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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Nine starters last Saturday were under 20 and we had 25 players togged out, another 28 players took part in training in Caulry and Jack Smith, Kevin Maguire and David Lynch were excused or unavailable, that's approx 56 players on the senior panel according to your claim."
Not true, All 15 players who started on county senior panel, all the subs were not part of the senior panel, just drafted in for that experiment. once off.

PowellJohn3 (Westmeath) - Posts: 38 - 12/01/2024 13:22:31    2519824

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Is Sam smyth involved this year? Looks a natural successor to Maguire at full back in the future.

Lakecounty94 (Westmeath) - Posts: 60 - 12/01/2024 13:45:40    2519830

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Replying To Lakecounty94:  "Is Sam smyth involved this year? Looks a natural successor to Maguire at full back in the future."
Sam opted out due to college demands

Thechick (Westmeath) - Posts: 233 - 12/01/2024 13:55:22    2519836

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Who would train an under 23 development squad and who'd pay for it? We're spending hundreds of thousands training Senior squads according to recent newspaper articles. The Chick's argument is correct, ignoring Whelan, Geoghegan, Carr, Gahan, Fleming, Quinn in favour of 18 year olds for the O' Byrne Cup is completely illogical. Some players who played O' Byrne Cup won't start in under 20 championship and that's not developing players."
Wouldnt be that hard to run if it was outside of the club calendar, give the players their own strength/conditioning programmes and play challenge games against other county development squads and colleges (lads playing college can be exempted ). There are lots of former county players now coaching who Im sure would be willing to take on the mantle. Ive seen first hand the great work going on to develop players from u13 to minor, and then on to U20 but from there too many players that come through the Pathway are being evidently lost, not given a chance to play senior etc

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 190 - 12/01/2024 14:52:10    2519856

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Replying To Thechick:  "
Replying To A_Chairde:  "I raised this point a few days ago. There is a need for an u23 Development Squad for players u23 who might not be making the senior squad but it would be a pathway to making it in the future and more importantly ensures the potentially good ones dont fall through the cracks . Take the 2021 u20 team that played against the victorious Offaly team in Mullingar, only a handful have made to the senior set up. The team was : S Martin; J Gahan, C Drumm, Ciaran Daly; E Gaffney, D Seery, M Byrne; J Murtagh, Ciaran Daly; S Fleming, B Kelly, K O'Sullivan; J Torpey, B McGauran, D Hill. Subs: L Moran for O'Sullivan (28), S Baker for Murtagh (h-t), S O'Connor for Kelly (37), J McDonnell for Byrne (49), K Ruzzle for Ciaran Daly (corner back). Only one off the 2020 u20 team that was beaten by Laois on penalties is established at senior. T Martin; C Daly, C Drumm, S McGonagle; E Bracken, E Mulvihill, D Seery; A Flanagan, J Tumelty; J Murtagh, S Allen, S McCartan; S Maxwell, TJ Cox, J Nugent. No harm playing this yearsU20s in the O Byrne Cup (meaningless competition nowadays) , if we had an u23 Development Squad they could be playing in it."
Exactly ,and i forgot S.Fleming. I know hes college tied but he wasn't even invited for a trial and neither were most of the others . Dan Leech ,Tuite, Gilmartin ,Joe Moran etc etc . How many would we be developing of the 20's played 20's challenges ,the 23's played the o Byrne cup and the seniors played their challenges . We have just dropped out a whole group . A lot of those lads i named played in Hawk field v Kildare, beat Wexford and in a tough match v Meath in Ashbourne ,8 months later not even worth a trial or a couple of O Byrne cup games to see what they are worth ,have we that many good lads in that age group ???"
You would imagine more players from the 2020/21 u20 squads would have got a chance by now. They would be further down the road than last years u20s in terms of strength/conditioning. A lot of last years u20s are eligible for the grade again this year and were playing against Longford last week. We could be left to pay a price down the line for not blooding enough new players into the senior squad over the last number of years.

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 190 - 12/01/2024 15:11:02    2519863

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Enda Gaffney was outstanding for Loman's throughout senior championship campaign, how is he cast aside in favour of an 18 year old who has never played senior club championship? Explain that. The senior county manager clearly didn't want to play in the O' Byrne Cup. That policy will be fine if we gain promotion to div 2 but another year in the Tailteann cup will be regarded as failure."
I guess with the likes of Gaffney who's not U20 and others in that bracket they can't carry them in addition to the 40 or so there already. Like would Lomans really allow him to train with a development squad and potentially miss club sessions. And this goes for players from most clubs in the county. I'm not sure a development squad would work, I just can't understand how Leech, Whittaker, Scahill, Mulvihill and those type of players weren't given a game in Longford. Playing U20s is great but some of those on the bench don't even make their club teams.

