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Westmeath Hurling thread

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Not sure how it was a missed opportunity for the Gaels. They made a fine comeback from six down before half time and led by 2-3 at one stage but never more than that. Very even game, draw seemed a fair result, cracking final. Great crowd. Replay next Saturday with Intermediate football?

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2407 - 19/10/2025 18:11:58    2640661

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Cracking senior final today, wonderful entertainment especially for the neutrals. For me LLG left it behind and will be gutted. Had a couple of chances to go 2 up but missed. It was frenetic throughout and thought the standard was excellent. Another ref that let if flow and it did contribute to the spectacles. LLG must have a light bench, very few subs used. CG to comfortably prevail the next day.

Regarding the Senior B replay, my main gripe is it being played midweek. Alot of 3rd level players involved based all over the country and others working away too. This squeeze I guess is mainly caused by the provincials but I think it could be planned better. Everyone in CP today would gladly have taken extra time I think in the Autumnal sunshine.

BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1199 - 19/10/2025 18:38:02    2640666

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Credit to St Brigids, they kept at it & got their goal at the end. Turin will be well disappointed & will be back again but as another poster has said I find it hard to see how Carey didn't start. Turin have some very good young hurlers.
Delvin kept at it as well & could have pipped it at the end, it should make for a great replay. I agree that this championship should have been finished a few weeks ago so the fixtures guys need to look at the schedule.
Senior final was a great game, draw probably the fairest result. It was evident that Castletown were a bit rusty since their last competitive games was a good few weeks ago. Hard to call the replay but I think Gaels maybe missed their chance today.
David Williams is an excellent hurler but the way he goads opposition players is not nice, I don't see any other top county players doing it.

Left Full (Westmeath) - Posts: 263 - 19/10/2025 19:10:46    2640674

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Gaels may have missed their chance but time will tell, they definitely matched Castletown from the start. But the goal they gifted Castletown to get back into it was a disaster.

Bigjoe1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 76 - 19/10/2025 19:22:39    2640678

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Pitch looked in good condition from terrace but prob right call to postpone minor match. Rumours of replay of senior on the bank holiday Monday which would allow minor to go ahead before it as planned today. Senior B final in Loman's on Tuesday night

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2407 - 19/10/2025 19:31:54    2640680

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Pitch looked in good condition from terrace but prob right call to postpone minor match. Rumours of replay of senior on the bank holiday Monday which would allow minor to go ahead before it as planned today. Senior B final in Loman's on Tuesday night"
Highly unlikely the minor will he played on bank holiday Monday.
The downs play mullingar shamrocks in the minor football final on Sunday @1:15pm before the senior football final.
There would be an outrageous amount of crossover of players between the downs & clonkill and plunketts and shamrocks.
Would definitely be unfair to ask these players to play 2 county final in 2 days when there is no rush to get the minor played as obviously there is no Leinster competitions like at adult level

Westmeath213 (Westmeath) - Posts: 340 - 19/10/2025 22:00:43    2640694

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Good point. Any standout players for Kevin O' Brien to look at from the finals? Chris Daly and Mullen for Brigid's were lively, Darragh Smith for Turin has a fine strike, Josh Coll, Darragh Clinton for Delvin, Maguire for Plunketts maybe, Kennedy for the Gaels and Gavigan from Castletown

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2407 - 19/10/2025 22:44:58    2640704

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Wasn't able to make the game watched on iarmhi TV the level of camera work was poor also the half time sound full of issues for 15 euro its a very poor quality service when you compare it to clubber. They're a long time on the go now you'd think it would not be as dire as what the camera was yesterday.

Dazzler30 (Westmeath) - Posts: 67 - 20/10/2025 08:16:50    2640720

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A very entertaining final llg got out of the blocks early but Niall o Briens dead ball accuracy kept ctg in it. After 11/12 mins ctg got to grips with llg and began to control the game but lack of match practice told with silly mistakes like underhitting passes or launching ball into space with no one there from ctg and llg were able to capitalise on recovering the ball first at least three llg points came from mental errors again lack of match sharpness by ctg. Going into halftime 6 up it was a cardinal sin to let llg peg it back to 5 after a ctg wide and llg won thier puck out to level.
Joggers goal was always coming with all the ball he was catching all game, eventually he had to get clean through on one. It gave llg a big lift.The second one was a disaster ctgs backs switched off to that quick one being taken again lack of match practice told.
Llg just weren't good enough to kick on when they went two points up. Ctg fought like tigers to first get the draw and then nearly win it in last seconds of game.
David o Reilly will be a lot sharper the next day jack Gallagher tried but he's better running on to ball rather than winning it conditions certainly didn't suit his game yesterday. I thought the ref was ok but the Sun might have blinded him a lot in the second half looking up towards dunnes stores end he might have missed a few ahem fouls on ctg players, ctg had plenty of wides in 2nd half more down to lack of championship game time. CTGs puck outs going long every time they should have at least looked to hit a few short ones especially in second half when one half back in particular was free on the left a lot of the time. LLGs puck out to the right worked out a lot in the second half they got a lot of joy down that side ctg couldn't or didn't get to grips with it fully. Although CTGs chance to win the game came from a very poor puckout in injury time.
A lot of lack of match practice errors did as much to nearly loose this final for ctg as much as llg hurled to win it. I can't see ctg being as loose with the passes and point attempts the next day.
Here's hoping for nice weather and a good, great game of hurling next Monday.

