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Westmeath Football thread

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After the weekend gone by I have now seen all 12 Senior teams play and its extremely hard to look beyond The Downs. Would probably have Kinnegad as their closest challengers but even at that I still think they are a bit off them. Lomans would be next in line and I do think if they get out of the group they will be hard to beat as they're well accustomed to knockout football and getting over the line in tight games. After that everyone else is miles off to be honest. The Downs will be hoping for Tubberclair Moate All Whites or Athlone in a semi final. Caulry have had a poor year which is no harm, might keep a few of them out that way quiet for a while. Mullingar Shamrocks fell off the wagon, maybe injuries didnt help. Garrycastle still have a chance of qualifying and credit to them for putting themselves in that positon.
Section B has two dead rubber games which is disappointing as Section B used to always come down to the last round given only 2 qualified and every game was massive. Ironic that the club that enforced the new format are now knocked out. Milltown and St Malachys flying high in Section A, a draw would actually put both sides in the semi final. Milltownpass v Shandonagh is a winner takes all and should be a humdinger.
Ballymore are flying in section B and are safely through with a game to spare. Ballinagore have also been brilliant, only Junior 2 a couple of years ago and are now on the brink of an intermediate quarter final. Their games with Rbridge will be massive. Maryland V Castletown in the relegation play off will be a tight one to call, neither side have been playing well.

BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 40 - 31/08/2026 10:46:57    2692077

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Replying To DelaneyCup2026:  "Would I be correct that you can't be relegated on head to head so a Bun win could force a playoff?"
No in the junior the bottom team in each group play a relegation playoff

DanGer966 (Westmeath) - Posts: 57 - 31/08/2026 11:11:39    2692082

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I don't know how any one club could enforce the new format when every single club in the county had a vote on it?

IarmhiSupporter (Westmeath) - Posts: 7 - 31/08/2026 11:29:48    2692087

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Replying To BadgerDog:  "After the weekend gone by I have now seen all 12 Senior teams play and its extremely hard to look beyond The Downs. Would probably have Kinnegad as their closest challengers but even at that I still think they are a bit off them. Lomans would be next in line and I do think if they get out of the group they will be hard to beat as they're well accustomed to knockout football and getting over the line in tight games. After that everyone else is miles off to be honest. The Downs will be hoping for Tubberclair Moate All Whites or Athlone in a semi final. Caulry have had a poor year which is no harm, might keep a few of them out that way quiet for a while. Mullingar Shamrocks fell off the wagon, maybe injuries didnt help. Garrycastle still have a chance of qualifying and credit to them for putting themselves in that positon.
Section B has two dead rubber games which is disappointing as Section B used to always come down to the last round given only 2 qualified and every game was massive. Ironic that the club that enforced the new format are now knocked out. Milltown and St Malachys flying high in Section A, a draw would actually put both sides in the semi final. Milltownpass v Shandonagh is a winner takes all and should be a humdinger.
Ballymore are flying in section B and are safely through with a game to spare. Ballinagore have also been brilliant, only Junior 2 a couple of years ago and are now on the brink of an intermediate quarter final. Their games with Rbridge will be massive. Maryland V Castletown in the relegation play off will be a tight one to call, neither side have been playing well."
Who do you claim forced the change in format?

Heff79 (Westmeath) - Posts: 11 - 31/08/2026 11:43:29    2692096

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Replying To jobber:  "We are getting to the crucial stage of the championships now but i have to say when you see it in the cold light of day that two out of Lomans,Shamrocks and Garrycastle will go out of the senior football championship is in terms of quality a disaster. Maybe Athlone and Moate might surprise me but surely in terms of merit the board have got it totally wrong."
Ive seen Garrycastle twice, Shamrocks and Lomans once, and all three of Moate, Tubberclair and Athlone are better or just as good IMO...

Saying that, there is no point in having the two group system if the same amount of teams get into the QF from each group. The previous form was much better IMO.

Corofin123 (Westmeath) - Posts: 29 - 31/08/2026 11:48:43    2692100

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Tubberclair Athlone and Moate through in Section B but important games to decide which two get to Section A. Tang vs Tyrrellspass a relegation play off essentially as is Finea vs Maryland. Milltownpass vs Shandonagh a knockout game too as is Ballinagore vs The Bridge. Garrycastle need to beat The Downs which would jeopardise The Downs qualifying."
If the current system is kept, you might be better off staying in Section B

Corofin123 (Westmeath) - Posts: 29 - 31/08/2026 11:50:46    2692101

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Replying To Heff79:  "Who do you claim forced the change in format?"
Killucan pushed for it, bye bye

Lakeman93 (Westmeath) - Posts: 27 - 31/08/2026 12:33:39    2692111

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Replying To Corofin123:  "If the current system is kept, you might be better off staying in Section B"
Honestly - think they forgot if they were to do it this format it had to be a total open draw. Not seeded still, teams in the A are at a clear disadvantage to the poorer B sides. Over half the teams in the county (B side) were set to benefit so see how it got pushed/voted through. Terrible decision by WCB, majority of games next round mean nothing

Lakeman93 (Westmeath) - Posts: 27 - 31/08/2026 12:36:25    2692112

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Replying To Corofin123:  "Ive seen Garrycastle twice, Shamrocks and Lomans once, and all three of Moate, Tubberclair and Athlone are better or just as good IMO...

