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Westmeath Hurling thread

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Trying not to be over critical but that was probably our worst performance in 10 + years, Laois forwards waltzed through us far too easy, definitely 1 elder player not up to this level anymore. Kildare away now looks tricky where a few years ago wouldn't have been guaranteed a win.

Bigjoe1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 63 - 19/04/2025 18:52:36    2602856

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Change should have been made after the league, beating carlow worked out way worse because westmeath were already relegated.. relegation to Christy ring looks possible now especially after Kerry winning today

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 796 - 19/04/2025 20:10:09    2602885

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Replying To preddan:  "Change should have been made after the league, beating carlow worked out way worse because westmeath were already relegated.. relegation to Christy ring looks possible now especially after Kerry winning today"
Having to play Kerry in the final game down in Tralee is a disaster.

They are very hard to beat down there.

Past hurler (None) - Posts: 913 - 19/04/2025 23:30:28    2602935

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Replying To Past hurler:  "Having to play Kerry in the final game down in Tralee is a disaster.

They are very hard to beat down there."
I'd actually say we have a better record away to Kerry traditionally

westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 311 - 20/04/2025 09:27:21    2602967

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Longer term thinking needed now, relegation to CR may not be a disaster, look at Offaly now and they were in CR 3-4 years ago, management needs to put faith in younger players, target improvement over 2-3 years, build a team around Clarke, Cunneen, Williams, O' Reilly, McCormack, Under 20s this year, we have 5-6 lads or more who have given fine service but legs are gone,

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2131 - 20/04/2025 11:39:05    2603007

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Longer term thinking needed now, relegation to CR may not be a disaster, look at Offaly now and they were in CR 3-4 years ago, management needs to put faith in younger players, target improvement over 2-3 years, build a team around Clarke, Cunneen, Williams, O' Reilly, McCormack, Under 20s this year, we have 5-6 lads or more who have given fine service but legs are gone,"
Yeah I would have to agree with that, we need to think ahead now. Looking at the minor team and what's coming behind them there is quality young players there that need to be looked after and we can come again with a new team built around the players mentioned. There's been a transition coming and this is it now, like Offaly had a few years back. We also have good coaches within our own county like Johnny Greville, Kevin O'Brien, Brendan McKeogh, Andrew Dermody etc who have been doing great work with our underage squads and they need to be looked after also. Give one of them a shot at managing our seniors for a change.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1025 - 20/04/2025 13:07:04    2603027

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Longer term thinking needed now, relegation to CR may not be a disaster, look at Offaly now and they were in CR 3-4 years ago, management needs to put faith in younger players, target improvement over 2-3 years, build a team around Clarke, Cunneen, Williams, O' Reilly, McCormack, Under 20s this year, we have 5-6 lads or more who have given fine service but legs are gone,"
it would be a disaster for westmeath i would think. When Offaly went down in 2019 they already had a tradition of winning all irelands(all of them in living memory), winning leinsters etc and they had their centre of excellence (faithful fields) developed at that stage, the personal on board at county board level to put their shoulder to the wheel to get them back to the top never to allow that situation happen again.
Westmeath still have no centre of excellence(part of which i believe that a breakthrough has not been made at underage etc at this stage, im not a big fan of over S&C but if you cant beat them join them), have a good tradition of hurling but little success and im worried if they did go down would the county board throw more resources at football and neglect the hurling more than ever before.
The christy ring cup standard looks weaker than ever before also, a lot of potential dual players could just throw in the towel altogether and leave the county hurling. that is the danger of the present situation.

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 796 - 20/04/2025 13:15:20    2603029

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A lot of people have us relegated after 1 game, really. I expect us to bounce back against Kildare next week, and beat Down at home in round 3. Carlow in round 4 looks beyond us though, and going to Tralee will be a dead rubber and a piss up.
Yesterday was a bad day, management need to look at their decisions, strange that Eoin Keyes played wing back all league, but wasn't brought on at half time when both wing backs were subbed. It's not Kevin Regan's fault that he was brought on, he was obviously rusty and is only back training a few weeks, with zero game time. I don't think D.Hickey played any league, he got a baptism of fire yesterday. Losing Glennon from the throw in was a massive loss, imo D.Williams should've went into the corner, and P.Clarke out to midfield.
We were also missing Egerton, Aonghus & Birmingham from the backs from last year's team, add in lads that didn't come back to the panel, we're probably missing 10 off last year's panel, no surprise we are where we are, but hopefully not as bad as relegation material.

stonemadbeany (USA) - Posts: 607 - 20/04/2025 13:59:52    2603049

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On a more positive note... the minors do look quiet decent under McKeogh, they are already qualified for a preliminary quarter final with the 3 wins from 3 under their belt, hopefully they take Offaly next weekend and top the group. 12 of this group are underage again next year and I think they can make a real impression this year and next year. Conor Williams is one of the most gifted hurlers I've seen come through in some time along with many others I dont want to put any pressure on them, but there has been great work put in from the clubs and CBS Mullingar who are competing at A level at schools in pretty much all age groups now. We are of course at a big disadvantage without the centre of excellence but it is what it is, county board are trying to make it happen. We really need a breakthrough at underage, came very close in 2011 minor, 2015 minor, 2016/2017 u21s, and 2020 minor. Maybe we will see it something happen from the groups coming along now. A breakthrough at underage would bring out more supporters and drive things on and help maybe get more funding towards centre of excellence etc.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1025 - 20/04/2025 15:28:28    2603072

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Replying To preddan:  "it would be a disaster for westmeath i would think. When Offaly went down in 2019 they already had a tradition of winning all irelands(all of them in living memory), winning leinsters etc and they had their centre of excellence (faithful fields) developed at that stage, the personal on board at county board level to put their shoulder to the wheel to get them back to the top never to allow that situation happen again.
Westmeath still have no centre of excellence(part of which i believe that a breakthrough has not been made at underage etc at this stage, im not a big fan of over S&C but if you cant beat them join them), have a good tradition of hurling but little success and im worried if they did go down would the county board throw more resources at football and neglect the hurling more than ever before.
The christy ring cup standard looks weaker than ever before also, a lot of potential dual players could just throw in the towel altogether and leave the county hurling. that is the danger of the present situation."
How is hurling neglected currently?