2maroonjerseys (Galway) - Posts: 115 - 20/10/2025 09:28:18    2640737

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Seems a trifle harsh on the Gaels, Castletown mistakes also due to pressure by the Gaels, very few of the Castletown forwards bar O' Reilly stood out, think Niall O' B got one point before half time, not sure how many others scored from play, the Gaels forwards overall contributed far more from play, yesterday will give them great confidence, six points behind against the favourites and came back well, its 50-50 for replay

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2407 - 20/10/2025 10:15:07    2640750

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Replying To 2maroonjerseys:  "A very entertaining final llg got out of the blocks early but Niall o Briens dead ball accuracy kept ctg in it. After 11/12 mins ctg got to grips with llg and began to control the game but lack of match practice told with silly mistakes like underhitting passes or launching ball into space with no one there from ctg and llg were able to capitalise on recovering the ball first at least three llg points came from mental errors again lack of match sharpness by ctg. Going into halftime 6 up it was a cardinal sin to let llg peg it back to 5 after a ctg wide and llg won thier puck out to level.
Joggers goal was always coming with all the ball he was catching all game, eventually he had to get clean through on one. It gave llg a big lift.The second one was a disaster ctgs backs switched off to that quick one being taken again lack of match practice told.
Llg just weren't good enough to kick on when they went two points up. Ctg fought like tigers to first get the draw and then nearly win it in last seconds of game.
David o Reilly will be a lot sharper the next day jack Gallagher tried but he's better running on to ball rather than winning it conditions certainly didn't suit his game yesterday. I thought the ref was ok but the Sun might have blinded him a lot in the second half looking up towards dunnes stores end he might have missed a few ahem fouls on ctg players, ctg had plenty of wides in 2nd half more down to lack of championship game time. CTGs puck outs going long every time they should have at least looked to hit a few short ones especially in second half when one half back in particular was free on the left a lot of the time. LLGs puck out to the right worked out a lot in the second half they got a lot of joy down that side ctg couldn't or didn't get to grips with it fully. Although CTGs chance to win the game came from a very poor puckout in injury time.
A lot of lack of match practice errors did as much to nearly loose this final for ctg as much as llg hurled to win it. I can't see ctg being as loose with the passes and point attempts the next day.
Here's hoping for nice weather and a good, great game of hurling next Monday."
CTG and LLG played in the league section of the championship on a summers pitch with no problems of match fitness as you describe it.Castletown won by a point with a very controversial goal decision.So i dont buy your match fitness argument.
People need to realize that this Gaels team is a high class outfit with some fantastic players.
The Castletown goal was a freak event and O Brien got more frees to convert than Williams.
I suspect the CTG half forward line will do better the next day but maybe their best days are over?
Time will tell.
I think the replay should be a great match after a great weekend of hurling entertainment.
Referees get a lot of criticism but all three were excellent.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1798 - 20/10/2025 10:19:41    2640752

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Replying To jobber:  "CTG and LLG played in the league section of the championship on a summers pitch with no problems of match fitness as you describe it.Castletown won by a point with a very controversial goal decision.So i dont buy your match fitness argument.
People need to realize that this Gaels team is a high class outfit with some fantastic players.
The Castletown goal was a freak event and O Brien got more frees to convert than Williams.
I suspect the CTG half forward line will do better the next day but maybe their best days are over?
Time will tell.
I think the replay should be a great match after a great weekend of hurling entertainment.
Referees get a lot of criticism but all three were excellent."
Well thats a bit of a ridiculous comment to say CTG's best days are over, I expect them to beat the gaels with a few points to spare the next day. The semi final really stood to the Gaels, now Castletown have a good competitive game under their belt they will be far sharper the next day. Castletowns goal came from a mistake yes but so did the two Gaels goals, one was from McKenna misjudging the high ball and it fell kindly to Jogger, the other was a case of Castletown not lining the goals properly and David Williams struck an excellent goal from a free. The Gaels gave it their all yesterday and were unlucky to not come out with a win however Castletown weren't near their best yesterday and still came away with a draw. So I would expect Castletown to be far improved the next day, dont understand how you can say their best days are behind them when they've been the standout team of the championship undefeated!

