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National Forum

Westmeath Football thread

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Saturdays games were poor viewing, rosemount will be lucky to stay within 10 vs Milltown in semi final, a big jump from section A and B, Athlone and Moate game also a very poor standard, Moate had enough Grit and direct ball and maybe a forunate shot was enough, i See the Downs willing by 12/13 points however. Shane allen impressive again as was Harry Niall and Conteh was hard stop. Sundays intermediate game was men and boys, Shandonagh looked like a senior team at times but i think Ballinagore were just a step behind everywhere and in the end hammered really. Scahill looked fit and fast, Tynan also had a good game.
The Lomans game was the game of the weekend, Tubberclare will be kicking themselves they didnt win with all the chances they had, missed penalty, hit the bar and missed about 3-4 goal chances and a shot at the end to win it. Lomans still have that know how, the Mccartans were there best players by far, when they needed them they stood up, Heslin was kept very quiet and probably only touched the ball 5 or 6 times but drifted out then and kicked two unbelievable twos of his weaker foot and nailed the frees, Dempsey caused hassle in first half but went out of it then. Whitaker didnt look fully right and i think a huge missed chance by a team which will be knocking on the door for the next few years.

PowellJohn3 (Westmeath) - Posts: 106 - 15/09/2026 14:53:49    2693910

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Replying To BadgerDog:  "Entertaining weekend by all accounts, all games bar Shandonagh Ballinagore were well contested. Lomans found a way to creep over the line but Tubberclair pushed them all the way in fairness. Moate have been the big winners from the new format, came 3rd in Section B and are now in a semi final while the other 2 section B teams are out, but that's not their fault. Huge progress from them as I don't think they ever made it out of the group since they first came up to Senior in 2021. They'll be confident ahead of a one off game with The Downs but very hard to see them winning, just think they may be undercooked going into this having not played a Section A team, there is a big step up from Section B to Section A apart from Tubberclair.
In fairness I would have said there was a big gap between the big 3 and the rest but based on the weekend Tubberclair aren't too far off and will only improve as the years go on.
I do think its inevitable that the format will be changed for next year, when you do stop and think about it is farcical that Moate could get to a county semi final this year and technically be relegated next year."
Moate finished second, for your information

MichaelScott (Westmeath) - Posts: 2 - 15/09/2026 16:34:38    2693928

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Replying To BadgerDog:  "Some good contests to look forward to this weekend, Saturday in particular with 2 local derbies.
Senior
Athlone v Moate: Huge opportunity for both teams to get to a county semi final, probably won't get a better chance than this year as I would say the format will change next year. Local derby and tough one to call, Moate won when they met in the group but I think Athlone have improved since then. Gonna go for Athlone to win narrowly.
St Lomans v Tubberclair: Actually give Tubberclair a good chance in this. Lomans have been poor this year compared to their usual high standards. Weren't overly impressive in beating Caulry but got the job done. However, they are still unbeaten this year and they are extremely hard to beat in knockout games, in the last 10 years they have only lost 4 games in Westmeath in knockout football. Tubberclair have impressed so far and have a good youthful team but I think they may have too many fires to put out in terms of the match winners Lomans have. Lomans to stumble over the line.
Inter
Shandonagh v Ballinagore: Ballinagore deserve all the credit they get this year, they have been brilliant and fair play to them for getting through to the quarter final. Ennis getting a serious tune out of them and McDaniels being back has been a major help too. I do think this will be a step too far for them as Shandonagh were impressive at the weekend. I think they have the backs to shut down McDaniels and if he isn't firing they will struggle. Shandonagh to win by 10+.
Ballymore v Rosemount: Local derby and expecting this to be tight. Big opportunity for both of these teams, I think Rosemount may just get over the line but wouldn't rule out Ballymore by any means."
Ballymore put up a good fight but couldnt stop rosemount in the end lacking that bit of talent that rosemount have

