|
Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
A rough stab at the u20s, have only seen them in Abbottstown and from talking to a few but the lineup seems to be shaping up something like the following:
1. Luke Nicholson (Athlone)
2. Seanai Bracken (St. Loman's)
3. Adam Keane (Rosemount)
4. Sean Dillon (Milltown)
5. Taylor Slevin (Tubberclair)
6. Peter Murphy (St. Malachys)
7. Aodhan Curran (Moate)
8. Tadgh Baker (Caulry)
9. Shane Ormsby (Mullingar)
10. Kealen Connell (Tubberclair)
11. Jack Duncan (Milltown)
12. Ronan Murray (Moate)
13. Shane Corcoran (St. Malachys)
14. Tom Bourke (Tubberclair)
15. Matthew Thornton (Multyfarnham)
I could be excluding someone very obvious, I haven't spotted Rory Cole who was involved last year, and I think Bracken and Daire o Connor are currently unavailable. Certainly seems a talented team on paper.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 18/02/2025 19:57:33
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Claretandblue: "€10m to develop a COE seems steep to you? How much should we spend? Have you any idea of inflationary costs re projects like this? Newbridge stand which is a top job cost €26m. The rest of the ground wasn't touched, if we don't show ambition and develop 4-5 pitches then more criticism will follow. The whingers on this forum are impossible to please, that's their nature, no matter what's done or planned it's wrong or a waste. Buy a ticket, in fact sell a few tickets, show your support for the county if it's genuine, maybe do something" I've bought two tickets as a matter of fact but still feel reality is very detached from where the whole project is at. Do you have any criticism whatsoever or do you think everything is just perfect that is been done in the county? People are entitled to criticise if they feel strongly on something; you on the other hand seem to think if everyone just buys a ticket everything will work out and all is rosey. Yes I do think €10m is steep considering they cannot raise the initial €1m to buy the land. Land could have been bought in parts of the county that would have worked just fine for 250-400k. It's easy to vent criticism on this forum as if you speak up at a meeting you'll be shot down.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 25/04/2025 12:25:58
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Claretandblue: "What are structures?" I would assume they are short - long term plans for developing players starting at U14 and ending at senior level where the player has access to S&C and nutrition guidance, a pathway for players who may be late developers, a database of players at each club who can be graded on their potential from those within the clubs. An incentive for the best possible coaches to get involved with said teams. Players on county panels getting gear, discounted prices to our senior county games.
That's a start and I'm.sure if I thought about it for more than five seconds I could go on.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 24/02/2025 18:36:24
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To westmeathfan25: "Confused as to how the pitch last night not being playable in return means "County Players are treated so badly in this county"
You said it yourself - coaching, nutrition, analysis, travel expenses - would you prefer if they did not spend that 1.2M on those things and instead put it towards the cost of building a COE? Or is your expectation that Westmeath should continue spending millions on the "badly treated players" and find another couple million somewhere to build a COE, because let's be honest, the previous fundraising that was meant to raise €1M didn't happen, so what happens next? And it can't be a continuous blame on the County Board - they can put in all the effort to get fundraising events up and running, but if people aren't willing to contribute then what happens - will you continue to solely blame them?" There is such nonsense behind the scenes, and the players and management teams aren't been treated well or fairly at all. This forum probably wouldn't post the list of things we could all spill about whats going on.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 26/03/2026 15:55:55
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Claretandblue: "Clubs were told a week ago that Div 1 and 3 were on Sunday, Div 2 on Saturday." And what about division 4,5,6 and 7? Many lads will have two games next week and I'm sure any team with lights may play Friday. I didn't see any official correspondence stating the above. I know in my club it's a huge issue that we don't know the date yet, five lads who are rostered on Saturdays for the following weekend so they'll have their hours for next weekend before they can look for a time off. It's a huge issue.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 14/02/2026 18:18:43
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
To be honest it's really a massive disappointment that the structures have changed; it seems utterly unnecessary. At the least a playoff between A4 and B3 for a QF.
