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Westmeath Football thread

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In the last four years we have lost important matches to Longford, Fermanagh, Wicklow (twice), Sligo, Limerick and Laois.

Record in minor championship has been very poor as well.

We're unfortunately becoming the whipping boys of Leinster. Longford will target beating us in first round of Leinster.

Very disappointed with Saturday night. We've huge potential as a county and great achievement for St. Mary's to reach All-Ireland final.

Blackjack (Westmeath) - Posts: 56 - 02/03/2026 18:42:27    2659598

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Replying To iarmhiabu:  "Like the County Board, you obviously haven't thought this one through, coming out with such nonsense. Of course, the Championship rankings is based off the performance of the teams the previous year, this is usually the case in sport. The record of teams from Senior Section B when matched up against teams from Section A in the knockout stages is atrocious. Therefore Section A is much stronger and a fairer, genuine tiered Championship structure is absolutely necessary. A fairier, genuine tiered Championship structure should see more qualification spots for the stronger tier, easier paths (Semi Final Byes), there has to be reward for competing at the higher level, competitive merit etc. This is exactly what we had. Until the geniuses aided by one club (no surprise they are in Section B) with 4 possible voting cards (unheard of in the GAA) rammed through the changes, contrary to the evidence, and most of all, disregarding the wishes of the players. Now we are left with a tiered Championship structure which has made the distinction between tiers less meaningful, reduces competitive integrity and creates unequal strength. And you were saying about flaws?"
It's completely nonsensical. If 3 from each group then should be an open draw , like it was from 2000 - 2016. If tiered by last years results then it has to be 4 and 2. The people who pushed this know this , but they are only thinking about how their own club can benefit in 2026.

jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 511 - 02/03/2026 20:00:06    2659609

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Replying To iarmhiabu:  "Like the County Board, you obviously haven't thought this one through, coming out with such nonsense. Of course, the Championship rankings is based off the performance of the teams the previous year, this is usually the case in sport. The record of teams from Senior Section B when matched up against teams from Section A in the knockout stages is atrocious. Therefore Section A is much stronger and a fairer, genuine tiered Championship structure is absolutely necessary. A fairier, genuine tiered Championship structure should see more qualification spots for the stronger tier, easier paths (Semi Final Byes), there has to be reward for competing at the higher level, competitive merit etc. This is exactly what we had. Until the geniuses aided by one club (no surprise they are in Section B) with 4 possible voting cards (unheard of in the GAA) rammed through the changes, contrary to the evidence, and most of all, disregarding the wishes of the players. Now we are left with a tiered Championship structure which has made the distinction between tiers less meaningful, reduces competitive integrity and creates unequal strength. And you were saying about flaws?"
What about the fact that some teams in the competition can be relegated and some can't ?
What other sport is that in ?
Seeing as you have everything thought out. Please name some sports where this happens.

Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1071 - 02/03/2026 21:23:37    2659631

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Replying To Jack_Sparrow:  "What about the fact that some teams in the competition can be relegated and some can't ?
What other sport is that in ?
Seeing as you have everything thought out. Please name some sports where this happens."
There's no relegation in the league of Ireland first division, NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL.

Wmeath2 (Westmeath) - Posts: 202 - 03/03/2026 00:48:23    2659645

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Replying To Jack_Sparrow:  "What about the fact that some teams in the competition can be relegated and some can't ?
What other sport is that in ?
Seeing as you have everything thought out. Please name some sports where this happens."
There's no relegation in the Champions League, Europa League, heineken cup, e.t.c.
Qualification is best on performance .... in the previous season!

ondeball (Westmeath) - Posts: 127 - 03/03/2026 08:28:00    2659662

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Replying To ondeball:  "There's no relegation in the Champions League, Europa League, heineken cup, e.t.c.
Qualification is best on performance .... in the previous season!"
That's my point no one can be relegated in those competitions so everyone is equal.
In Westmeath senior and intermediate championships some teams can be relegated and some cant.

Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1071 - 03/03/2026 14:46:08    2659776

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Replying To Wmeath2:  "There's no relegation in the league of Ireland first division, NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL."
Yes no one in league of Ireland first division can be relegated so it's equal. But in Westmeath senior and intermediate championships some teams can be relegated and some cant.

Name another competition where this happens?

Group A and Group B are part of the same competition??