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1050 - 20/10/2025 10:58:46    2640764

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Regarding players for Kevin O'Brien to look at for the county I think Dean Ennis and Josh Coll are exceptional for Delvin and should be invited in, Fenlon at corner forward for Delvin has been good too. Chris Daly from Brigids was mentioned, he had a great championship and has loads of pace. Darragh Smith and Sean Leech from Turin, O'Rourke from Fr Daltons always looks good for them.
Kevin O'Brien has been involved with two of our u20 teams over the last few years and I would imagine he has a relationship with a lot of those players which could help in encouraging some of them to come in.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1050 - 20/10/2025 11:10:43    2640766

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Replying To jobber:  "CTG and LLG played in the league section of the championship on a summers pitch with no problems of match fitness as you describe it.Castletown won by a point with a very controversial goal decision.So i dont buy your match fitness argument.
People need to realize that this Gaels team is a high class outfit with some fantastic players.
The Castletown goal was a freak event and O Brien got more frees to convert than Williams.
I suspect the CTG half forward line will do better the next day but maybe their best days are over?
Time will tell.
I think the replay should be a great match after a great weekend of hurling entertainment.
Referees get a lot of criticism but all three were excellent."
Match sharpness, more than fitness. That's not in question for either team. The longer break would take that bit of sharpness from ctg while llg were coming in from the semi with less of a break between matches.

2maroonjerseys (Galway) - Posts: 115 - 20/10/2025 11:27:00    2640768

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Interesting to see some remark saying that castletown maybe finished We see next week personallythink that's ridiculous statement.

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1040 - 20/10/2025 11:28:44    2640770

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Replying To Dheen:  "Well thats a bit of a ridiculous comment to say CTG's best days are over, I expect them to beat the gaels with a few points to spare the next day. The semi final really stood to the Gaels, now Castletown have a good competitive game under their belt they will be far sharper the next day. Castletowns goal came from a mistake yes but so did the two Gaels goals, one was from McKenna misjudging the high ball and it fell kindly to Jogger, the other was a case of Castletown not lining the goals properly and David Williams struck an excellent goal from a free. The Gaels gave it their all yesterday and were unlucky to not come out with a win however Castletown weren't near their best yesterday and still came away with a draw. So I would expect Castletown to be far improved the next day, dont understand how you can say their best days are behind them when they've been the standout team of the championship undefeated!"
I didnt say any such thing. Read before you criticize.
I was referring to their half forward line which featured one of the best players who ever donned the black and amber and maroon shirts and another one who could have been. Neither are in the full bloom of youth.
Also if you had read it correctly i didnt say they had past their best.I merely asked the question.A valid one id say.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1798 - 20/10/2025 13:28:24    2640803

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What would concern me from a Castletown perspective is on both occasions this year against LLG they were cruising and got caught when Tommy Doyle went into full forward. This tactic worked for LLG against Castletown twice.
Castletown could not cope with it after half time.
I would worry about it as they had time to prepare for it and didn't appear to have a solution.
Allowing Jack Murphy to sweep eventually probably saved the game for CTG.

Blackjack (Westmeath) - Posts: 42 - 20/10/2025 14:28:46    2640819

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Fantastic final yesterday one of the best in years, high tempo, great skill and passion by both teams. Both teams could have won it, it really was that tight. I still think it will be 50/50 in the replay. CTG will be concerned that Reilly was the only forward who had any significant impact, O'Brien did well on the frees but not prominent in general play. Gaels will feel they can still win this if they can cut out the silly fouling. It will really will come down to who has the greater hunger and desire in the replay, I don't expect there will be much in it. The referee had a great game too, thought he got all the decisions correct. Super advertisement for Westmeath hurling.

FrMick (Westmeath) - Posts: 21 - 20/10/2025 15:21:25    2640829

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Replying To FrMick:  "Fantastic final yesterday one of the best in years, high tempo, great skill and passion by both teams. Both teams could have won it, it really was that tight. I still think it will be 50/50 in the replay. CTG will be concerned that Reilly was the only forward who had any significant impact, O'Brien did well on the frees but not prominent in general play. Gaels will feel they can still win this if they can cut out the silly fouling. It will really will come down to who has the greater hunger and desire in the replay, I don't expect there will be much in it. The referee had a great game too, thought he got all the decisions correct. Super advertisement for Westmeath hurling."
Couldnt agree more. A great weekend but still people underestimate the Gaels.I still fancy CTG but there are big questions to be answered and some of the stars who failed to shine yesterday have a lot of miles on the clock.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1798 - 20/10/2025 16:33:05    2640847

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Replying To Dazzler30:  "Wasn't able to make the game watched on iarmhi TV the level of camera work was poor also the half time sound full of issues for 15 euro its a very poor quality service when you compare it to clubber. They're a long time on the go now you'd think it would not be as dire as what the camera was yesterday."
Agree Totally. However B Shaw was a breath of fresh air. Very entertaining game and hope the right team comes out on top next week. Does the Ref change hope not as Barry had a great game.

Loughlenegale (Westmeath) - Posts: 5 - 20/10/2025 16:53:37    2640851

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