 - 14/09/2025 23:23:35    2636180

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Fr. Dalton's achievement in staying senior for a second year is a worthy one. Three points from their five games would have been considered impossible at the start of June. They are a small club in a football area, prob four or five football clubs in their team. Today they were excellent in the first half against the wind and seemed certain to win. Clonkill rallied but Dalton's stuck at it and equalised in injury time. Their fitness and strength told in difficult conditions. Eamon Gallagher's coaching cv continues to grow"
Good to see Fr Daltons staying senior but they do cover a big enough area compared to other hurling clubs. Areas like Rathconrath, Tang, Ballymore, Maryland and even Ballynacargy.

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 316 - 15/09/2025 10:49:38    2636207

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Replying To A_Chairde:  "Good to see Fr Daltons staying senior but they do cover a big enough area compared to other hurling clubs. Areas like Rathconrath, Tang, Ballymore, Maryland and even Ballynacargy."
Big area indeed but hurling put to the back there for along time so its a huge achievement and will hopefully inspire them to progress on further. Likes of Denis Rourke and them guys really got the underage right back few years ago and its paying off now.

Dazzler30 (Westmeath) - Posts: 60 - 15/09/2025 12:27:40    2636239

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Daltons have done phenomenal work in recent seasons. Getting 3 points at senior level just reward.
Solid underage structures too so very exciting times ahead for the club.

Blackjack (Westmeath) - Posts: 6 - 15/09/2025 13:24:04    2636253

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Replying To A_Chairde:  "Good to see Fr Daltons staying senior but they do cover a big enough area compared to other hurling clubs. Areas like Rathconrath, Tang, Ballymore, Maryland and even Ballynacargy."
In a predominantly football area traditionally it's a great achievement. Carping about their size hardly fair. Southern Gaels have Athlone's population. It's not easy promoting hurling where other sports are traditionally strong. Brian McCabe, Sean Smyth, Denis O' Rourke, Spike McCormack and couple of others keeping things going. Compared to what other hurling clubs? Castletown have a huge pick and Clonkill's pick in last 25 years is renowned for how far it stretches.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2352 - 15/09/2025 15:18:37    2636283

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "In a predominantly football area traditionally it's a great achievement. Carping about their size hardly fair. Southern Gaels have Athlone's population. It's not easy promoting hurling where other sports are traditionally strong. Brian McCabe, Sean Smyth, Denis O' Rourke, Spike McCormack and couple of others keeping things going. Compared to what other hurling clubs? Castletown have a huge pick and Clonkill's pick in last 25 years is renowned for how far it stretches."
Huge pick doesn't mean necessary success. A lot father Dalton some are or most Ballymoney castletown yes one 2 kill beggar and 2 tyrelllspass and 1 Rosemount but most are their own area.

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 996 - 15/09/2025 15:26:43    2636287

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What's people thoughts on 3 championships now

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 996 - 15/09/2025 15:44:54    2636293

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We are looking at the start of a very dominant spell for Castletown. Haven't won two in a row in over 70 years. But some phenomenal talent, no weak links, good management and strength in depth.
Plunketts will be their biggest challengers long term considering age profile of the team and strength of the underage.
Castletown could dominate like Lomans have done in football, winning 8 titles since 2013.
From 2022 - 2034 Castletown could win 8 or more..

Blackjack (Westmeath) - Posts: 6 - 15/09/2025 16:11:18    2636301

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Replying To Blackjack:  "We are looking at the start of a very dominant spell for Castletown. Haven't won two in a row in over 70 years. But some phenomenal talent, no weak links, good management and strength in depth.
Plunketts will be their biggest challengers long term considering age profile of the team and strength of the underage.
Castletown could dominate like Lomans have done in football, winning 8 titles since 2013.
From 2022 - 2034 Castletown could win 8 or more.."
CTG very impressive all year and getting a 2 in a row will give them great confidence for further titles if they can get this monkey off the back

Dazzler30 (Westmeath) - Posts: 60 - 15/09/2025 17:01:00    2636318

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "In a predominantly football area traditionally it's a great achievement. Carping about their size hardly fair. Southern Gaels have Athlone's population. It's not easy promoting hurling where other sports are traditionally strong. Brian McCabe, Sean Smyth, Denis O' Rourke, Spike McCormack and couple of others keeping things going. Compared to what other hurling clubs? Castletown have a huge pick and Clonkill's pick in last 25 years is renowned for how far it stretches."
I agree its a great achievement for a club in a football area but Fr Daltons are not a small club. The small clubs are Turin, Crookedwood, Ringtown and Brownstown.

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 316 - 15/09/2025 17:17:47    2636324

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Replying To Blackjack:  "We are looking at the start of a very dominant spell for Castletown. Haven't won two in a row in over 70 years. But some phenomenal talent, no weak links, good management and strength in depth.
Plunketts will be their biggest challengers long term considering age profile of the team and strength of the underage.
Castletown could dominate like Lomans have done in football, winning 8 titles since 2013.
From 2022 - 2034 Castletown could win 8 or more.."
Their very strong yes, agree, but 8 championships is a tall order, Raharney always in the mix, Collins town knocking on the door, Clonkill gone back a bit but they'll be back stronger. Raharney and Clonkill have lots of youth on the pipeline, Collins town not so much. Plunketts going to be a force too.

