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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "It's in our own hands, if we beat Kildare presuming we beat Wicklow we are guaranteed as it's unlikely Antrim or Down will reach Ulster final"
Whoa dont even mention Kildare according to some we were going to win in Sligo because we deserved it.You deserve nothing till you win.We are a better team than Wicklow but this is their All Ireland final and they will be able to come totally focused on us with a perfect view of how we perform.
Its not going to be easy with a fixture list that is an utter disgrace.Dublin or Kerry wouldnt be asked to play 5 competitive matches one after another.It is impossible to be at your best 4 weeks in a row not to mind a 5th if we can manage to get over Wicklow.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1458 - 01/04/2024 09:21:54    2534938

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Replying To jobber:  "Whoa dont even mention Kildare according to some we were going to win in Sligo because we deserved it.You deserve nothing till you win.We are a better team than Wicklow but this is their All Ireland final and they will be able to come totally focused on us with a perfect view of how we perform.
Its not going to be easy with a fixture list that is an utter disgrace.Dublin or Kerry wouldnt be asked to play 5 competitive matches one after another.It is impossible to be at your best 4 weeks in a row not to mind a 5th if we can manage to get over Wicklow."
Agree of the 8 teams involved in the league finals this weekend some have a 3 week break -some have a 2 week break before championship games-some are gone to hotter climes for warm weather training sessions but Westmeath are heading into another game on sunday then a win will mean another game the following weekend-is that 6 games in 7 weekends??So much for a level playing field-could not see that happening to the Dublins or Kerrys of this world!!

Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 168 - 01/04/2024 13:44:15    2534981

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Replying To Bruno@1:  "Agree of the 8 teams involved in the league finals this weekend some have a 3 week break -some have a 2 week break before championship games-some are gone to hotter climes for warm weather training sessions but Westmeath are heading into another game on sunday then a win will mean another game the following weekend-is that 6 games in 7 weekends??So much for a level playing field-could not see that happening to the Dublins or Kerrys of this world!!"
Totally agree

Baldy1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 84 - 01/04/2024 15:55:56    2535015

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Very quick turnaround after a brilliant weekend for westmeath. Sam, Ray, Johnny and the defencive system were outstanding. Looked like Jamie was only injury on sat but hopefully not serious. Was great to win a league without a number of household names and the injuries we had over the course of the league. My understanding now is if we have a better leinster than kildare we qualify for sam. So that starts next sun. Saw Wallace warming up a few times on sat so hopefully he not far away from a return, add in kevin, Jack, heslin and dessie has headaches for next weekend picking a team

Upforthegame23 (Westmeath) - Posts: 82 - 02/04/2024 10:40:05    2535132

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i think the lads are coping well with all the games . dessie and the selectors are getting their best available team on the field week in week out . the players are enjoying playing the games and it certainly showed on saturday . o moore park on sunday is another job they have to do and they will . good luck to all

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1804 - 02/04/2024 11:14:45    2535144

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The lads were back out training in The Downs yesterday morning. Big week ahead and for the u20 and minor teams. Good luck to all involved.

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 176 - 02/04/2024 11:27:05    2535149

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Replying To A_Chairde:  "The lads were back out training in The Downs yesterday morning. Big week ahead and for the u20 and minor teams. Good luck to all involved."
I think the u20s will struggle against meath, minors are playing kildare and again will be hard pick up after louth disappointment. Its probably the best minor team in a number of years but could struggle to qualify from group. I know 20s beat kildare last year but when did the minors last win a championship game??

Upforthegame23 (Westmeath) - Posts: 82 - 02/04/2024 16:06:40    2535216

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Understatement to say we struggled, a tonic start with Jack Duncan's goal in the first couple of minutes, that was our only score of the first half, Meath physically far superior, kicked brilliant points, Murphy, Stafford and 14 fine forwards, strange to say we could have had 3-4 goals but never looked like wining, Shane Corcoran hit the bar in first half, Tadhg Baker got our second goal but result never in doubt. Very tough draw playing Dublin and Meath but disappointing performances. Prob Damien Gavin's last year with the 20s, he's given great service, think 7 years with them.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1501 - 02/04/2024 22:23:43    2535283

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Understatement to say we struggled, a tonic start with Jack Duncan's goal in the first couple of minutes, that was our only score of the first half, Meath physically far superior, kicked brilliant points, Murphy, Stafford and 14 fine forwards, strange to say we could have had 3-4 goals but never looked like wining, Shane Corcoran hit the bar in first half, Tadhg Baker got our second goal but result never in doubt. Very tough draw playing Dublin and Meath but disappointing performances. Prob Damien Gavin's last year with the 20s, he's given great service, think 7 years with them."
Despite the results I agree Damien has given great service to this job in what is a very difficult
position, and has a lot more to offer Westmeath Football going forward

