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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To Claretandblue: "Reality is we need to start planning for future, we're not going to be in next year's Sam Maguire bar an unlikely draw in Leinster, will be minimum of two years before we qualify by finishing in top 5-6 in div 2 of league, we finished 21st this year, hard to see us finishing 14th in two years time. That means the core central group like Kevin Mag, Kieran Mart, Jason, John H, Jimmy D and possibly others will be well into autumn of inter county careers, these lads backboned Leinster under 21 side in 2010, 34-35 years old by 2025 with exception of John H. 7-8 of this year's under 20s need to be blooded, Sam Smyth in defence, Danny Scahill, Dillon Murtagh, Matt Whittaker when fit, Danny McCartan, Briain Cooney, Definitely brought on to senior panel immediately and tried, will be difficult but beneficial long term." bring on the club season the summer is coming mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1800 - 03/05/2023 15:44:18 2475454 Link
Just tracking some of the club leagues. Looks like Lomans v Kinnegad in the div 1 final - both unbeaten and drew when they met in the earlier stages. Presume both teams will insist on playing final with county players - will that happen after county are finished and before championship starts ? I believe The Downs have alot of injuries and some lads travelling as well as county hurlers. 3rd or 4th is respectable all things considered and no doubt the focus will be on retaining the Flanagan Cup. Shamrocks have been the surprise packet for me - have won 5/7 and also in contention for 3rd or 4th. Castledaly look in trouble and could be joined by Tyrellspass or Tang. Athlone flying high in div 2 and look good for a return to the top tier. Milltownpass currently in 2nd and looking good but will be under pressure from Tubberclair and Caulry. Killucan and Ballynacargy look doomed for the drop. In div 3, Lomans second string and St Malachy's look good for promotion with The Downs and Garrycastle in the drop zone. BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1129 - 03/05/2023 23:23:21 2475549 Link
Replying To philbrown: "Nightmare draw, needed momentum of leinster final place to make any impact in all ireland series. I know it's going over old ground but the Louth game was so damaging it can't be underestimated. Bottom line is that Louth, Roscommon have gone about things right way with long term plan, westmeath with a make it up as ya go along plan. Real worry is for westmeath football beyond this year, cud a new management coax some of the more experienced players to remain and is there some youth to add in.. Bigger question again is whether there is the funds or the will at top level to go for an experienced manager.. Dessie a legend but board made a mess of things and need to hold their hands up" philbrown - what are you talking about? We have a manager. I for one would not be in favour of treating Dessie Dolan in such a manner. He should be given time. Mistakes may have been made but who out there hasn't made some. Thankfully such decisions are not made off the cuff like that. Meridian (Westmeath) - Posts: 601 - 04/05/2023 08:02:31 2475557 Link
Replying To Meridian: "philbrown - what are you talking about? We have a manager. I for one would not be in favour of treating Dessie Dolan in such a manner. He should be given time. Mistakes may have been made but who out there hasn't made some. Thankfully such decisions are not made off the cuff like that." no we wait until we are in division 4 mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1800 - 04/05/2023 10:18:39 2475578 Link
Replying To BigSur: "Just tracking some of the club leagues. Looks like Lomans v Kinnegad in the div 1 final - both unbeaten and drew when they met in the earlier stages. Presume both teams will insist on playing final with county players - will that happen after county are finished and before championship starts ? I believe The Downs have alot of injuries and some lads travelling as well as county hurlers. 3rd or 4th is respectable all things considered and no doubt the focus will be on retaining the Flanagan Cup. Shamrocks have been the surprise packet for me - have won 5/7 and also in contention for 3rd or 4th. Castledaly look in trouble and could be joined by Tyrellspass or Tang. Athlone flying high in div 2 and look good for a return to the top tier. Milltownpass currently in 2nd and looking good but will be under pressure from Tubberclair and Caulry. Killucan and Ballynacargy look doomed for the drop. In div 3, Lomans second string and St Malachy's look good for promotion with The Downs and Garrycastle in the drop zone." Not sure Division 3 is so clear cut. Shamrocks are unbeaten, but have played fewer games. The Downs second team heading towards Div 4 is surprising as it's only a couple of years ago they were Div 2. They do have a lot of county commitments. Lomans and Kinnegad have been winning most games comfortably in Div 1 , which bodes very well for both. Shamrocks have done well, as you say. But they have not had to contend with being without county players. From what I hear O'Brien has been a huge addition after retiring from pro rugby. jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 443 - 04/05/2023 10:37:35 2475591 Link