Saying that, there is no point in having the two group system if the same amount of teams get into the QF from each group. The previous form was much better IMO."
Well we will see how they do in the knock out stages but apart from Tubberclair the others are not at the higher level.Kinnegad and The Downs would hammer them and Lomans and Garrycastle probably would as well.
Obviously i agree with the last line.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 2003 - 31/08/2026 13:24:15    2692126

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Replying To Lakeman93:  "Killucan pushed for it, bye bye"
Did they propose it or just vote on it?

CasKD (Westmeath) - Posts: 54 - 31/08/2026 14:00:44    2692134

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Replying To jobber:  "Well we will see how they do in the knock out stages but apart from Tubberclair the others are not at the higher level.Kinnegad and The Downs would hammer them and Lomans and Garrycastle probably would as well.
Obviously i agree with the last line."
I would argue Tubberclair also aren't at the higher level YET. They more than likely will be in a couple of years time. They beat Moate who were missing a couple of key players, Tpass had basically their junior team out against them, Killucan had their chances to beat them and then they beat Tang who have lost all their games. Its between The Downs Kinnegad and Lomans, no one else has any sort of a chance.

BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 40 - 31/08/2026 14:13:39    2692137

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Replying To jobber:  "We are getting to the crucial stage of the championships now but i have to say when you see it in the cold light of day that two out of Lomans,Shamrocks and Garrycastle will go out of the senior football championship is in terms of quality a disaster. Maybe Athlone and Moate might surprise me but surely in terms of merit the board have got it totally wrong."
Merit is needed to win the championship not just because they're successful in the past means nothing. Championship is designed by nature for the best teams to win. If anything this new system has shown has much coasting was done in the previous format. Do enough to get to the knockout and then go flat out. It's been remarked on here that lomans look flat unfit in games. Probably they haven't adjusted to the new system however flawed it is. 4 draws tells its own story regarding the table. No doubt whichever two don't get through will be clamouring to get the old system back next yr.
If anything I'm surprised they've all been caught napping regarding getting out off the group. Real bite has been added to the group stages and it's only now we can see that. Being the 4th best team in group A and not getting out should be painful and focus the mind on dog eat dog championship football not happy clappy let's all get medals football. Someone will always be unhappy with formats it's up to teams to get to grips with it straight away and play what's in front of you.
Who knows the whole thing might change totally again next yr.

2maroonjerseys (Galway) - Posts: 193 - 31/08/2026 14:16:01    2692140

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Replying To jobber:  "We are getting to the crucial stage of the championships now but i have to say when you see it in the cold light of day that two out of Lomans,Shamrocks and Garrycastle will go out of the senior football championship is in terms of quality a disaster. Maybe Athlone and Moate might surprise me but surely in terms of merit the board have got it totally wrong."
I really don't think there'd be much between Garrycastle, Mullingar, Moate, Tubberclair and Athlone. So to say it's a disaster isn't really correct.

Huge game in Intermediate next week, Shandonagh may just get over the line but that would be huge if they lose. The pressure is all really on them and could suit Milltownpass, who although would be disappointed to get knocked out will still fancy a free hit at the favourites. Garrycastle are the exact type of team you could never rule against but surely The Downs have too much. Based on the remaining fixtures the big three will probably scrape through.

DelaneyCup2026 (Westmeath) - Posts: 37 - 31/08/2026 14:38:42    2692145

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Replying To Lakeman93:  "Killucan pushed for it, bye bye"
Old format the best format we ever had.

I fear the county board will change it again to a new format and play the "we don't have enough time to play 5 rounds because of the new spilt season" card.

Killucan and the likes that cant make the top 2 in group B and qualify is not unfair, its just that they aren't good enough.

Garrycastle last year and Tubberclair this year both top group B after winning Intermediate the year before. In the last few years Tang and Calury have also won intermediate and in the next 2 years qualified for QF.

All of Garrycastle, The Downs, Kinnegad and Shamrocks have played in group B in the last few years and have all showed by coming straight back up that it can be done.

Id love to hear one argument against the old format?

Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 666 - 31/08/2026 15:02:41    2692149

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Morgan Gavigan has to be called up by Mark McHugh. A super talent!

Also I was in the Brigid yesterday for double header, some of the Athlone and Garrycastle players are well good enough to play county football! Not sure why they don't is it because there not from Mullingar?

Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 666 - 31/08/2026 15:05:41    2692150

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