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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Galway had seven clear goal scoring opportunities, they're operating on a different level to us and that's fine. They're potential All Ireland winners. Our next target after Sunday is division 2 and to stay there for 2-3 years. We hopefully will get close to Galway's level in 3-4 years time with the necessary strength work and talented prospects coming through who fulfill potential."
While I agree with that target . I think at the earliest opportunity the county board should ratify mark mchugh and his management team

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 2009 - 18/06/2026 14:03:09    2680449

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Replying To Mooo:  "Any updates on injuries for Sunday?????"
Ray Connellan suppose to be out

Dessie15 (Westmeath) - Posts: 231 - 18/06/2026 14:11:05    2680451

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Haven't been on in awhile and OMG.... some people calling themselves supporters. No doubt galway were a better team Sunday, they are physically bigger and a few years ahead of us in both development and structures within the county. Westmeath senior football team have been nothing less than unbelievable this year, would you you just look at the flags and jerseys everywhere. To think no mistakes will be made in games and there have been in every game is also showing a poor level of knowledge of the game.

Westmeath have stars all over the pitch, 20 of them in fact all year. Mark mcHugh deserves great credit, having lost players from last year, having picked up so many season ending injuries, NOT once have I heard him complain.

The players believe in what he is doing and following him.

If any of those negative voices and those criticising players were in o'moore park or wexford pk in the league, you will see the work this team has done and what they have sacrificed for the supporters and county, please god ya wouldn't criticise them.

My only worry is the impact of the last number of weeks on the players bodies and minds, they have to be on the last legs. Going to the well week after week.

Best of luck Sunday to the entire panel, 1 game away from an all-ireland quarter final, its just the stuff of dreams and is achievable. Iarmhi abu

Upforthegame23 (Westmeath) - Posts: 185 - 18/06/2026 14:27:38    2680454

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Replying To GerryHeavincorner:  "I've observed this for years without ever signing up. This topic has prompted me to post.

Sam, Ray, Luke, Wally, Mattie, Jason, Johnny H, Tadhg, ……etc., etc., have given us the summer of our lives.

We've played six matches and been favourites in two of them. They have run themselves into the ground, flung their bodies into challenges and held their nerve in pressure moments. We've had almost everybody scoring, superb defensive running', sixteen goals, sixteen two pointers, three clean sheets and memories for the rest of our lives.

There have been mistakes. Lessons will be learned and we'll be better for it. It's best to leave the reviews to Mark McHugh. He'll be well able to instruct the players.

The players owe us nothing. We should enjoy the journey while it lasts. Be mindful of player's friends and family reading these sites. If Westmeath 2026 isn't enough for anybody, there's always the World Cup."
Anyone with a problem with any of the Westmeath performances this year is a clown who probably has only jumped on the Westmeath bandwagon around Leinster Final time. We have them in every county. No matter what happens from now on, it has been a year that all Westmeath players and supporters should be proud of. What a stroke of luck, getting McHugh to take the managers job. The players were there for a while but he has pushed them on to a new level. As regards Sunday, I see it as a 50/50 game. I dont go along with this idea that Clones is a safe haven for us. If you have big injury worries that could factor in, but I think there is a bit of Kerry style "cute hoorism" going on at the moment in Westmeath. Anyway safe travels to all and I am looking forward to a good open game of a high quality.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1119 - 18/06/2026 15:12:37    2680464

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A venue your players know almost as well as their local club GAA pitch, where ye have played last 3 or 4 championship matches and the majority of your championship games for past 7-8 years, factor in logistics of travel after last Sunday's game and this Sunday's, of course these are significant factors, otherwise why does every county want a home draw? Only cute hoorism was in your post, bookies usually shrewd judges and ye are strong ish favourites

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2679 - 18/06/2026 16:34:18    2680482

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "A venue your players know almost as well as their local club GAA pitch, where ye have played last 3 or 4 championship matches and the majority of your championship games for past 7-8 years, factor in logistics of travel after last Sunday's game and this Sunday's, of course these are significant factors, otherwise why does every county want a home draw? Only cute hoorism was in your post, bookies usually shrewd judges and ye are strong ish favourites"
Luck of the draw 50/50

Many years we had to travel to Omagh, celtic Park etc

monaghanmad (Monaghan) - Posts: 502 - 18/06/2026 16:44:09    2680484

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Replying To Mooo:  "Any updates on injuries for Sunday?????"
I can't see Ray playing after his groin injury. Midfield a real issue. Hopefully we can come up with something to compete here in this area. Time to start Robbie Forde.

Iarmhisamhi (Westmeath) - Posts: 58 - 18/06/2026 22:51:59    2680525

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Going on the premis that ray is out how about this team for Sunday

Jason daly
Danny scahill. Charlie drumm. Conor dillon

Ronan Wallace. Shane Allen. Mattie whittaker

Shane ormsby. Tadgh baker
Kevin o sullivan Sam mcartin. Robbie Ford

Senan baker. Brian cooney. Brandon Kelly
A bit of a gamble but brings a bit of freshness with Robbie and Shane and the battling qualities of tadgh around the middle of the park

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 2009 - 19/06/2026 07:01:40    2680532

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Replying To Iarmhisamhi:  "I can't see Ray playing after his groin injury. Midfield a real issue. Hopefully we can come up with something to compete here in this area. Time to start Robbie Forde."
Yeah i'd tend to agree on that about Ray. You cant strap up a groin injury. But he might be ok for 30 minutes.