I think at Intermediate it's a bigger issue than Senior as the gap is broader; Miltown/Miltownpass/Shandonagh/Malachys won't come out of the group but a Maryland/Ballymore/CFCW/Ballinagore will, there's a massive gap between those teams; at least at Senior there's not as much difference between a Caulry for example and a Tang/Moate/Athlone but the point still stands as the general quality of team is much higher. They wanted structural change which was voted against but I'm not sure what this new structure offers.
Also, our league presumably starts in 7 days and there are no fixtures out, year after year this happens. So many young lads will need to book time off work and can't do so as they don't have a fixture.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 13/02/2026 15:01:31
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Dazzler30: "Men against boys in the under 20 its a young squad hopefully can bounce back. Louth are really motoring well underage and senior have the house in order long time ago and its showing now." There was a stark difference in how they were moving, they seemed physically so far ahead. We have to beat Dublin now to advance it would seem. Beating just Wexford which will be extremely difficult won't be enough. It must be said there are 7 starters missing from that U20 team from what I was told last night, there are three from Tubberclair in Bourke, Staunton and O'Connor, Curran from Moate, Geary from Athlone, Ryan Kelly from Shamrocks and Conor Callaghan from Kinnegad. All seven of these are in their last year and have played adult championship for their club. The younger Whittaker looked promising when he came on. I think the question again that must be raised is the fact U18s cannot play adult football until they are 19. I think 8 or 9 of the team would not have played for their clubs above underage yet and then the step up is massive.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 28/03/2026 07:38:01
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To iarmhiabu: "Why is it that other counties similar to us can run hugely successful fundraisers and we can't deliver on anything noteworthy? Roscommon GAA through Club Rossie made a profit of over €900k from their win a home in London fundraiser that was launched in the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic. It was so successful they gave away another house in Kildare last Christmas. Roscommon would have a similar profile to ourselves, we would have more clubs overall. They're in a strong position financially going forward. You said Westmeath GAA people seem to reserve their financial support to their club teams, maybe instead of county fundraisers. There's a reason behind it, I believe there's a lot of Westmeath GAA people like myself fed up with the lack of leadership for years and years, no deliverance. Hopefully we get the €1mill needed from the Spanish apartment draw but I wouldn't hold my breath." My point exactly earlier in the week; i laid out several reasons why there's a huge disconnect between supporters and the county team and my own feeling is down to the county board not delivering anything to really get behind, I understand it's separate to the team but that's obviously how many feel. I'm not sure we even were outnumbered by Louth it just felt like when we scored no Westmeath supporters bothered applauding in comparison to Louth. I seen many familiar faces from around the county around me and like that they weren't overly invested in getting behind the team but the support was there. Where did the quid games money go? That's a genuine question and not insinuating anything, I don't feel like paying €100 when I'm not even certain what it's been used for.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 28/01/2025 17:36:34
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To jobber: "We have to protect the dual players The vast majority of players in Westmeath play both codes which gives the possibility of the likes of Luke Loughlin playing 8 hurling championship matches and the same in football 16 championship matches.The ones complaining here seem to have little concern for the best footballer in the county and one of the best hurlers and anyone else like him" Protect them from what? It's their choice to be dual players? We are a football county and should be giving preference to our club players who aren't dual players. If the hurlers want less games then restructure their championship. As per other posters many counties envy our setup. Very disheartening to see suggestions that they may reduce games, players give so much and are entitled to those 5 groups games; the county board are trying to sell the lack of jeopardy in games as the reason but it's absolutely to suit the hurlers. Clubs in Westmeath need to step up to the plate and say no; and not leave it to out of touch delegates who are county board yes men and would happily go against their own players to appease the men on the county executive.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 25/06/2025 09:09:59
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Fighting-Cocks69: "Looking at the 20s team, both midfielders - Baker and Ormsby - have already played senior. In the backs, Keane, Curran, Dillon, and Shortall have all lined out at senior level too. Bracken will be there or thereabouts this year, but Loman's is a tough outfit to break into.