Replying To jamsie: "Not sure Division 3 is so clear cut. Shamrocks are unbeaten, but have played fewer games. The Downs second team heading towards Div 4 is surprising as it's only a couple of years ago they were Div 2. They do have a lot of county commitments. Lomans and Kinnegad have been winning most games comfortably in Div 1 , which bodes very well for both. Shamrocks have done well, as you say. But they have not had to contend with being without county players. From what I hear O'Brien has been a huge addition after retiring from pro rugby." Shamrocks have played all their games with virtually a full hand and havent played the Downs or Kinnegad ,so on the face of it while it looks good they still have alot of ground to gain Thechick (Westmeath) - Posts: 232 - 04/05/2023 11:49:05 2475621 Link
Replying To Meridian: "philbrown - what are you talking about? We have a manager. I for one would not be in favour of treating Dessie Dolan in such a manner. He should be given time. Mistakes may have been made but who out there hasn't made some. Thankfully such decisions are not made off the cuff like that." -Would you be happy with league and championship performances in 2023 ? -Do you have confidence that westmeath get promoted and progress in 2024 ? "Mistakes have been made" is being generous. I have nothing personal against Dessie, I felt from day 1 the appointment was wrong. That's down to county board. Tailteann Cup win gave huge opportunity to drive on and improve, zero ambition shown philbrown (Westmeath) - Posts: 228 - 04/05/2023 14:49:37 2475697 Link
Shamrocks going very well its good to see . The Downs will be flying for championship will they retain it or will Lomans come back or will it be a new Team to Win. It will be exciting hopefully anyways Bettyboo22 (Westmeath) - Posts: 108 - 04/05/2023 14:53:00 2475699 Link
Minors lost 1-15 to 3-7 to Longford tonight. Pretty miserable year losing every game. How can we improve underage? What are other counties doing right that we could look to replicate? Wmeath2 (Westmeath) - Posts: 176 - 10/05/2023 21:46:29 2477451 Link
Well done to Westmeath GAA for the improvements in Cusick Park, keep up the good work plenty more to do but a very good start. Kuga (Westmeath) - Posts: 52 - 11/05/2023 12:29:51 2477565 Link
Replying To Bettyboo22: "Shamrocks going very well its good to see . The Downs will be flying for championship will they retain it or will Lomans come back or will it be a new Team to Win. It will be exciting hopefully anyways" Final couple of league games will be a good chance for teams to have competitive action before championship. The Downs, Lomans, Kinnegad would be favourites in that order. Very open with the other teams. Expect Caulry, Tyrrelspass and Athlone to have a good year Both Sections A & B of the Senior Championship are going to be exciting Mountlin (Westmeath) - Posts: 52 - 11/05/2023 14:22:55 2477622 Link
Replying To Mountlin: "Final couple of league games will be a good chance for teams to have competitive action before championship. The Downs, Lomans, Kinnegad would be favourites in that order. Very open with the other teams. Expect Caulry, Tyrrelspass and Athlone to have a good year Both Sections A & B of the Senior Championship are going to be exciting" One (or both) of Caulry and Tyrrellspass will fail to make the knock out stages. Unless you think one of your 3 favourites will miss out. Do agree that Athlone will go well in Section B. jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 443 - 11/05/2023 16:11:01 2477672 Link
Replying To Wmeath2: "Minors lost 1-15 to 3-7 to Longford tonight. Pretty miserable year losing every game. How can we improve underage? What are other counties doing right that we could look to replicate?" Showed promise in first game , should have beaten Meath but were no match for Louth or Dubs. Same management with this group of players since U13, beat Dubs in Ted Webb U16. This is the system in place in many counties . It would be typical if Kildare won the All Ireland U20. A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 174 - 11/05/2023 16:20:12 2477682 Link