TigerWoods90 (Westmeath) - Posts: 146 - 12/01/2024 15:38:43    2519870

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Replying To PowellJohn3:  "Not true, All 15 players who started on county senior panel, all the subs were not part of the senior panel, just drafted in for that experiment. once off."
You are wrong!

6 players who started last weekend are on the training panel at the moment. These 6 players are all over the age of u20. None of these 6 players were on the panel last year. Last week was a chance for them to impress and make the league panel.

6 more players who started last weekend are on the u20 panel and the senior training panel. I don't expect any of these 6 players to make any match-day 26 in any league or championship game.

The rest of the players were all u20 and had never trained with the seniors. I expect the game against Louth tomorrow to be the same team or close to it. Dessie did not want to enter the O Byrne Cup as he would rather play behind closed-door challenge matches.

Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 434 - 12/01/2024 17:33:50    2519887

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Have to be one of the worst managements for releasing teams. Supporters deserve more , every other team out this weekend have released there team within loads of time

Westmeath213 (Westmeath) - Posts: 333 - 13/01/2024 10:15:32    2519956

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Replying To A_Chairde:  "
Replying To Thechick:  "[quote=A_Chairde:  "I raised this point a few days ago. There is a need for an u23 Development Squad for players u23 who might not be making the senior squad but it would be a pathway to making it in the future and more importantly ensures the potentially good ones dont fall through the cracks . Take the 2021 u20 team that played against the victorious Offaly team in Mullingar, only a handful have made to the senior set up. The team was : S Martin; J Gahan, C Drumm, Ciaran Daly; E Gaffney, D Seery, M Byrne; J Murtagh, Ciaran Daly; S Fleming, B Kelly, K O'Sullivan; J Torpey, B McGauran, D Hill. Subs: L Moran for O'Sullivan (28), S Baker for Murtagh (h-t), S O'Connor for Kelly (37), J McDonnell for Byrne (49), K Ruzzle for Ciaran Daly (corner back). Only one off the 2020 u20 team that was beaten by Laois on penalties is established at senior. T Martin; C Daly, C Drumm, S McGonagle; E Bracken, E Mulvihill, D Seery; A Flanagan, J Tumelty; J Murtagh, S Allen, S McCartan; S Maxwell, TJ Cox, J Nugent. No harm playing this yearsU20s in the O Byrne Cup (meaningless competition nowadays) , if we had an u23 Development Squad they could be playing in it."
Exactly ,and i forgot S.Fleming. I know hes college tied but he wasn't even invited for a trial and neither were most of the others . Dan Leech ,Tuite, Gilmartin ,Joe Moran etc etc . How many would we be developing of the 20's played 20's challenges ,the 23's played the o Byrne cup and the seniors played their challenges . We have just dropped out a whole group . A lot of those lads i named played in Hawk field v Kildare, beat Wexford and in a tough match v Meath in Ashbourne ,8 months later not even worth a trial or a couple of O Byrne cup games to see what they are worth ,have we that many good lads in that age group ???"
You would imagine more players from the 2020/21 u20 squads would have got a chance by now. They would be further down the road than last years u20s in terms of strength/conditioning. A lot of last years u20s are eligible for the grade again this year and were playing against Longford last week. We could be left to pay a price down the line for not blooding enough new players into the senior squad over the last number of years."]Brandon kelly was on that under 20 team that year then he was brought on to senoir panel for development but was knock of it lastyear he was one of the resaon milltownpass got to intermediate final last year word from his club was he never got a call to go back for a trail considering theres about 50 in the group find that strange going on form for his club and of what i seen from him lastyear playing for his club

Mooo (Westmeath) - Posts: 41 - 13/01/2024 11:14:36    2519966

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Replying To Westmeath213:  "Have to be one of the worst managements for releasing teams. Supporters deserve more , every other team out this weekend have released there team within loads of time"
Who really cares… it's an O'Byrne Cup Shield game. You have little to be complaining about!!

Matthew (None) - Posts: 1014 - 13/01/2024 11:42:06    2519969

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Replying To Matthew:  "Who really cares… it's an O'Byrne Cup Shield game. You have little to be complaining about!!"
It's worse keeping a Team under wraps for an O'Byrne cup shield game not like Louth care who we will have playing . If every other county can do it why can't we ? You'd Almost think there trying to keep there plans quiet for a div 3 league campaign which we won't get out of again.

