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Disappointing result for the 20s. We actually started very well - missed an easy free and a big goal chance, and we had plenty of ball in the first 10 minutes but just couldn't convert. That left us with a serious hill to climb.
Going forward in the B Competition, you'd like to see the likes of Seán Whittaker and a few of the younger lads get more game time. Even when we weren't at it, you could see how important Scahill is to this team and the damage he can do - definite Leinster-winning potential in this group over the next year or two.
Kildare are very strong. Some serious forwards - Móran Kelly and number 12 in particular were excellent, taking scores off both feet with real pace.
All in all, you'd hope Kenny gets another year or two with this squad. He's building something and you can see the progression from the Louth game.
Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 167 - 23/04/2026 19:45:16
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Replying To Fighting-Cocks69: "Disappointing result for the 20s. We actually started very well - missed an easy free and a big goal chance, and we had plenty of ball in the first 10 minutes but just couldn't convert. That left us with a serious hill to climb.
Going forward in the B Competition, you'd like to see the likes of Seán Whittaker and a few of the younger lads get more game time. Even when we weren't at it, you could see how important Scahill is to this team and the damage he can do - definite Leinster-winning potential in this group over the next year or two.
Kildare are very strong. Some serious forwards - Móran Kelly and number 12 in particular were excellent, taking scores off both feet with real pace.
All in all, you'd hope Kenny gets another year or two with this squad. He's building something and you can see the progression from the Louth game." I dont think we get into the B competition now but open to correction
Upforthegame23 (Westmeath) - Posts: 178 - 23/04/2026 21:32:25
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Replying To Fighting-Cocks69: "Disappointing result for the 20s. We actually started very well - missed an easy free and a big goal chance, and we had plenty of ball in the first 10 minutes but just couldn't convert. That left us with a serious hill to climb.
Going forward in the B Competition, you'd like to see the likes of Seán Whittaker and a few of the younger lads get more game time. Even when we weren't at it, you could see how important Scahill is to this team and the damage he can do - definite Leinster-winning potential in this group over the next year or two.
Kildare are very strong. Some serious forwards - Móran Kelly and number 12 in particular were excellent, taking scores off both feet with real pace.
All in all, you'd hope Kenny gets another year or two with this squad. He's building something and you can see the progression from the Louth game." There is no B competition as they are now out.
OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 279 - 23/04/2026 21:54:39
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Replying To Fighting-Cocks69: "Disappointing result for the 20s. We actually started very well - missed an easy free and a big goal chance, and we had plenty of ball in the first 10 minutes but just couldn't convert. That left us with a serious hill to climb.
Going forward in the B Competition, you'd like to see the likes of Seán Whittaker and a few of the younger lads get more game time. Even when we weren't at it, you could see how important Scahill is to this team and the damage he can do - definite Leinster-winning potential in this group over the next year or two.
Kildare are very strong. Some serious forwards - Móran Kelly and number 12 in particular were excellent, taking scores off both feet with real pace.
All in all, you'd hope Kenny gets another year or two with this squad. He's building something and you can see the progression from the Louth game." Damage??
He was poor apart from frees he scored.
Joeynyc (Westmeath) - Posts: 9 - 23/04/2026 21:55:08
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Replying To Fighting-Cocks69: "Disappointing result for the 20s. We actually started very well - missed an easy free and a big goal chance, and we had plenty of ball in the first 10 minutes but just couldn't convert. That left us with a serious hill to climb.
Going forward in the B Competition, you'd like to see the likes of Seán Whittaker and a few of the younger lads get more game time. Even when we weren't at it, you could see how important Scahill is to this team and the damage he can do - definite Leinster-winning potential in this group over the next year or two.
Kildare are very strong. Some serious forwards - Móran Kelly and number 12 in particular were excellent, taking scores off both feet with real pace.
All in all, you'd hope Kenny gets another year or two with this squad. He's building something and you can see the progression from the Louth game." Agree , its important this group stick together for next year. Kildare had that bit more quality spread over the forwards. If that goal had gone in before half time it would have been a different story maybe. We gave them too much of a lead. The B competiton is for the counties that didn't make the knock out stages.
A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 392 - 23/04/2026 22:29:25
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Replying To Upforthegame23: "Is it me or have the county board no interest in u20s, still on website to be played in kinnegad, a late post just an hour ago to announce change of venue, no time announced for game, no info that its free in, I wonder how many primary and secondary kids were invited and asked to bring colour to support the team, a massive opportunity missed AGAIN. What is going on" I am sure there was a post on social media on Tuesday with the "next match" details.