Totally different to other examples here and as proof by GAA rule you can be relegated from Group A to Group B on head to head etc. but not from Senior to intermediate because the GAA recognises Senior and Intermediate are grades but Group A and B are not. They are subgroups of the same grade

Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1071 - 03/03/2026 14:54:43    2659779

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Replying To Jack_Sparrow:  "What about the fact that some teams in the competition can be relegated and some can't ?
What other sport is that in ?
Seeing as you have everything thought out. Please name some sports where this happens."
The fact that 3 teams come out of a aswell as b is much more un fair as they are far superior then your clutching at straws excuse of relegation. Anyway even if they wanted to do 3 teams out of both they should have made 2 new groups of 6 with equal ability and have 3 out of each, problem solved. Or just leave the perfectly good system the way it was

Ayardout (Westmeath) - Posts: 19 - 03/03/2026 15:31:16    2659785

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Replying To Blackjack:  "In the last four years we have lost important matches to Longford, Fermanagh, Wicklow (twice), Sligo, Limerick and Laois.

Record in minor championship has been very poor as well.

We're unfortunately becoming the whipping boys of Leinster. Longford will target beating us in first round of Leinster.

Very disappointed with Saturday night. We've huge potential as a county and great achievement for St. Mary's to reach All-Ireland final."
Saturday was particularly disappointing considering this team hammered Laois out the gates of Cusack park 9 months ago in the Tailteann cup. Very poor against Down for first 40 mins and very poor against Laois for the entire game. Never looked like they could come back or win the game. They don't look like a Div2 team right now. They have to go and earn it. Longford won't be afraid, they won't have anything to lose come first round of Leinster.

Chops (Westmeath) - Posts: 866 - 03/03/2026 16:26:44    2659799

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Replying To Ayardout:  "The fact that 3 teams come out of a aswell as b is much more un fair as they are far superior then your clutching at straws excuse of relegation. Anyway even if they wanted to do 3 teams out of both they should have made 2 new groups of 6 with equal ability and have 3 out of each, problem solved. Or just leave the perfectly good system the way it was"
Not arguing about that. Don't like either system. Should be open draw. Read back my posts

Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1071 - 03/03/2026 17:33:37    2659812

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Replying To Jack_Sparrow:  "Not arguing about that. Don't like either system. Should be open draw. Read back my posts"
I've noticed you're the first person I've heard express dislike for this format, which has been a real success story for Westmeath GAA. If you don't mind me asking, what club are you from?

This format was in place from 2017 to 2025. Each year, the top two teams in the county reached the county final, with the possible exception of 2020 when the structure was altered due to Covid-19. In 2020, the strongest teams in the county - Lomans, The Downs, and Garrycastle - ended up on the same side of the draw. Despite that, we still had a strong final, with T Pass performing well on the day and arguably deserving to win.

Under the previous format (2000-2016), there were significant issues. For example, in the 2015 final, Castledaly reached the final. No disrespect to Castledaly, but they were not the second-best team in Westmeath at the time. However, they still deserved their place in the final based on how the format operated.

Regarding the rule about not being able to be relegated from Section A - this is effectively the reward for qualifying for the knockout stages the previous year. In my opinion, no team in Section A this year would have been in real danger of relegation. Athlone and T Pass finished 5th and 6th, and both teams would likely have beaten Tang or Malachys by double digits this year.

For example, last year, if you finished bottom of a group containing Garrycastle, Caulry, Moate, Killucan, Tang, and Malachys, then relegation would be justified. However, finishing bottom of a group containing Lomans, Downs, Shamrocks, Kinnegad, Athlone, or T Pass is not comparable.

Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 628 - 04/03/2026 01:21:51    2659851

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Alot of negative comments about westmeath at the min by our own supporters, alot justified but we have to support team. Last year (against stronger league opponents) we were competitive but lost alot. This year we have blooded alot of new players and are winning a few games. Promotion still completely in our own hands. If I was to be critical its certainly doesn't rest with the team or management of our snr or underage teams. I'd be critical of the current structures and accountability of the decision makers. Ive said it before, the raw material of talent in westmeath is 100% there. The structures and ambitions are not.

Upforthegame23 (Westmeath) - Posts: 166 - 04/03/2026 09:20:55    2659874

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Replying To Temple56:  "I've noticed you're the first person I've heard express dislike for this format, which has been a real success story for Westmeath GAA. If you don't mind me asking, what club are you from?

This format was in place from 2017 to 2025. Each year, the top two teams in the county reached the county final, with the possible exception of 2020 when the structure was altered due to Covid-19. In 2020, the strongest teams in the county - Lomans, The Downs, and Garrycastle - ended up on the same side of the draw. Despite that, we still had a strong final, with T Pass performing well on the day and arguably deserving to win.

Under the previous format (2000-2016), there were significant issues. For example, in the 2015 final, Castledaly reached the final. No disrespect to Castledaly, but they were not the second-best team in Westmeath at the time. However, they still deserved their place in the final based on how the format operated.

Regarding the rule about not being able to be relegated from Section A - this is effectively the reward for qualifying for the knockout stages the previous year. In my opinion, no team in Section A this year would have been in real danger of relegation. Athlone and T Pass finished 5th and 6th, and both teams would likely have beaten Tang or Malachys by double digits this year.