Westmeath213 (Westmeath) - Posts: 333 - 13/01/2024 12:35:58    2519974

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You obviously care as you're posting on a Westmeath football forum in mid January. Surely Louth are not changing their game plan for today based on our team line up!!! Why not name team on Thursday as it creates interest and talking points, surely that's important. If you don't care then look at other sites.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1664 - 13/01/2024 13:35:39    2519979

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "You obviously care as you're posting on a Westmeath football forum in mid January. Surely Louth are not changing their game plan for today based on our team line up!!! Why not name team on Thursday as it creates interest and talking points, surely that's important. If you don't care then look at other sites."
Strong team that started but not at the races in first half


J Daly
J Smith
K Maguire
J Gonoud
J Dolan
A Mc Cormack
D Lynch
N Harte
R Connellan
J Lynam
R O Toole
L Loughlin
L Dolan
S Baker
C Dillon

Subs
T Martin
K Martin
R Forde
D Giles
S Smith
D Seery
C McCormack
E Mulvihill
M Whittaker
D Scahill
S Leech
S Mc Cartan
R Wallace

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 190 - 13/01/2024 14:09:11    2519986

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Fully agree, almost full strength line up and six points down, presume heavy training done recently as we look leggy, it's pretty obvious already that replacing Sam Duncan will be difficult this year, his work rate and presence at midfield underestimated, Sam McCartan, John Heslin and Conor McCormack warming up.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1664 - 13/01/2024 14:16:55    2519989

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Eight points down in closing stages, extremely disappointing display considering we were fielding 10-11 regular starters, last competitive game before crucial Offaly league opener, Louth were easily beaten by Meath in opening league game, Longford into final again, a dramatic improvement needed in next couple of weeks.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1664 - 13/01/2024 14:29:31    2519994

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Very poor display by Westmeath today-second to every ball all over the park and then when we did get hold of the ball it was sideways and backways.3 games on the bounce now that Sam Mulroy has completely dominated us and once again we had no answer in dealing with him.Practically full strength today(except for Heslin) and we were awful.Maybe we were just blowing out the dirty petrol but if we turn up to O Connor park without improvement we will get our asses handed to us by Offaly.

Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 188 - 13/01/2024 16:11:22    2520014

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Louth had a weak team down to start & I suppose when they seen that Westmeath had gone with a strong team they decided to start mulroy , grimes , Keenan , Downey and 2 others. They like the supporters of Westmeath didn't know what team would be out but to me when they seen Westmeath went "strong " they made changes before the game. Heslin named at 29 online but on match programme at game Ronan Wallace was last named. Heslin not there at all despite what someone else said.
First game Dessie has had lynch Maguire and smyth involved in as they only returned to panel 2 weeks ago.
Loughlin showed well today as did S smyth when introduced but the defence was awful poor and was too easy for Louth to get through. Like baker starting and Whittaker and Seery off the bench a game like that shows that them lads aren't quite up to senior inter county level just yet.
Offaly in 2 weeks and I'd be slightly worried but hopefully the lads can turn it around. Apparently they were all training last night too which is madness if true.

Westmeath213 (Westmeath) - Posts: 333 - 13/01/2024 17:33:04    2520027

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Stephen Smyth was the pick of the forwards, he'll probably start against Offaly as a result.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1664 - 13/01/2024 21:01:53    2520059

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Replying To A_Chairde:  "Strong team that started but not at the races in first half


J Daly
J Smith
K Maguire
J Gonoud
J Dolan
A Mc Cormack
D Lynch
N Harte
R Connellan
J Lynam
R O Toole
L Loughlin
L Dolan
S Baker
C Dillon

Subs
T Martin
K Martin
R Forde
D Giles
S Smith
D Seery
C McCormack
E Mulvihill
M Whittaker
D Scahill
S Leech
S Mc Cartan
R Wallace"
Fleming from kinegad didn't get called into the county trials
Was the best man in county final ?

Mattyreilly (Westmeath) - Posts: 158 - 13/01/2024 22:28:13    2520071

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Replying To Mattyreilly:  "Fleming from kinegad didn't get called into the county trials
Was the best man in county final ?"
In fairness probably should've been called In but then again outside of kicking frees he wasn't all that influential

Westmeath213 (Westmeath) - Posts: 333 - 14/01/2024 00:18:44    2520075

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