On Wednesday there was a news post posted on the website "TEG Cusack Park is set for U20 Q/Final and once you open that the team & match details are there.
I don't think the Fixtures on the website for Leinster Championship games controlled by Westmeath GAA, I think it is the person who actually makes the fixture.
I think you must give credit to the people running social media as there is so much work being done there.
westmeathfan25 (Westmeath) - Posts: 8 - 24/04/2026 08:35:56
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Replying To Fighting-Cocks69: "Disappointing result for the 20s. We actually started very well - missed an easy free and a big goal chance, and we had plenty of ball in the first 10 minutes but just couldn't convert. That left us with a serious hill to climb.
Going forward in the B Competition, you'd like to see the likes of Seán Whittaker and a few of the younger lads get more game time. Even when we weren't at it, you could see how important Scahill is to this team and the damage he can do - definite Leinster-winning potential in this group over the next year or two.
Kildare are very strong. Some serious forwards - Móran Kelly and number 12 in particular were excellent, taking scores off both feet with real pace.
All in all, you'd hope Kenny gets another year or two with this squad. He's building something and you can see the progression from the Louth game." Yeah, agreed continuity is important. A slow start meant it was an uphill battle to close the gap in the second half. Its a young side, and as mentioned previously a lot of the lads in their 'last year' were unavailable this year due to injury. In fairness qualifying from the group and dumping out dublin has to be seen as a success ,with plenty to build on for next year with the strong group of players moving up from the school system. Will be interesting to see how deep kildare go into the competition,but i would expect Louth to come out of Leinster.
Not so sure there a B Competition if you reach the QF but stand to be corrected!
Highball_Lowball (Westmeath) - Posts: 17 - 24/04/2026 09:38:37
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Replying To Joeynyc: "Damage??
He was poor apart from frees he scored." There's no possible way you could make that comment if you were in attendance last night. Kicking two point frees is not taken for granted but he also was our only player catching kickouts, he was our main attacking threat despite being targeted by Kildare defence. He made the crucial goal chance before half time, without him we were looking at a 15 point defeat. To describe him as poor last night is a total lack of understanding of the game.
Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2604 - 24/04/2026 10:19:36
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Replying To westmeathfan25: "I am sure there was a post on social media on Tuesday with the "next match" details.
On Wednesday there was a news post posted on the website "TEG Cusack Park is set for U20 Q/Final and once you open that the team & match details are there.
I don't think the Fixtures on the website for Leinster Championship games controlled by Westmeath GAA, I think it is the person who actually makes the fixture.
I think you must give credit to the people running social media as there is so much work being done there." To be fair, the social media has massively improved this year and is the go to for people to see, its was on the westmeath gaa Web page that game was kinnegad, there were post on socials about game but I couldn't find time or that it was free, I fully agree the social media team have definitely been doing very well this year, i just thought they missed a trick yestetday
Upforthegame23 (Westmeath) - Posts: 178 - 24/04/2026 12:46:46
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Replying To Highball_Lowball: "Yeah, agreed continuity is important. A slow start meant it was an uphill battle to close the gap in the second half. Its a young side, and as mentioned previously a lot of the lads in their 'last year' were unavailable this year due to injury. In fairness qualifying from the group and dumping out dublin has to be seen as a success ,with plenty to build on for next year with the strong group of players moving up from the school system. Will be interesting to see how deep kildare go into the competition,but i would expect Louth to come out of Leinster.
Not so sure there a B Competition if you reach the QF but stand to be corrected!" Meath look very strong too
dickie10 (UK) - Posts: 926 - 24/04/2026 13:22:07
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Replying To Joeynyc: "Damage??
He was poor apart from frees he scored." I have to disagree totally.People have no right to individually criticise young players doing their best for their county.Let us realise that people have feelings and are vulnerable.
jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1926 - 24/04/2026 13:53:07
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Replying To Upforthegame23: "To be fair, the social media has massively improved this year and is the go to for people to see, its was on the westmeath gaa Web page that game was kinnegad, there were post on socials about game but I couldn't find time or that it was free, I fully agree the social media team have definitely been doing very well this year, i just thought they missed a trick yestetday" Think it is fair to say there has been a lot of improvement in the last couple years on the social media page! And the updating of the website this year is a great job.
westmeathfan25 (Westmeath) - Posts: 8 - 24/04/2026 14:39:31
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Replying To Fighting-Cocks69: "Disappointing result for the 20s. We actually started very well - missed an easy free and a big goal chance, and we had plenty of ball in the first 10 minutes but just couldn't convert. That left us with a serious hill to climb.