Replying To Mountlin: "Final couple of league games will be a good chance for teams to have competitive action before championship. The Downs, Lomans, Kinnegad would be favourites in that order. Very open with the other teams. Expect Caulry, Tyrrelspass and Athlone to have a good year Both Sections A & B of the Senior Championship are going to be exciting" ye that's the way the bookies have them too. Should be a great championship hopefully Iarmhi tv will be showing games too great to get to see games ya wouldn't get to . Roll on July Bettyboo22 (Westmeath) - Posts: 108 - 11/05/2023 20:31:36 2477739 Link
Replying To A_Chairde: "Showed promise in first game , should have beaten Meath but were no match for Louth or Dubs. Same management with this group of players since U13, beat Dubs in Ted Webb U16. This is the system in place in many counties . It would be typical if Kildare won the All Ireland U20." Are we one of the only counties with little or no access to Cusack Park for our teams/clubs/schools. Longford appear to play all underage games in Pearse Park along with schools games. Our u17s sent to Kinnegad and our U20s were in Kinnegad/Lomans TigerWoods90 (Westmeath) - Posts: 142 - 11/05/2023 21:37:45 2477746 Link
Replying To jamsie: "One (or both) of Caulry and Tyrrellspass will fail to make the knock out stages. Unless you think one of your 3 favourites will miss out. Do agree that Athlone will go well in Section B." Agree it's be between Caulry & Tyrrellspass who'll drop to Section B for 2024. Caulry squad is the strongest it's been since they have been Senior so I think it be Caulry who will stay senior A and they will get to at least a Q/F again Mountlin (Westmeath) - Posts: 52 - 12/05/2023 01:04:04 2477758 Link
Replying To philbrown: "-Would you be happy with league and championship performances in 2023 ? -Do you have confidence that westmeath get promoted and progress in 2024 ? "Mistakes have been made" is being generous. I have nothing personal against Dessie, I felt from day 1 the appointment was wrong. That's down to county board. Tailteann Cup win gave huge opportunity to drive on and improve, zero ambition shown" In 2023 I wouldn't be happy but not because of Dessie. More because I believe we don't have the players. We are not a Div 2 team. Not by a long stretch. Nobody was expecting us to beat Louth. Just because we had a great first half we thought we should have won but in reality the real Louth came alive in the second half and the truth is we couldn't live with them. The only criticism I would have on Dessie is he should have always been planning for 2024. He needed to blood more youthful players in Championship (who had played during the League) but he reverted to players who didn't play in the League at all. For 2024, see above. He should be planning now for this as 2023 is done. We should be throwing youth at this now (AI Group Stage) and yes, we will get some severe beatings but they are coming no matter what team we put out. We may as well get some use out of it by testing our young players. I think Dessie, or any other Manager, should be given time. But because it is Dessie he does deserve a chance and a bit of patience from supporters. Meridian (Westmeath) - Posts: 601 - 12/05/2023 10:00:47 2477783 Link
Replying To Mountlin: "Agree it's be between Caulry & Tyrrellspass who'll drop to Section B for 2024. Caulry squad is the strongest it's been since they have been Senior so I think it be Caulry who will stay senior A and they will get to at least a Q/F again" I think both will go down with killucan making a quarter final instead they almost beat lomans last year in a semi final with a young team can only see them getting better Westmeathno1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 5 - 12/05/2023 11:00:28 2477803 Link
Replying To TigerWoods90: "Are we one of the only counties with little or no access to Cusack Park for our teams/clubs/schools. Longford appear to play all underage games in Pearse Park along with schools games. Our u17s sent to Kinnegad and our U20s were in Kinnegad/Lomans" Having no lights in Cusack is the issue here. U17 and U20 footballers played their one and only home games in Leinster on a week night in early April. A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 174 - 12/05/2023 11:54:01 2477824 Link
Replying To Mountlin: "Agree it's be between Caulry & Tyrrellspass who'll drop to Section B for 2024. Caulry squad is the strongest it's been since they have been Senior so I think it be Caulry who will stay senior A and they will get to at least a Q/F again" Can almost see mickcunningham sharpening his pencil! jfd (Westmeath) - Posts: 240 - 12/05/2023 14:18:34 2477877 Link