GCCABU (Westmeath) - Posts: 10 - 03/04/2024 09:03:40    2535321

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Understatement to say we struggled, a tonic start with Jack Duncan's goal in the first couple of minutes, that was our only score of the first half, Meath physically far superior, kicked brilliant points, Murphy, Stafford and 14 fine forwards, strange to say we could have had 3-4 goals but never looked like wining, Shane Corcoran hit the bar in first half, Tadhg Baker got our second goal but result never in doubt. Very tough draw playing Dublin and Meath but disappointing performances. Prob Damien Gavin's last year with the 20s, he's given great service, think 7 years with them."
Our lack of punch up front was visible again, full forward line didnt contribute a single point in either game. Corcoran and Murray are tricky forwards and need space but I felt we were constantly clogging any space for them to make runs. We then waited until the game was over to make a sub. Cooney was our only scoring threat although he kicked a few bad ones is really direct but we had him playing as a deep centre forward. Meath forwards were given a licence to kick from anywhere with the wind in first half while we continuously stood off. That paid off for them. Really frustrating night and disappointing end for the u20s. Time for someone else to have a go.

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 176 - 03/04/2024 09:43:34    2535327

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The u20s were way off Dublin and Meath physically which is a big concern because that is something clearly these other teams have worked very hard on over a long period of time .

That said, definitely some good prospects with that u20 group. Ormsby, cooney, Corcoran and Lowry in particular could make the step up over the next few years .

Lakecounty94 (Westmeath) - Posts: 58 - 03/04/2024 13:17:14    2535368

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Admire your optimism lakecounty but I'd say your view is if someone who wasn't in Ashbourne. Meath looked to have 5-6 players who could be part of Colm O' Rourke's senior set up immediately, not many Westmeath supporters last night would make such claims, hopefully the lads with potential will develop at club level over next 12 months.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1501 - 03/04/2024 15:15:10    2535389

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Replying To GCCABU:  "Despite the results I agree Damien has given great service to this job in what is a very difficult
position, and has a lot more to offer Westmeath Football going forward"
I'm not sure how you can say that when I would say we've had quite a few very talented 20s panels the last few years and don't even have as much as a Leinster final appearance to show for it, pretty poor going if we're being honest.

Midlandsman (Westmeath) - Posts: 20 - 03/04/2024 22:00:30    2535467

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whats the team going to be on sunday

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1804 - 04/04/2024 09:02:20    2535495

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Replying To Midlandsman:  "I'm not sure how you can say that when I would say we've had quite a few very talented 20s panels the last few years and don't even have as much as a Leinster final appearance to show for it, pretty poor going if we're being honest."
Cannot see how you can say we had very talented 20s panels when previous years Minor results
and performances suggest otherwise

GCCABU (Westmeath) - Posts: 10 - 04/04/2024 09:04:38    2535496

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Minor footballers had a narrow defeat to Kildare? Any reports

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1501 - 04/04/2024 09:14:56    2535498

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Replying To GCCABU:  "Cannot see how you can say we had very talented 20s panels when previous years Minor results
and performances suggest otherwise"
Panels can change quite a bit from that age group generally. Players who wouldn't have been on minor teams can be important for a 20s team and looking at some of the teams we've had, particularly in the last 3 years prior to this year we've underachieved simple as, have to be honest here no point hiding from the truth

Midlandsman (Westmeath) - Posts: 20 - 04/04/2024 13:00:19    2535590

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Looking at this years u20 panel from the start when it was announced I was fairly confident of a good campaign-very good players and playing senior with their clubs-one of the strongest panels-on paper but I suppose games are not won on paper.Are we that far behind the likes of Dublin and Meath from our group??_only was at the Dublin game and physically and fitness wise we were way off them but they are good players and hopefully some will progress to senior level with the county.

Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 168 - 04/04/2024 13:37:51    2535603

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From the starting fifteen only the following have played senior championship with their clubs: Jason Macken, Eoghan Bracken, Tadhg Baker, Darragh Lowry, Brian Cooney, Ronan Hanley, not sure that constitutes grounds for optimism at the start of a campaign with the toughest possible draw, Potentially both Leinster finalists.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1501 - 04/04/2024 14:52:06    2535621

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "From the starting fifteen only the following have played senior championship with their clubs: Jason Macken, Eoghan Bracken, Tadhg Baker, Darragh Lowry, Brian Cooney, Ronan Hanley, not sure that constitutes grounds for optimism at the start of a campaign with the toughest possible draw, Potentially both Leinster finalists."
cormac monaghan

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1804 - 04/04/2024 15:13:06    2535630

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