Up front, Duncan, Corcoran, Murphy, Duffy, and Murray have all played senior with their clubs' first teams. Kelly and Connell are in their first year at senior level and will probably break in at some stage during the championship.
When it comes to goalkeepers, Doran has been between the posts for Shamrocks for the past two seasons.
So by the looks of it, the majority of our starting 15 have already broken into their clubs' senior teams............" Yes maybe a year but the likes of Connell, Kelly, Bourke, Thornton, Curran should all be in their second year now and with a championship under their belt, not an odd league game. And the lads you mentioned almost all benefitted before the rule change came into effect. Please think logically before coming back with that. Corcoran, Ormsby, Duncan, Duffy, Keane, Doran, Murphy, Baker, O Donovan all finished at U17 and into adult football. So really you have inadvertently proved my point. The lads who look stronger and up to it have all had two years of club championship. That's not going to be the case next year when they'll all have one year max, so Curran for example could potentially have 3 or 4 senior championship games played and be in his second year of U20 intercounty. Will Scahill could absolutely play intermediate/senior for Shandonagh next year and it would develop him, rather than playing against his own age group where with the greatest of respect it'll be men vs boys.
I agree the clubs pushed it through, but they were led by the county board pushing a narrative that burnout and fixtures would be an issue, they said minor games would be on Fridays and clash with adult games and this then wasn't the case when the championship proceeded. U18s should absolutely be playing adult football and I'm not sure I could be convinced otherwise.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 19/04/2025 17:09:31
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To daboru: "Should Dessie have dropped Maguire, Heslin, O'Toole?? They won Div 3 and ran the All Ireland finalists close in the All Ireland series. If the 2 late goals against Galway and Derry hadn't gone in, they could've got to the Qtr Final. That's on the back of a really competitive showing the previous year. It's not Dessie's or McCabe's fault, it's just bad timing" Once again someone incapable of having an actual conversation without getting defensive. No he shouldn't have dropped those three; but there were times when they didn't need to play. We fielded a complete B team against Longford in the O Byrne Cup in 2024, players were brought in who wouldn't have made the U20s team, we won, then a week later they were all discarded and we went full strength against Louth in Kinnegad, a Louth team with 5/6 regulars in their team. Surely that was the time to be trying lads out and seeing where they were at, players who didn't perform against Longford weren't seen again. What was the purpose of playing lads who wouldn't make the 20s panel one week and then discarding the whole lot of them and playing a full strength outfit the following week. So the long term planning didn't seem to be in the thinking, which is completely their choice, but a raft of retirements later and we are back in Division 3 and struggling in the Tailteann Cup yet for some reason a lot of supporters are up in arms because we didn't beat a Limerick team who arguably should have beaten us 12 months ago in the league when we had a much stronger panel.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 06/06/2025 13:17:50
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Tough reading these last few weeks; I don't think anyone really believes The Downs are looking beyond Sunday. Can we end it there.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 22/10/2025 16:40:07
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To mickcunningham: "how would there be an update , we have a manager unless i didnt hear something that happened" You must have missed the fact that our manager let his name go forward for another job which he appears to be the strong favorite for. That alone is enough to set plans in motion to seek a replacement.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 05/08/2025 22:30:35
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To lakecounty90: "Haha yous all doubted Caulry.
