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Westmeath Football thread

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Great final, the downs were the better team overall & they could dominate for a few years. Lomans possibly will have a few retirements & management change & i cant see anyone other than lomans getting close to the downs in the next 2-3 years. Maybe shamrorcks will make a burst & will likley win a championship in the next 5 years but the downs with all of their underage success & strong senior panel are going to be winning alot more. Good luck to then in Leinster.

Left Full (Westmeath) - Posts: 286 - 12/10/2026 11:18:53    2696962

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The game certainly done Westmeath club football's reputation no harm anyway, great that it was on TG4. Great game and really could have went either way, Lomans had a few poor misses in the second half that on another day could have went over. As has been the case all year Lomans need minimum 8/10 performances from the 2 McCartans, Heslin and Dempsey to win games and they didn't get that yesterday. Thought both McCartans were poor given the high standards they have played at all year. Heslin gave an exhibition of place kicking, it really is a joy to watch when he's shooting like that. I think it's fair to say he doesnt offer much from play anymore but makes up for it with the quality of his frees. Dempsey was quiet enough and well marshalled. O'Toole was a huge boost for Lomans and he had a great game with 5 points from play. Thought The Downs had match ups right bar O'Toole, he was a constant thorn. The Downs had a stronger 15 and that's ultimately what it came down to. Lomans too reliant on the same few and have 3 or 4 passengers which is too many to carry at this level. Each player for The Downs offered something, from Oisin Loughlin man marking Sam McCartan to Luke Loughlin and Mitchell getting the important scores, they got 1-13 between them out of 1-18. The Downs finished strongly in added time scoring 3 points without reply, with Lomans getting a 2 pointer at the very end. Cox gave away a silly foul and probably was in an unnatural position back defending. If rumours are anything to go by that is his last game for a while. Sam McCartan also gave away a sloppy foul but was probably tired legs.
The Downs are extremely well drilled and I think they have unfinished business in Leinster. Had a very bad day against Tullamore and will be looking to rectify that this year by going far. They have Clonguish first, I've seen them play a few times and The Downs will beat them by 8+. Not sure who they play after that, maybe someone can clarify?
Thought the referee done well overall but one major error he made was to not give Danny McCartan a penalty for a push on the back and a black card for O'Sullivan. This could have been a major factor in the game and I think was definitely the wrong decision to only give a free and no black card.
Would love to see Mitchell get significant game time with the county footballers next year, think he has a lot to offer at that level and him and Luke have a great understanding of eachother's games. Some of the balls Luke kicked into Mitchell were top class. Others I'd like to see called in are Joe Moran, Billy Moffatt and Ciaran Nolan, although I think Moran and Nolan were in before but weren't happy with game time.

BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 112 - 12/10/2026 11:51:29    2696970

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Replying To BlueAndWhite099:  "Great game of football could've went either way , personally think lomans threw it away with them wides in second half. Why was there rules brought in for goal scoring opportunities to be punished as a penalty and black card if the referees aren't goin to use them, Lomans should've had a penalty when Danny Mccartan was through and got pushed other then that was well reffed and congrats to the Downs. Plenty of championships left in that Lomans team"
That is only a trial rule. Goal scoring opportunity only applies to black cards at the minute. Push in the back isn't a black card. Think it should be brought in though so we will see how trial rules pan out

Westmeath2024 (Westmeath) - Posts: 16 - 12/10/2026 11:59:37    2696975

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Replying To Iarmhisamhi:  "Lomans's will certainly be kicking themselves as this was a game they really could have won. The missed chances were key. When you lose by a point, one looks at so many key moments that could have got them over the line. A draw might have been the fairer result on the day, yet the Downs are still a quality team, are deserved champions and were still able to overcome their softer passage to the final. Good to see Ronan o' Toole back and still playing great football. He should be a big asset to Westmeath if he returns. Mind you, we don't know how changes of personnel ever affect internal dynamics of a team.
Looks like the Downs will be at the top for a while as some younger players have come in and played well. It will be interesting to see will Loman's remain the main opposition over the next 2/3 years or can Kinnegad, Tubberclair and maybe Shamrocks make a challenge. C/K were definitely the next best this year, but not getting a championship in the last 4 years when they were a match for the top 2 will hurt them. As well as that, letting Lomans draw with them in the group this year when they had them on the rack, possibly cost them a county final appearance. Tubberclair will need to get fitter and adjust to playing strong sides regularly so it will be interesting to see can they move things on again next year. Shamrocks have bloodied a lot of new players but are still way off the top 2/3. I don't see any other side in the mix over the next 3/4 years.
Current top 12 ranking
1. The Downs
2. St Lomans
3. C/Kinnegad
4. Tubberclair
5. Shamrocks
6. Garrycastle
7. Moate
8. Athlone
9. Killucan
10. Shandonagh
11. Caulry
12. Tyrellspass"
How are Kinnegad definitely the next best. - they lost to Lomans by 10+ points whereas Tclair brought them to extra time and had multiple chances to win it. Tclair also one of the fittest teams in the county with a young age profile and training 4 times a week.

How could Shamrocks be ahead of Garrycastle in a current power ranking when Garrycastle finished ahead of them this year and beat them on head to head.

