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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To jobber:  "A fine game and football needed it. As for the replay very hard to call but Daragh Egertons fitness or not will be important.
I dont have any doubt the winner will be very competitive with the Meath champions.Both Lomans and The Downs have been in Leinster finals in recent years something neither Meath club has done."
Since 2013, only Mullinalaghta and Moorefield{ which to be fair you could say Loman's threw it away that day} have managed to win the Leinster club football championship, with the Dublin champions claiming the title in all other years. Mullnalaghta triumphed in 2018, while Moorefield secured their victory in 2017.

Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 24 - 13/10/2024 19:28:22    2574611

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Replying To Temple56:  "Missing Shane Dempsey and Ronan O Toole today were big losses for Lomans"
Ronan O'Toole played the full game......

Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 24 - 13/10/2024 19:29:24    2574612

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Replying To Fighting-Cocks69:  "After watching today's game, I find it difficult to imagine either team overcoming Wolfe Tones or Dunshaughlin."
What a strange comment after a top class final with superb scores and great defending

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1881 - 13/10/2024 19:30:19    2574613

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Replying To Temple56:  "Missing Shane Dempsey and Ronan O Toole today were big losses for Lomans"
Not sure if you're clueless or trying to be smart, either way an embarrassing comment

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1881 - 13/10/2024 19:31:15    2574614

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "What a strange comment after a top class final with superb scores and great defending"
I agree with you on the great scoring side of things, but I don't think Loman's team will be happy with their defending at times.

Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 24 - 13/10/2024 19:40:29    2574618

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I'm glad it's a replay, but that mix up at the end with extra time then no extra time was unbelievable on the part of the county board. Never in all my days have I seen such mediocrity.

WmeathWarrior (Westmeath) - Posts: 62 - 13/10/2024 19:43:03    2574620

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Replying To Fighting-Cocks69:  "After watching today's game, I find it difficult to imagine either team overcoming Wolfe Tones or Dunshaughlin."
Ah will ya stop, different ball game

stonemadbeany (USA) - Posts: 590 - 13/10/2024 20:14:09    2574626

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Replying To philbrown:  "Is next year now a write off for westmeath , what's the realistic ambitions ? Relegation to div 4 within 2 years , stay within 10 pts of kildare , win a group game in tailteann Cup. What was the point in all the work in getting promoted to div 2 in league and all ireland series if number of key lads are now all gonna walk away from playing... Was the Mickey Harte talk a few months back all just rumour and have we just to accept long transition period in div 4 ? Always seems like we're playing catch up , can't build on any progress"
Next year is written off without even kicking a ball while suddenly Kildare are a 10 pt better team than us. Kildare were relegated from Div 2 on zero points this year. They beat Wicklow by a point in the Leinster quarter final before losing to Laois in the Tailteann semi final. They since had a new manager come in on a 4 year plan with the aim of being competitive with the top teams in the 4th year. Kildare are at a low base going into 2025. Every team has to deal with injuries, retirements and breaks. Consolidation in Div 2 and beating Kildare should be the short term target.

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 233 - 13/10/2024 20:21:23    2574629

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Great game.
Two best teams in final.
Major pr disaster by board.
Teams prepping for extratime and after 10 minutes in dressing room then to be told well actually it's a replay..
So embarrassing

Greenandgoldie (Westmeath) - Posts: 154 - 13/10/2024 20:38:18    2574634

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Both teams will be kicking themselves in one way and in another will be relieved to fight another day on the face of it obvs lomans got out of jail with late equaliser but Nathan lolly was fouled on his run to goal which would have left them with a free in a score able area to go 2 up with 2 to go …. Credit to both sides a draw a fair result can't fault either team both sets of players left it out there and instead of slating players let's give them credit …. County board seemingly sent regulations to teams during week which stated there was extra time and apologised to both teams for getting it wrong in dressing rooms after game …. Pricing for next weeks game will be interesting

TheGaaMan77 (Westmeath) - Posts: 61 - 13/10/2024 20:38:37    2574635

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Replying To Fighting-Cocks69:  "After watching today's game, I find it difficult to imagine either team overcoming Wolfe Tones or Dunshaughlin."
I wouldnt agree. St Lomans or The Downs could well be favorites to beat Wolfe Tones or Dunshaughlin. St Lomans would have more experience in Leinster than any of the Meath teams. The Meath champions havent made much of a dent since the old Dunshaughlin side of the early 00s. Dunshaughlin have a young team with many players from recent successful Meath underage teams. The quality of the scores from both teams in todays final was excellent despite all the mistakes.

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 233 - 13/10/2024 20:42:31    2574636

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Replying To BigSur:  "Dermot McCabe"
Aidan Dunning, Damian Gavin and John Murray teaming up with him . At least it's sorted these lads know Westmeath football inside out

Undertheroad (Westmeath) - Posts: 65 - 13/10/2024 21:47:46    2574650

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Replying To Undertheroad:  "Aidan Dunning, Damian Gavin and John Murray teaming up with him . At least it's sorted these lads know Westmeath football inside out"
Not the names I heard. Mark McHugh and Martin McCabe based on chatter in Cusack Park today.

BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1159 - 13/10/2024 22:02:54    2574655

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Regarding the extra time/replay controversy.

Westmeath county finals always go to replays. I remember 3 years ago Lomans/Garrycatsle went to a replay. It then went to extra time in the replay.

Someone in the county board really messed up. It is in the planning report sent to clubs are the start of the year that senior final is the be replayed if a draw AET.

Today's game was a great one. It would have been unfair on both teams if they had to go for another 20 mins. They deserve the chance to have another crack at each other over 60mins.

A total of only 4 wides in the game. Two great teams and for the person on this forum who said Westmeath champions won't beat Meath champions you are mad! Who ever wins next weekend will be favourites to get to a Leinster final on that side of the draw!

Johnny Lynam my man of the match. A lot of people including myself criticised him when he 1st broke into the Westmeath team but by god he's turned into a monster and that catch in the last few mins was a sign of a great leader.

Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 495 - 13/10/2024 22:06:32    2574657

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Replying To TheGaaMan77:  "Both teams will be kicking themselves in one way and in another will be relieved to fight another day on the face of it obvs lomans got out of jail with late equaliser but Nathan lolly was fouled on his run to goal which would have left them with a free in a score able area to go 2 up with 2 to go …. Credit to both sides a draw a fair result can't fault either team both sets of players left it out there and instead of slating players let's give them credit …. County board seemingly sent regulations to teams during week which stated there was extra time and apologised to both teams for getting it wrong in dressing rooms after game …. Pricing for next weeks game will be interesting"
Lally was strong when he came on, it certainly looked like a foul but a few people were saying after that Lynam got a fair tackle in to disposses him. Paddy Dowdall has a lot of thinking to do with his team for the replay. Do you start Shane Dempsey if he's fit? Foy? O'Keefe kept Mitchell quiet for most of the game which is not easily done. O'Toole will have nightmares of Joey Moran. If I was Johnny Murray I'd be ripping for letting St Loman's in so easy for that last point, similarly to how Athlone gifted them a scoreable free to bring their quarter final to extra time. It's called poor game management. The shot accuracy was like inter county so credit to both teams.

iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 75 - 13/10/2024 22:06:49    2574658

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Shane Dempsey was visibly limping before game, hard to see how a muscle injury could heal in just 5-6 days, a big loss to Loman's as they clearly need Heslin at midfield and their inside forwards are more manageable without those two inside

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1881 - 13/10/2024 22:56:33    2574675

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Replying To iarmhiabu:  "Lally was strong when he came on, it certainly looked like a foul but a few people were saying after that Lynam got a fair tackle in to disposses him. Paddy Dowdall has a lot of thinking to do with his team for the replay. Do you start Shane Dempsey if he's fit? Foy? O'Keefe kept Mitchell quiet for most of the game which is not easily done. O'Toole will have nightmares of Joey Moran. If I was Johnny Murray I'd be ripping for letting St Loman's in so easy for that last point, similarly to how Athlone gifted them a scoreable free to bring their quarter final to extra time. It's called poor game management. The shot accuracy was like inter county so credit to both teams."
There's no way Dempsey plays, he did damage to his hamstring/quad area in the warm up by the looks of things. Egerton also out, there's no recovery window for those two for next weekend. Both had heavy strappings on the their legs and in a final you can't be any way off pace. Foy should to be at wing back. He's an exceptional wing back and does far more damage from there. If not wing back, I'd keep him for an impact at half time. There will be tired bodies everywhere next weekend. Lynam outstanding yesterday. Sam McCartan better than outstanding. Luke's Loughlins goal, some of John Heslins scores. It was a brilliant final really, with a huge crowd. Maybe the county board got greedy at the last minute for a replay but I think the game deserved the replay. Lomans to win next weekend if they can tweak the positions and personnel.

WmeathWarrior (Westmeath) - Posts: 62 - 14/10/2024 08:16:57    2574698

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As another poster suggested it is a very underwhelming appointment up there with the likes of Paul Bealin and Brendan Hackett. Hoping the rumors of strong backroom team are true. Possibly that's all that could be acquired with very little interest in the job. I hope sincerely that i am proved wrong.

Dazzler30 (Westmeath) - Posts: 32 - 14/10/2024 09:16:05    2574709

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A brilliant game yesterday. Both teams will be glad to get another chance and disappointed not to get the win. Plenty of outstanding performances namely drumm, Nolan, lynam, luke for downs and heslin,sam, o'keefe fot lomans. Still fancy lomans in replay but as I have previously said the downs are very capable team. I think they were bit naive after going a point up in injury time to let lomans build for the final score. The county board let themselves down again with the error at full time. I would have thought they would read there own policy about replays in finals. Here is hoping they have a county manager in place for the replay

Upforthegame23 (Westmeath) - Posts: 101 - 14/10/2024 09:51:09    2574717

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Lomans cant play so poorly again, Lomans by 5 in replay

lakecounty90 (Westmeath) - Posts: 115 - 14/10/2024 10:03:34    2574719

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