Those who criticised Flanagan look silly now
Caulry will best Kinnegad trust me.
iarmhi Abu is quiet tonight haha" I wouldn't say anyone doubted Caulrys ability to get out of the group; id say people doubted Caulrys ability to win a senior championship like a few on here were suggesting would happen
OverTheHill85 (National) - 21/09/2025 19:12:29
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To iarmhiabu: "Are you forgetting the real reason why counties like ourselves, Longford, Meath and Offaly are playing these midweek U20/minor games at alternative venues? It's an issue with floodlights at their main grounds. As someone suggested above Athlone is falling down, stand is not fit for purpose. The county board were right to say no to the U20 management. It's not up to the U20 management to decide where the game should be played." Multyfarnham lights, Castledaly lights, TUS lights, Tubberclair lights, Athlone lights, Garrycastle lights. And surely to God it is up to the management to decide where the game should be played. Why would the county board overrule that? Athlone is certainly getting outdated but a great venue for a game and always has been. Most of those grounds do or have held championship double headers and could certainly cater for an U20/U17 B game.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 20/04/2025 12:47:43
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Claretandblue: "Good long post to deflect from your inability to answer the question I asked. I don't think the county board get everything right, in my own club and I'm on our executive thirty years we've got things wrong, but it's always well intentioned and in the absence of people stepping up that's par for the course. Constantly finding fault though is what you do." No I don't constantly find fault I think our championship structure is excellent now they are proposing changing it. I think our league is fantastic and very well ran from February - June. Minor finals on county final day is super also, the podcast and championship previews/launch is also very good, some really good and honest people behind the scenes. Our website when updated is excellent and informative. But the areas highlighted over the recent months by posters on here are all very real. Our local paper literally had a two page spread where delegates are at odds with the executive over recent events. So I'm not deflecting at all, you still haven't corrected your error regarding fixtures on AI day last year.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 16/07/2025 14:29:10
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Fighting-Cocks69: "Been looking at the league tables and this weekend's fixtures since we've just nearly wrapped up a round 5 across all divisions. I've also seen a bit of chat on the forum lately about the junior groups and a few other bits. Just to be clear-this isn't me having a go at South Westmeath or anything-but there are a few things that are a bit worrying.
Starting with Division 3: Kinnegad are pretty much guaranteed promotion to Division 2 at this point. It's also looking very likely that The Dons will be going up with them-unless Castledaly manage to win their next two games, which could shake things up a bit. Down the bottom, it looks like Moate are almost certainly going down, and Maryland could be joining them, although they still have a chance to stay up.
In Division 2, I think it's fair to say Ballymore are going down-five losses already, including two or three heavy ones. I'd expect Tang to go down with them since they've already lost to Lomans and Shamrocks and still have some tough games ahead. That said, The Bridge are in a tricky spot too and could easily be dragged into the drop.
Not sure if it's happened before, but there's a real chance we could see Division 2 next year featuring Shamrocks, Lomans, Downs, and Kinnegad. That'd be huge for North Westmeath and really shows the strength and depth in those clubs.
I know some people say the league doesn't matter, but if you look at the results, you can't ignore the progress. In a few years, I could easily see one or two of these clubs pushing up to immediate A or B and holding their own. On the other hand, I can't see Finea staying up this year-they've had a few heavy defeats already, especially last week against Tyrrellspass when they lost by 36 points. I get that it's only the league, but that kind of result isn't a great sign.
It's a pity really-you'd love to see the junior winners stay up and be competitive for a few seasons, as Multy has only really been the last club to go up and stay competitive teams like bal, Kilbeggan and finea have been up and down so much the past 7/8 years." Garrycastle and Moate 2nd and 3rd in Div 1, Tubberclair top of Division 2, Castledaly likely to come out of Division 3, Ballinagore top of Division 4, Tubberclair top of Division 5. When you say it's huge for North Westmeath who exactly are you referring to? There's no split between North and South; but coming up with stuff like your last post would suggest you see things that way. People on this forum can't even decide what constitutes North and South, so who is it huge for exactly? Do you think Loman's, Shamrocks, The Downs and Kinnegad actually want to see their rivals going well.?