For example, last year, if you finished bottom of a group containing Garrycastle, Caulry, Moate, Killucan, Tang, and Malachys, then relegation would be justified. However, finishing bottom of a group containing Lomans, Downs, Shamrocks, Kinnegad, Athlone, or T Pass is not comparable."
I think this is really going to be highlighted at intermediate level . Apart from the two teams that go up and down between groups A and B , the other 4 teams in group are really of junior standard . The likely hood is one of these is going to end up in a semi final. That will be a dead rubber.

coffey (Westmeath) - Posts: 40 - 04/03/2026 12:03:38    2659900

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Replying To Temple56:  "I've noticed you're the first person I've heard express dislike for this format, which has been a real success story for Westmeath GAA. If you don't mind me asking, what club are you from?

This format was in place from 2017 to 2025. Each year, the top two teams in the county reached the county final, with the possible exception of 2020 when the structure was altered due to Covid-19. In 2020, the strongest teams in the county - Lomans, The Downs, and Garrycastle - ended up on the same side of the draw. Despite that, we still had a strong final, with T Pass performing well on the day and arguably deserving to win.

Under the previous format (2000-2016), there were significant issues. For example, in the 2015 final, Castledaly reached the final. No disrespect to Castledaly, but they were not the second-best team in Westmeath at the time. However, they still deserved their place in the final based on how the format operated.

Regarding the rule about not being able to be relegated from Section A - this is effectively the reward for qualifying for the knockout stages the previous year. In my opinion, no team in Section A this year would have been in real danger of relegation. Athlone and T Pass finished 5th and 6th, and both teams would likely have beaten Tang or Malachys by double digits this year.

For example, last year, if you finished bottom of a group containing Garrycastle, Caulry, Moate, Killucan, Tang, and Malachys, then relegation would be justified. However, finishing bottom of a group containing Lomans, Downs, Shamrocks, Kinnegad, Athlone, or T Pass is not comparable."
When you ask what club I'm from, it suggests that my opinion is influenced by what club I'm from and whether the system suits my club or not. That's not the way it should be. I'm talking about a level playing field and the promotion of football.
People have been ridiculing my thoughts on relegation and defending the current system.
We are the only sport that I know of with these types of makey uppy rules.
Let me give an example from another sport. Last year. Nottingham Forest finished 7th in the premier league. Under our system they would be excluded from relegation. They are currently 2 points above the relegation zone.
I can tell you that my club was better off under last years system but that's not what Im getting at.
Yeah it's exciting but it keeps the strong clubs strong . They have more wriggle room than the teams at the bottom with very little jeopardy involved for them.
You can say they deserve it because they are the best teams but they should have to earn it every year.
Fairness should rule over what's exciting I think.
Anyway I'm signing off on this one because I'm in a tiny minority obviously.

Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1071 - 04/03/2026 12:43:41    2659913

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I wasn't in favour of changing the championships, and I understand the criticisms of the processes and the change itself, but now that a change has been made, it has added a little bit of frisson to the championship. While the old system was very structured and had huge benefits, a certain staleness had set in. It's probably a good idea to shake things up every once in a while! Under the previous system, you could have teams coasting through to a quarter final without playing very well in the A section, or worse, reaching a quarter final after losing their first three games. The new system might alleviate these situations but we will know better at the end of the year.
I think if we are allowing three from each section, it would have been better to grade the sections equally, put the four semi-finalists from the previous year into each section and have an open draw to fill the rest of groups or some other way to create equal groups. Then the top team in each group qualifies for the semi-finals and the teams ranked 2 and 3 go to the quarter-finals. This might have stopped the allegations vested interests carrying too much weight etc. So I think in summary, change wasnt the the major issue, but when they were changing it didn't go far enough, in my opinion.

Iarmhisamhi (Westmeath) - Posts: 42 - 04/03/2026 14:00:24    2659939

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Replying To Jack_Sparrow:  "When you ask what club I'm from, it suggests that my opinion is influenced by what club I'm from and whether the system suits my club or not. That's not the way it should be. I'm talking about a level playing field and the promotion of football.
People have been ridiculing my thoughts on relegation and defending the current system.
We are the only sport that I know of with these types of makey uppy rules.
Let me give an example from another sport. Last year. Nottingham Forest finished 7th in the premier league. Under our system they would be excluded from relegation. They are currently 2 points above the relegation zone.
I can tell you that my club was better off under last years system but that's not what Im getting at.
Yeah it's exciting but it keeps the strong clubs strong . They have more wriggle room than the teams at the bottom with very little jeopardy involved for them.
You can say they deserve it because they are the best teams but they should have to earn it every year.
Fairness should rule over what's exciting I think.
Anyway I'm signing off on this one because I'm in a tiny minority obviously."
I wasn't asking what club you're from to dismiss your view I was asking for context. Contexts are often shaped by experience and that's natural. But I take your point that the discussion should be about the structure itself not who benefits from it. I do believe Westmeath GAA does not benefit from this that's what makes people like myself most annoyed.