Going forward in the B Competition, you'd like to see the likes of Seán Whittaker and a few of the younger lads get more game time. Even when we weren't at it, you could see how important Scahill is to this team and the damage he can do - definite Leinster-winning potential in this group over the next year or two.
Kildare are very strong. Some serious forwards - Móran Kelly and number 12 in particular were excellent, taking scores off both feet with real pace.
All in all, you'd hope Kenny gets another year or two with this squad. He's building something and you can see the progression from the Louth game." Not sure if I was was watching same game as you, by 10th minute they were 1-06 to 0-00 and couldn't string 2 passes together without Kidare making an interception. By 20th minute they were 1-12 to 0-02. They looked out of their depth, fitness wise and physicality wise. They stood off Kildare and allowed them to shoot at will in first 20 minutes. They were blown apart in every area of the pitch. The amount of unforced errors was also very high. Having closed the gap with a few minutes to go they made poor shot selections multiple times and Kildare were able to come down the pitch and take their scores. Midfield was for the most part cleaned out apart from a few takes by Ormsby. We had no players under the breaking ball, Kildare hoovered up most of the loose ball from breaks. It was a disappointing display to say the least.
Chops (Westmeath) - Posts: 880 - 24/04/2026 17:05:39
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Scahill was our main threat despite being young for this grade. Our primary problem last night apart from the slow start was our kick out strategy or lack of. We seemed to just go long on Ormsby which was getting broken a lot and it was all Kildare lads under the breaks which is surprising considering there was no intent to go short I would've thought we'd contest breaks better. It was clear last week they had the better of us on our long kick-outs so I'm not sure why we persisted with it again this week.
Some hesitation in the first half in front of goal also didn't help, but they are young lads and they'll learn. It was a Kildare side who seemed to have a bit more maturity about them.
Midlandsman (Westmeath) - Posts: 50 - 24/04/2026 17:31:59
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These u20 lads are a talented group of players as are the minor lads and I think they should be kept together for training camps going forward.If they are to be the future senior players then that should be the focus.Also best wishes and heres to a quick recovery for Conor McCormack who underwent surgery yesterday-long road ahead but hopefully he will be back for club and county down the line.
Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 316 - 24/04/2026 18:32:56
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Replying To Claretandblue: "There's no possible way you could make that comment if you were in attendance last night. Kicking two point frees is not taken for granted but he also was our only player catching kickouts, he was our main attacking threat despite being targeted by Kildare defence. He made the crucial goal chance before half time, without him we were looking at a 15 point defeat. To describe him as poor last night is a total lack of understanding of the game." Fully agree with this tbh. People forget these are young lads just giving everything for the county. Will was class, especially considering it's his first year at U20 - you rarely see someone come in and start straight away like that, and he still has another two years at the grade.
The only thing you could even point to was that overcarrying, but that wasn't on him at all. He had 2/3 Kildare lads around him, no real option on, just got turned over.
Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 167 - 25/04/2026 00:17:12
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Replying To Chops: "Not sure if I was was watching same game as you, by 10th minute they were 1-06 to 0-00 and couldn't string 2 passes together without Kidare making an interception. By 20th minute they were 1-12 to 0-02. They looked out of their depth, fitness wise and physicality wise. They stood off Kildare and allowed them to shoot at will in first 20 minutes. They were blown apart in every area of the pitch. The amount of unforced errors was also very high. Having closed the gap with a few minutes to go they made poor shot selections multiple times and Kildare were able to come down the pitch and take their scores. Midfield was for the most part cleaned out apart from a few takes by Ormsby. We had no players under the breaking ball, Kildare hoovered up most of the loose ball from breaks. It was a disappointing display to say the least." Maybe we were watching a different game but I was just trying to take the positives from it. I thought we actually started well, just conceded a couple of very soft scores early on that put us under pressure straight away.
To be fair to them, they brought it back to four points at one stage which was massive considering where they were after 20 minutes. That showed a bit of character.
It's easy to point out the negatives - anyone can do that - but I was just trying to look at the other side of it too. Yeah it wasn't perfect and there were sloppy moments, but that's the reality, and yes, it was disappointing, we can agree on that...
Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 167 - 25/04/2026 00:21:08
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