OverTheHill85 (National) - 06/04/2025 11:38:29
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Rumours in Kinnegad tonight that the ACFL finals are to be taken out of Cusack Park, if this is the case surely that's a massive own goal from the county board considering recent years have seen the finals held there, at a time when clubs are expected to sell tickets for the fundraiser I can't see this going down well, nor should it. The Cusack pitch is in great condition after the recent weather and hadn't hosted many games since the national league concluded.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 29/05/2025 22:54:30
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To westmeathforham: "Does anyone have the first two rounds of ACFL league fixtures?" Friday 20th February
ACFL Division 1 Round 1
Coralstown Kinnegad vs Mullingar Shamrocks
Killucan vs Athlone
Garrycastle vs Tubberclair
Na Dunta vs St Lomans Mgr
ACFL Division 2 Round 1
Milltownpass vs Rosemount
ACFL Division 4 Round 1
Moate All Whites vs Caulry
Saturday 21st February
ACFL Division 2 Round 1
Coralstown Kinnegad vs Milltown
Tang vs St Lomans Mgr
ACFL Division 3 Round 1
Shandonagh vs St Malachys
Multyfarnham vs Na Dunta
ACFL Division 4 Round 1
Tyrrellspass vs Athlone
Ballynacargy vs St Marys Rochfortbridge
ACFL Division 5 Round 1
Ballymore vs Kilbeggan Shamrocks
Sunday 22nd February
ACFL Division 1 Round 1
Caulry vs Moate All Whites
ACFL Division 2 Round 1
Shandonagh vs Mullingar Shamrocks
ACFL Division 3 Round 1
Maryland vs St Marys Rochfortbridge
Bunbrosna vs Kilbeggan Shamrocks
Ballinagore vs Ballymore
ACFL Division 4 Round 1
St Josephs vs Tubberclair
Tuesday 24th February
ACFL Division 2 Round 1
Castledaly vs Tyrrellspass
ACFL Division 4 Round 1
Rosemount vs Garrycastle
ACFL Division 5 Round 1
Milltown vs St Lomans Mgr
Multyfarnham vs Milltownpass
Na Dunta vs Mullingar Shamrocks
OverTheHill85 (National) - 16/02/2026 14:10:42
|
|
Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To gti: "This is the initial email from county Board:
Dear Chairperson and Secretary,
Westmeath GAA invite each club to attend a meeting in the Mullingar Park Hotel on Friday night, the 23rd, at 7.30pm.
Each club is requested to be represented by:
Club Chairperson
Club Secretary
One Player Representative
The meeting will focus on discussion of the attached draft document, with the aim of gathering feedback and views from both club officers and players.
Given the significance of the issues outlined, it is important that all clubs are represented on the night.
Please ensure this email is brought to the attention of the relevant club officers and player representatives, and confirm attendance where possible.
We look forward to seeing you on Friday night.
This is the second email from county board.
Dear Club Secretary / Chairperson,
Further to my previous email, all 47 Westmeath GAA clubs - both hurling and football - are hereby notified that the meeting taking place on Friday 23rd January at 7.30pm in the Mullingar Park Hotel is for all clubs.
The purpose of this meeting is to facilitate an open discussion and to hear the views of all clubs on the attached draft Championships document, along with all motions that were referred back to Planning.
Please note that this is a discussion evening only, with the objective of gathering feedback and input from clubs. Following this meeting, all feedback will be brought back to Westmeath CCC, who will then produce the Fixtures and Competition Regulations for 2026. These will subsequently be submitted to Westmeath GAA Management, and thereafter to the Westmeath GAA County Committee Competition Regulation Meeting 2026 for approval.
It is essential that all clubs have full representation in attendance to ensure that every club, both hurling and football, has the opportunity to have their views heard as part of this process.
We strongly encourage all clubs to attend and engage in this important discussion." Where are clubs at on the Under 18 playing adult? It's coming up over and over; it feels a bit like if it benefits you then we'll back it if it doesn't then we don't care. But maybe we do need to consider that clubs could really benefit from having those extra numbers particularly down the levels. I get burnout etc but don't really think that's an issue to be honest. It's almost now a case of well we don't have any minors we feel can make us stronger so we won't get behind it.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 22/01/2026 07:44:52
|