Dennis_Maroon95kg (Westmeath) - Posts: 10 - 12/10/2026 12:25:11    2696977

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The game certainly done Westmeath club football's reputation no harm anyway, great that it was on TG4. Great game and really could have went either way, Lomans had a few poor misses in the second half that on another day could have went over. As has been the case all year Lomans need minimum 8/10 performances from the 2 McCartans, Heslin and Dempsey to win games and they didn't get that yesterday. Thought both McCartans were poor given the high standards they have played at all year. Heslin gave an exhibition of place kicking, it really is a joy to watch when he's shooting like that. I think it's fair to say he doesnt offer much from play anymore but makes up for it with the quality of his frees. Dempsey was quiet enough and well marshalled. O'Toole was a huge boost for Lomans and he had a great game with 5 points from play. Thought The Downs had match ups right bar O'Toole, he was a constant thorn. The Downs had a stronger 15 and that's ultimately what it came down to. Lomans too reliant on the same few and have 3 or 4 passengers which is too many to carry at this level. Each player for The Downs offered something, from Oisin Loughlin man marking Sam McCartan to Luke Loughlin and Mitchell getting the important scores, they got 1-13 between them out of 1-18. The Downs finished strongly in added time scoring 3 points without reply, with Lomans getting a 2 pointer at the very end. Cox gave away a silly foul and probably was in an unnatural position back defending. If rumours are anything to go by that is his last game for a while. Sam McCartan also gave away a sloppy foul but was probably tired legs.
The Downs are extremely well drilled and I think they have unfinished business in Leinster. Had a very bad day against Tullamore and will be looking to rectify that this year by going far. They have Clonguish first, I've seen them play a few times and The Downs will beat them by 8+. Not sure who they play after that, maybe someone can clarify?

BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 112 - 12/10/2026 12:28:13    2696979

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Replying To Dennis_Maroon95kg:  "How are Kinnegad definitely the next best. - they lost to Lomans by 10+ points whereas Tclair brought them to extra time and had multiple chances to win it. Tclair also one of the fittest teams in the county with a young age profile and training 4 times a week.

How could Shamrocks be ahead of Garrycastle in a current power ranking when Garrycastle finished ahead of them this year and beat them on head to head."
I agree, and Shandonagh in 10th and they are an intermediate team and may still be an intermediate team next year.

BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 112 - 12/10/2026 12:33:20    2696982

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Thought the referee done well overall but one major error he made was to not give Danny McCartan a penalty for a push on the back and a black card for O'Sullivan. This could have been a major factor in the game and I think was definitely the wrong decision to only give a free and no black card.
Would love to see Mitchell get significant game time with the county footballers next year, think he has a lot to offer at that level and him and Luke have a great understanding of eachother's games. Some of the balls Luke kicked into Mitchell were top class. Others I'd like to see called in are Joe Moran, Billy Moffatt and Ciaran Nolan, although I think Moran and Nolan were in before but weren't happy with game time.

BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 112 - 12/10/2026 12:33:46    2696983

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Would love to see Mitchell get significant game time with the county footballers next year, think he has a lot to offer at that level and him and Luke have a great understanding of eachother's games. Some of the balls Luke kicked into Mitchell were top class. Others I'd like to see called in are Joe Moran, Billy Moffatt and Ciaran Nolan, although I think Moran and Nolan were in before but weren't happy with game time. O'Toole will be a massive addition as well if he commits.

BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 112 - 12/10/2026 12:40:49    2696990

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Replying To BadgerDog:  "The game certainly done Westmeath club football's reputation no harm anyway, great that it was on TG4. Great game and really could have went either way, Lomans had a few poor misses in the second half that on another day could have went over. As has been the case all year Lomans need minimum 8/10 performances from the 2 McCartans, Heslin and Dempsey to win games and they didn't get that yesterday. Thought both McCartans were poor given the high standards they have played at all year. Heslin gave an exhibition of place kicking, it really is a joy to watch when he's shooting like that. I think it's fair to say he doesnt offer much from play anymore but makes up for it with the quality of his frees. Dempsey was quiet enough and well marshalled. O'Toole was a huge boost for Lomans and he had a great game with 5 points from play. Thought The Downs had match ups right bar O'Toole, he was a constant thorn. The Downs had a stronger 15 and that's ultimately what it came down to. Lomans too reliant on the same few and have 3 or 4 passengers which is too many to carry at this level. Each player for The Downs offered something, from Oisin Loughlin man marking Sam McCartan to Luke Loughlin and Mitchell getting the important scores, they got 1-13 between them out of 1-18. The Downs finished strongly in added time scoring 3 points without reply, with Lomans getting a 2 pointer at the very end. Cox gave away a silly foul and probably was in an unnatural position back defending. If rumours are anything to go by that is his last game for a while. Sam McCartan also gave away a sloppy foul but was probably tired legs.
The Downs are extremely well drilled and I think they have unfinished business in Leinster. Had a very bad day against Tullamore and will be looking to rectify that this year by going far. They have Clonguish first, I've seen them play a few times and The Downs will beat them by 8+. Not sure who they play after that, maybe someone can clarify?"
Clonguish is a good young side and had a strong win yesterday, but yeah i'd still expect the downs to win handy.

Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 246 - 12/10/2026 12:54:29    2697002

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Replying To BadgerDog:  "Thought the referee done well overall but one major error he made was to not give Danny McCartan a penalty for a push on the back and a black card for O'Sullivan. This could have been a major factor in the game and I think was definitely the wrong decision to only give a free and no black card.
Would love to see Mitchell get significant game time with the county footballers next year, think he has a lot to offer at that level and him and Luke have a great understanding of eachother's games. Some of the balls Luke kicked into Mitchell were top class. Others I'd like to see called in are Joe Moran, Billy Moffatt and Ciaran Nolan, although I think Moran and Nolan were in before but weren't happy with game time."
He will award frees for those challenges all day but once it's inside the square the whistle goes silent and he will make some sign language that nobody knows what it means. The inconsistency is glaring.

gaelicgab (USA) - Posts: 894 - 12/10/2026 13:37:43    2697006

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