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Westmeath Football thread

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Hogan stand tickets secured for the final . Its going to be a huge occasion mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1976 - 06/05/2026 15:28:46 2671323 Link
Great boost to have John Heslin in and around the squad in the bulid up to the final but for me not on the match day squad.Heslin has been one the best if not the best player to have played for Westmeath but there is great comradeship amonst the players now with the young lads blending in brialliantly with the older lads and a move like this might just irk some lads a bit.No doubt John Heslin still has a lot to offer but he retired from inter county after a huge career.Sometimes moves like this dont work according to plan-I seem to remember a certain player coming back and been introduced to be on the pitch to win a 9th county medal and look how that worked out.!!! Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 323 - 06/05/2026 17:44:17 2671347 Link
Replying To Lakeman93: "Agree, you are talking a month or month and a half commitment, where we might see a chance like this for another number of years. Should do all we can to bolster the squad." Surely a bit of respect for a player who might feel he's jumping on the bandwagon at this stage? Three under 20s brought in recently which is great, not sure about bringing lads in now a week before a Leinster final? Lads training since November surely deserve their opposition first Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2626 - 06/05/2026 17:55:31 2671350 Link
Who are the three under 20's? In fairness we are down a number of injured players and it makes sense to get the numbers back up in the panel for training ,competitiveness etc . Lakecounty94 (Westmeath) - Posts: 90 - 06/05/2026 18:14:16 2671356 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "Surely a bit of respect for a player who might feel he's jumping on the bandwagon at this stage? Three under 20s brought in recently which is great, not sure about bringing lads in now a week before a Leinster final? Lads training since November surely deserve their opposition first" It's more the amount of injuries really, a few of the squad and even players in the match day squad against Kildare have only been around the squad a few weeks. If we haven't had 6-8 squad players injured there's no way players would be coming in. Westmeath25 (Westmeath) - Posts: 17 - 06/05/2026 18:29:09 2671361 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "Surely a bit of respect for a player who might feel he's jumping on the bandwagon at this stage? Three under 20s brought in recently which is great, not sure about bringing lads in now a week before a Leinster final? Lads training since November surely deserve their opposition first" There's about 24 lads left in squad fit to play, need more than that going into what's basically a new campaign now, even for training. There is no jumping on the bandwagon these are players who have already gave their all for Westmeath and lads performing well at club level currently who want to help out their county team Lakeman93 (Westmeath) - Posts: 9 - 06/05/2026 19:42:58 2671369 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "Surely a bit of respect for a player who might feel he's jumping on the bandwagon at this stage? Three under 20s brought in recently which is great, not sure about bringing lads in now a week before a Leinster final? Lads training since November surely deserve their opposition first" What u20s were called in to train? Lakeman93 (Westmeath) - Posts: 9 - 06/05/2026 19:47:14 2671371 Link
Replying To Lakeman93: "What u20s were called in to train?" Mattie Thornton was one. Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1078 - 06/05/2026 20:26:51 2671374 Link
Replying To Lakeman93: "There's about 24 lads left in squad fit to play, need more than that going into what's basically a new campaign now, even for training. There is no jumping on the bandwagon these are players who have already gave their all for Westmeath and lads performing well at club level currently who want to help out their county team" Darragh O Keefe, Dillon Matthews. TJ Cox. Liam Daly, Eoghan Hogan all panel members who couldn't tog out last Sunday due to panel limited to 1-26. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2626 - 06/05/2026 20:31:48 2671375 Link
Once the squad are happy, it could be a boost but could be a risk with a player with as powerful a personality as Heslin. He is not the player he was but I'm excited to see what part he can play. With the injuries there is definitely scope to bring a few players in and a free taker is needed if Sam mc Cartan was unfit. Anyway it's great to have games to look forward to and the support has been fantastic. Iarmhisamhi (Westmeath) - Posts: 53 - 06/05/2026 20:46:19 2671377 Link
We need everyone we can get especially with Luke out. I think it would be a massive boost to have Heslin back. What a great option to come off the bench. No different to calling in some u20s , has been such a great servant to the county. mul (Westmeath) - Posts: 20 - 06/05/2026 20:56:59 2671379 Link
Don't know what planet ye boys are on Heslin isn't coming back Bluelake (Westmeath) - Posts: 360 - 06/05/2026 23:41:21 2671388 Link
Replying To Jack_Sparrow: "Mattie Thornton was one." Mitchell from moate was u20s keeper and was in dug out meath game. He was obviously brought in after conor injury Upforthegame23 (Westmeath) - Posts: 181 - 07/05/2026 05:42:55 2671390 Link
can someone enlighten me , is it true that football pundit and former county footballer john heslin is back training with the senior footballers im curious to know mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1976 - 07/05/2026 08:49:19 2671399 Link
Replying To Lakeman93: "What u20s were called in to train?" Masterson, Connell, Mitchell, Thornton. Not sure if all are actually training still or what. Appears to be just Mitchell after Conor McCormack injury. OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 283 - 07/05/2026 10:44:06 2671421 Link
Replying To mickcunningham: "can someone enlighten me , is it true that football pundit and former county footballer john heslin is back training with the senior footballers im curious to know" Its 100% true Mick. Dessie Dolan and Larry Giles back in with them too. Leftpeg1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 105 - 07/05/2026 10:51:40 2671423 Link
I was told by a player in the squad he is not back and was only there to help will not play any part. Westmeath25 (Westmeath) - Posts: 17 - 07/05/2026 11:09:09 2671429 Link