BallymoreBest (Westmeath) - Posts: 1 - 15/09/2026 20:03:40    2693944

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Replying To Shamrock72:  "Agree with your post. I think Moate are very lucky to be where they are. The new format has definitely worked in their favour this year. Being realistic, the only really strong team they played in this year's championship was Tubberclair, and they beat Moate well. Apart from that, they've mainly been playing teams who would be considered intermediate standard.I was at the Tang game as well, and if Tang had a few more legs in the second half, they could probably have hung on. It does make you wonder whether the new format is actually working. Tubberclair finished top of Section B and, in my opinion, got very little reward for it. They should have been rewarded with Athlone, while Moate should arguably have got St Loman's.On the Moate back line, I thought they were shocking at times, particularly in the first half. The better teams will expose that. Moate have produced some very good footballers over the last few years, but they need to start bringing the next group through to replace some of the older lads.I genuinely can't understand why more of the U20 players aren't getting a chance. If they were good enough to start at county U20 level, surely they're good enough to be starting or at least getting serious game time with Moate. I've seen Curran and Murray play plenty of times. Curran is a great ball carrier and Murray is a real handful for any defender. He can be a bit hot-headed at times, but you need a bit of fire and aggression if you're going to win something.I was also surprised to see Darragh Lowery taken off. I thought he was doing okay and he's a serious young talent. Surely these are the lads Moate should be looking to build around going forward."
Moate are the new Caulry.

iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 392 - 15/09/2026 23:25:16    2693953

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Replying To PowellJohn3:  "Saturdays games were poor viewing, rosemount will be lucky to stay within 10 vs Milltown in semi final, a big jump from section A and B, Athlone and Moate game also a very poor standard, Moate had enough Grit and direct ball and maybe a forunate shot was enough, i See the Downs willing by 12/13 points however. Shane allen impressive again as was Harry Niall and Conteh was hard stop. Sundays intermediate game was men and boys, Shandonagh looked like a senior team at times but i think Ballinagore were just a step behind everywhere and in the end hammered really. Scahill looked fit and fast, Tynan also had a good game.
The Lomans game was the game of the weekend, Tubberclare will be kicking themselves they didnt win with all the chances they had, missed penalty, hit the bar and missed about 3-4 goal chances and a shot at the end to win it. Lomans still have that know how, the Mccartans were there best players by far, when they needed them they stood up, Heslin was kept very quiet and probably only touched the ball 5 or 6 times but drifted out then and kicked two unbelievable twos of his weaker foot and nailed the frees, Dempsey caused hassle in first half but went out of it then. Whitaker didnt look fully right and i think a huge missed chance by a team which will be knocking on the door for the next few years."
Moate really don't deserve all the nonsense been said about them . I see them really having a go at The Downs . Murry will get his chance

Undertheroad (Westmeath) - Posts: 100 - 15/09/2026 23:27:07    2693954

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Replying To Undertheroad:  "Moate really don't deserve all the nonsense been said about them . I see them really having a go at The Downs . Murry will get his chance"
I hope you're right and Moate give The Downs a good game. It would be great for Westmeath football if they could really put it up to them. I can only go on what I've seen so far, though.The other thing is, Moate haven't really played anyone of the top teams yet, apart from Tubberclair, and Tubberclair beat them fairly well. So it's hard to know exactly where Moate are at until they come up against a team like The Downs.If Moate don't sort out that full-back line and bring a bit more energy into the forward line, I honestly can't see them getting within 7 or 8 points of The Downs. Their back line has been all over the place in the last few matches, especially in the first half. At times they were chasing shadows - they looked like a farmer without a farm at times!
Hopefully I'm completely wrong and Moate put in a big performance and give The Downs a proper game. It would be great to see, and it would be brilliant for Westmeath football if Moate could cause a surprise.

Shamrock72 (Westmeath) - Posts: 3 - 16/09/2026 10:07:38    2693962

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Replying To MichaelScott:  "Moate finished second, for your information"
Apologies Michael.

BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 60 - 16/09/2026 10:21:19    2693966

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Replying To Undertheroad:  "Moate really don't deserve all the nonsense been said about them . I see them really having a go at The Downs . Murry will get his chance"
Sounds like people trying to be smart, with Lowry, Whitney, Forde, Conteh, Niall among others they are a good side.

DelaneyCup2026 (Westmeath) - Posts: 54 - 16/09/2026 10:51:59    2693968

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Interesting that Hogan Stand seems to have finally found its way to Moate

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2798 - 16/09/2026 13:23:19    2693996

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Good to see Moate lads have discovered Hogan Stand. Ye young lads should focus on the football and tryna get your place on the team and not be running down your team mates who have got ye to a semi final.

BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 60 - 16/09/2026 15:49:49    2694014

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County board having a football review with everything up for discussion next week. Probably the senior format will be changed. Tweaks to intermediate and the junior championship will have to be looked at otherwise there'll be no proper junior clubs left only the second and third teams playing. Something might be happening as it was talked about on the podcast Monday night, rightly or wrongly all 2nd and 3rd teams should be in their own competition. If that means a proper junior championship and then leave those teams in their own championship format.
Senior
Intermediate
Junior
Then replace the junior two with championship for second and third teams.
No new competition created just tweak the junior two.

2maroonjerseys (Galway) - Posts: 202 - 16/09/2026 16:32:20    2694020

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Replying To BadgerDog:  "Good to see Moate lads have discovered Hogan Stand. Ye young lads should focus on the football and tryna get your place on the team and not be running down your team mates who have got ye to a semi final."
I'd imagine it's more like sunshine supporters and some of these lads buddies down at the pub. I haven't heard of half of the names people have mentioned apart from Curran and Murray.

Any given team can be open to criticism but the level of detail by lads on this forum and the backlash the team is getting after winning a suggests that there's trouble amongst Moate supporters. It's wrong. The Moate team without all the players lads have mentioned above have brought them to this semi final, people in moate should be respectful of that.

Should be more focus put on Kinnegad and Lomans, that'll be the better semi final of the two. Lomans heavily reliant on a few players but they always eke out a result. Cooney will have Kinnegad set up defensively, they are a quick team who move the ball well and an aging lomans forwardline might struggle with their pace out from the back.

I was in Cusack last Saturday and expected lads to be playing that didn't, but the bickering going on on the forum won't help.

Aodhan Curran only returning to play from big injury anyway so he's doubtful. I'd expect Ronan Murray to feature against the downs in moates biggest game in 20 odd years and I hope Murray lives up to the hype Saturday week and gives these lads on the forum what they want.

Blackandamber25 (Westmeath) - Posts: 5 - 16/09/2026 18:29:41    2694029

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Replying To 2maroonjerseys:  "County board having a football review with everything up for discussion next week. Probably the senior format will be changed. Tweaks to intermediate and the junior championship will have to be looked at otherwise there'll be no proper junior clubs left only the second and third teams playing. Something might be happening as it was talked about on the podcast Monday night, rightly or wrongly all 2nd and 3rd teams should be in their own competition. If that means a proper junior championship and then leave those teams in their own championship format.
Senior
Intermediate
Junior
Then replace the junior two with championship for second and third teams.
No new competition created just tweak the junior two."
Why not go with a really radical idea? For example have a Senior B competition where its compulsory for Senior teams to enter. Similarly an Intermediate B competition solely for Intermediate teams. Then if a club had enough players they could enter a 3rd team into Junior where they could be grouped with other 3rd teams where top 2 go into a QF .The proper Junior teams would then have a fair crack at winning the Junior Championship. And surely a Senior B or Inter B won in those conditions would have serious value. Maybe I'm raving.

kingfixer1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 10 - 16/09/2026 20:11:56    2694041

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Replying To BadgerDog:  "Good to see Moate lads have discovered Hogan Stand. Ye young lads should focus on the football and tryna get your place on the team and not be running down your team mates who have got ye to a semi final."
I think everyone is entitled to their opinion on a forum, and if people think Moate should be considered contenders for the championship, that's fair enough. I don't know if the original post was looking for people to clap them on the back.I go to plenty of club games around the county and played myself for around 20 years, and in my opinion Moate have had a very favourable run to the semi-final. The only senior team they have played that I would consider a serious test was Tubberclair, and they were beaten fairly convincingly in that game. The semi-final will tell us a lot more.And to be honest, I wouldn't blame some of the lads who aren't getting game time for voicing their opinions on here. From what I've seen, there are lads on the Moate panel who, in my opinion, are better footballers than some of the lads currently getting regular game time.
If lads actually feel they have to come onto an anonymous forum to express themselves because they aren't getting an opportunity within the club, that must be fairly frustrating for them. It would certainly give the impression that it's a fairly closed shop when it comes to getting your chance.
Moate have some very good young footballers coming through, and it would be a shame if any of them became frustrated or lost interest because they weren't getting opportunities.
Fair play to Moate for reaching the semi-final. They can only beat what's put in front of them, and maybe they'll prove me completely wrong. But having seen them this year, I'm now leaning towards The Downs coming through the semi-final when they meet on Saturday week. I think that game will give us a much better indication of where Moate really stand against one of the top sides.

RamblingHen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1 - 16/09/2026 23:13:32    2694049

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