I think where we differ is on what "fairness" means in this context. For me fairness isn't just about everyone starting from the exact same line every year it's also about rewarding performance from the previous season. The protection from relegation in Section A isn't random it's earned by reaching the knockout stages the year before. That's not a "makey-uppy" rule it's a merit-based incentive.

You mentioned the Premier League example, but the big difference is that the Premier League is a straight league format. The Westmeath championship isn't it's a hybrid structure with groups and knockouts. Different competitions use different systems to balance competitiveness and quality. The aim here has clearly been to ensure the strongest teams are more likely to reach the latter stages and from 2017 to 2025 that's what happened.

You're absolutely right that strong clubs should have to earn it every year and they still do. They have to perform well enough the previous season to get into Section A and then still win matches to reach a final. There's no guarantee of silverware. What the format does is reduce the chance of a top-two team being knocked out early because of one off-day or an uneven draw which we did see happen under the old system and we will 100% happen in this "makey-uppy" championship that is somehow passed through even though no one seems to think its fair. Even you have said this new format is flawed.

I don't see it as keeping strong clubs strong I see it as making sure the county final consistently features the two best teams. That benefits standards across the county. At the same time, teams in Section B still have a clear pathway upward promotion is there if they're good enough. Having better match ups = more money for county board. Cant see how they don't see this.

We might just value different things slightly you priorities jeopardy and pure reset every year fairness, while I priorities rewarding performance and ensuring quality at the business end. Neither position is unreasonable. Everyone is entitled to an opinion right or wrong. As you said yourself you seem to be the tiny minority which is why myself and the majority of club players, mangers and fans are outraged at how this format passed.

Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 628 - 04/03/2026 14:25:34    2659954

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Replying To Jack_Sparrow:  "When you ask what club I'm from, it suggests that my opinion is influenced by what club I'm from and whether the system suits my club or not. That's not the way it should be. I'm talking about a level playing field and the promotion of football.
People have been ridiculing my thoughts on relegation and defending the current system.
We are the only sport that I know of with these types of makey uppy rules.
Let me give an example from another sport. Last year. Nottingham Forest finished 7th in the premier league. Under our system they would be excluded from relegation. They are currently 2 points above the relegation zone.
I can tell you that my club was better off under last years system but that's not what Im getting at.
Yeah it's exciting but it keeps the strong clubs strong . They have more wriggle room than the teams at the bottom with very little jeopardy involved for them.
You can say they deserve it because they are the best teams but they should have to earn it every year.
Fairness should rule over what's exciting I think.
Anyway I'm signing off on this one because I'm in a tiny minority obviously."
To be fair, the argument u put forward is the best ive seen yet. The best teams should have to earn it. I do see merit in that view and will add that some of the teams in group A, let the players off for alot of the summer and only come back for last game of group to get over line, one aspect I dont like and a massive advantage to group A teams,

Upforthegame23 (Westmeath) - Posts: 166 - 04/03/2026 14:56:29    2659965

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Replying To Upforthegame23:  "To be fair, the argument u put forward is the best ive seen yet. The best teams should have to earn it. I do see merit in that view and will add that some of the teams in group A, let the players off for alot of the summer and only come back for last game of group to get over line, one aspect I dont like and a massive advantage to group A teams,"
I also agree with the points. There is argument on both sides and it is now balanced towards Group B.
First of all you should not be able to qualify in a 6 team group having lost 3 times.
Secondly if group A is so much stronger there will still be 3 teams from it in the semi finals and 2 in the final.
Reality is the top 2 or 3 in A group were and still will be in the final.
There was far too much jeopardy in group B with only 2 qualifying.
The right call in current format is probably to have a preliminary QF between 3rd in B and 4th in A but there is not time for this.
The point on relegation is very valid. For instance lets say Caulry for example had a good year last year and 4 or 5 lads went to America for the summer. They could be the worst team in the championship that year but exempt from relegation. In group B you have teams who ended up in because they didn't make the quarter finals the year the format changed and all of a sudden they're in a 2 out of 6 situation.
I think 2 or 4 either random or seeded groups in a format designed to keep games meaningful for everyone as long as possible is more fair.

Lets say 2 groups of 6 where 1st placed teams go to semi second placed teams play 3rd in other group in quarter finals and 5th & 6th placed teams play each other in a relegation semi final and then final. This should mean competitive games all through the group and at least 5 games for each team

CasKD (Westmeath) - Posts: 39 - 04/03/2026 16:17:16    2659988

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