Bigjoe1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 71 - 15/09/2025 21:22:06    2636352

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CTG tend to produce the best stick men and their style of play is always easy on the eye, it does become more difficult for them as the year progresses and the weather worsens but they are firm favourites this year without a doubt the best team in the county and you'd imagine a back to back would give them confidence to push on further. Great achievement for Fr Daltons to stay up, the challenge for them is to maintain that now. Plunketts will come up and be a mainstay eventually, their underage is in great shape now.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1047 - 16/09/2025 12:05:50    2636409

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Replying To Bigjoe1:  "Their very strong yes, agree, but 8 championships is a tall order, Raharney always in the mix, Collins town knocking on the door, Clonkill gone back a bit but they'll be back stronger. Raharney and Clonkill have lots of youth on the pipeline, Collins town not so much. Plunketts going to be a force too."
Agreed. That level of dominance is quite hard to imagine.

You have to keep the core group of players in the community for a long time and motivated to produce the goods repeatedly. This gets harder every year with the reality of education and jobs taking people away.

gedupoutofit (Westmeath) - Posts: 204 - 16/09/2025 12:09:10    2636411

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Replying To Blackjack:  "We are looking at the start of a very dominant spell for Castletown. Haven't won two in a row in over 70 years. But some phenomenal talent, no weak links, good management and strength in depth.
Plunketts will be their biggest challengers long term considering age profile of the team and strength of the underage.
Castletown could dominate like Lomans have done in football, winning 8 titles since 2013.
From 2022 - 2034 Castletown could win 8 or more.."
Back to backs are hard done, CTG have the players to do it there's no doubting that but sustaining that over a long period is extremely difficult. Since Clonkill did 3 in a row 18, 19 and 20, both CTG and Raharney are 2 wins each so I don't think any 1 team is going to dominate. The Gaels will be hard stopped this year and Clonkill will not be down for long. Its good there is type of competition. A real confidence boost for Fr Daltons retaining their senior A status , its about maintaining that now. Senior B is still good back in terms of quality it will always be a challenge for the Senior B winners to get up to the standard required.

FrMick (Westmeath) - Posts: 11 - 16/09/2025 13:34:58    2636428

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "In a predominantly football area traditionally it's a great achievement. Carping about their size hardly fair. Southern Gaels have Athlone's population. It's not easy promoting hurling where other sports are traditionally strong. Brian McCabe, Sean Smyth, Denis O' Rourke, Spike McCormack and couple of others keeping things going. Compared to what other hurling clubs? Castletown have a huge pick and Clonkill's pick in last 25 years is renowned for how far it stretches."
Clonkill are not renowned for how far their pick stretches. They share a parish with Turin, Crokedwood and partly Cullion. Newly relegated Castlepollard however have one of the largest areas to pick from in Westmeath. Having a large geographic area rarely determines success or failure in GAA.

Bonner (Westmeath) - Posts: 1 - 16/09/2025 14:05:08    2636434

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Replying To Bonner:  "Clonkill are not renowned for how far their pick stretches. They share a parish with Turin, Crokedwood and partly Cullion. Newly relegated Castlepollard however have one of the largest areas to pick from in Westmeath. Having a large geographic area rarely determines success or failure in GAA."
Clearly you have no great knowledge of Clonkill's prowess in recruiting players. Their own geographic size is considerable but ask any Turin supporter about their relationship with Clonkill over the past 25 years or more.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2352 - 16/09/2025 16:44:08    2636466

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Replying To FrMick:  "Back to backs are hard done, CTG have the players to do it there's no doubting that but sustaining that over a long period is extremely difficult. Since Clonkill did 3 in a row 18, 19 and 20, both CTG and Raharney are 2 wins each so I don't think any 1 team is going to dominate. The Gaels will be hard stopped this year and Clonkill will not be down for long. Its good there is type of competition. A real confidence boost for Fr Daltons retaining their senior A status , its about maintaining that now. Senior B is still good back in terms of quality it will always be a challenge for the Senior B winners to get up to the standard required."
Gaels will ahve get over raharney first no guarantee and yes always hard beat gaels but still think castletown are favourites if hit near their best no guarantee but they are slightly ahead of gaelnoat their best no?

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 996 - 16/09/2025 18:38:58    2636477

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Replying To Bonner:  "Clonkill are not renowned for how far their pick stretches. They share a parish with Turin, Crokedwood and partly Cullion. Newly relegated Castlepollard however have one of the largest areas to pick from in Westmeath. Having a large geographic area rarely determines success or failure in GAA."
How do you make out Castlepollards Area is one of the Largest? Surrounded by 2 other clubs inside a 4km radius? 1 of them with a pick of 2 national Schools, Poor local knowledge.

Ashplant85. (Westmeath) - Posts: 5 - 16/09/2025 18:57:11    2636482

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