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2131 - 20/04/2025 16:22:31    2603082

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Replying To stonemadbeany:  "A lot of people have us relegated after 1 game, really. I expect us to bounce back against Kildare next week, and beat Down at home in round 3. Carlow in round 4 looks beyond us though, and going to Tralee will be a dead rubber and a piss up.
Yesterday was a bad day, management need to look at their decisions, strange that Eoin Keyes played wing back all league, but wasn't brought on at half time when both wing backs were subbed. It's not Kevin Regan's fault that he was brought on, he was obviously rusty and is only back training a few weeks, with zero game time. I don't think D.Hickey played any league, he got a baptism of fire yesterday. Losing Glennon from the throw in was a massive loss, imo D.Williams should've went into the corner, and P.Clarke out to midfield.
We were also missing Egerton, Aonghus & Birmingham from the backs from last year's team, add in lads that didn't come back to the panel, we're probably missing 10 off last year's panel, no surprise we are where we are, but hopefully not as bad as relegation material."
Let's be real here, if a player who has barely played in the league and in his mid thirties is a huge loss then we are in some bother. Another poster previously asked could we stop mentioning likes of Aonghus and Darragh Egerton, one is retired, one out injured until next year.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2131 - 20/04/2025 16:24:59    2603083

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Longer term thinking needed now, relegation to CR may not be a disaster, look at Offaly now and they were in CR 3-4 years ago, management needs to put faith in younger players, target improvement over 2-3 years, build a team around Clarke, Cunneen, Williams, O' Reilly, McCormack, Under 20s this year, we have 5-6 lads or more who have given fine service but legs are gone,"
I agree 100% with everything you said.However.I would prefer to stay in Joe Mcdonagh if at all possible.Our minors are ok and the 15s exceptional so we must not panic.
However for 2026 I would put together a management group of our own.Surely these lads aren't so egotistical they couldn't work together and drive us forward.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1689 - 20/04/2025 17:15:17    2603096

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Let's be real here, if a player who has barely played in the league and in his mid thirties is a huge loss then we are in some bother. Another poster previously asked could we stop mentioning likes of Aonghus and Darragh Egerton, one is retired, one out injured until next year."
I'm only pointing out the difference in the squad between this year and last year, and the fact is that we're in transition, we got roasted at midfield so we don't know how much of a loss he may or may not have been. You only comment on other people's posts, have you nothing in your own head to add?

stonemadbeany (USA) - Posts: 607 - 20/04/2025 17:30:59    2603102

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Replying To stonemadbeany:  "I'm only pointing out the difference in the squad between this year and last year, and the fact is that we're in transition, we got roasted at midfield so we don't know how much of a loss he may or may not have been. You only comment on other people's posts, have you nothing in your own head to add?"
And it's a fair point I agree with you swear people can't mention it .

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 686 - 20/04/2025 17:52:05    2603110

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Let's be real here, if a player who has barely played in the league and in his mid thirties is a huge loss then we are in some bother. Another poster previously asked could we stop mentioning likes of Aonghus and Darragh Egerton, one is retired, one out injured until next year."
What's wrong mentioning something u maybe sick of hearing until westmeath produce results or more this will be talking point

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 686 - 20/04/2025 17:52:44    2603111

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Replying To stonemadbeany:  "A lot of people have us relegated after 1 game, really. I expect us to bounce back against Kildare next week, and beat Down at home in round 3. Carlow in round 4 looks beyond us though, and going to Tralee will be a dead rubber and a piss up.
Yesterday was a bad day, management need to look at their decisions, strange that Eoin Keyes played wing back all league, but wasn't brought on at half time when both wing backs were subbed. It's not Kevin Regan's fault that he was brought on, he was obviously rusty and is only back training a few weeks, with zero game time. I don't think D.Hickey played any league, he got a baptism of fire yesterday. Losing Glennon from the throw in was a massive loss, imo D.Williams should've went into the corner, and P.Clarke out to midfield.
We were also missing Egerton, Aonghus & Birmingham from the backs from last year's team, add in lads that didn't come back to the panel, we're probably missing 10 off last year's panel, no surprise we are where we are, but hopefully not as bad as relegation material."
Down or Kildare will be relegated.

I think Kildare will go back down to Ring Cup.

Kerry have a new young squad but still have the quality to stay in Joe McDonagh and Laois & Carlow will contest the final in Croker.

Past hurler (None) - Posts: 913 - 20/04/2025 22:52:16    2603255

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That's a great win over Offaly for our minor hurlers and without Dillon Burke available through injury

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1025 - 26/04/2025 14:23:57    2604363

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Replying To Dheen:  "That's a great win over Offaly for our minor hurlers and without Dillon Burke available through injury"
And with the dual player situation.Who do have next weekend Carlow or Kerry?

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1689 - 26/04/2025 15:09:02    2604369

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Offaly must travel to Laois, looks like a home game versus Carlow based on them beating Kildare today.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2131 - 26/04/2025 16:06:08    2604380

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All time low going down to christy ring

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 686 - 26/04/2025 17:00:37    2604388

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