Meridian (Westmeath) - Posts: 732 - 19/06/2026 08:53:30    2680536

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Replying To Iarmhisamhi:  "I can't see Ray playing after his groin injury. Midfield a real issue. Hopefully we can come up with something to compete here in this area. Time to start Robbie Forde."
If Ray is not fit enough to start why not bring Senan Baker out around the middle-big strong lad who is well able to compete and field high balls along with Shane Ormsby-would be a new pairing but sometimes it works out.Then replace Senan upfront with Robbie Forde.We are definately well able to compete and go to Clones and win-we are definately good enough.

Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 335 - 19/06/2026 09:25:08    2680540

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "A venue your players know almost as well as their local club GAA pitch, where ye have played last 3 or 4 championship matches and the majority of your championship games for past 7-8 years, factor in logistics of travel after last Sunday's game and this Sunday's, of course these are significant factors, otherwise why does every county want a home draw? Only cute hoorism was in your post, bookies usually shrewd judges and ye are strong ish favourites"
Logistics of travel ??? It's 50 minutes from the Westmeath border to clones and a gentle 1h30 to mullingar. Logistics …

veterngaa (Monaghan) - Posts: 1064 - 19/06/2026 09:50:46    2680548

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Replying To Bruno@1:  "If Ray is not fit enough to start why not bring Senan Baker out around the middle-big strong lad who is well able to compete and field high balls along with Shane Ormsby-would be a new pairing but sometimes it works out.Then replace Senan upfront with Robbie Forde.We are definately well able to compete and go to Clones and win-we are definately good enough."
Ray Connellan is the one Westmeath player I would say Monaghan don't have a natural man-for-man match for- after Beggan he'd be the first name on the team sheet for a combined XV. Still expect to see him on Sunday.

I think Westmeath have done a brilliant job in the media over the last few days talking up the fatigue and the injuries in their setup, and talking down their own chances as a result. Odds have drifted out from 2/1 to 5/2 today so it's working- no harm at all in that!

It might just put 5% complacency into some Monaghan heads. Teams like Carlow, Longford, Clare, Fermanagh have caused better Monaghan teams big problems when they were slightly off it, so a Leinster-winning Westmeath with Kildare, Meath, Dublin and Cavan on their belt is a huge test. On 2026 record alone, Westmeath are at least 50/50 here.

Safe travels to Clones folks.

Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1362 - 19/06/2026 10:33:06    2680555

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Team named
Daly
Treanor Drumm T Baker
Wallace Allen Whittaker
Ormsby
Cooney
O'Sullivan McCartan Dillon
Heslin S Baker Kelly

Ray not named on bench Danny Scahill on bench. Midfield going to need a lot of help from half backs and half forwards. Could see Senan Baker or Heslin dropping deep to help with kockouts. Going to be a big ask to lift it again. Best of luck to the lads. They have given us a year to remember. They have emptied the tank in every game for themselves, their families and supporters. We need to get behind them for another 70 minutes.

Chops (Westmeath) - Posts: 927 - 19/06/2026 10:33:47    2680556

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Replying To mickcunningham:  "Going on the premis that ray is out how about this team for Sunday

Jason daly
Danny scahill. Charlie drumm. Conor dillon

Ronan Wallace. Shane Allen. Mattie whittaker

Shane ormsby. Tadgh baker
Kevin o sullivan Sam mcartin. Robbie Ford

Senan baker. Brian cooney. Brandon Kelly
A bit of a gamble but brings a bit of freshness with Robbie and Shane and the battling qualities of tadgh around the middle of the park"
I wouldnt be averise to playing Shane Allen there, plays there with Athlone along side Ray, has a great engine and has 2 pointers in him too, a good front foot player, he is currently doing a job for the manager sitting back letting Wallace and Whittaker go forward.

Corofin123 (Westmeath) - Posts: 17 - 19/06/2026 10:50:30    2680563

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Replying To jobber:  "Are you for real. Galway were slightly the better team no more no less. But any criticism against WH players on here is seen as sacrilige but thats a losers viewpoint and this team with huge potential will never reach that of we live in this delusion."
Slightly better? Here's some facts. Galway won 67% of their own kickouts and 54% of Westmeaths. That's a mountain of lost possession. Conroy at 37 kicked 5 points. How much did our midfield kick? 2 points between them. Galways starting full forward line kicked 2-9 with 2-8 from play. Our inside forwards kicked 8 points, 5 of those from frees. We were outgunned simple as. We have a good young team that needs to be playing league football at a higher level. We need to be playing the Galways and Monaghans and Dublins more often to get that level. I hope we can lift it against Monaghan and get to a quarter final. It has been an incredible year and a quarter final would be the cherry on top.

Chops (Westmeath) - Posts: 927 - 19/06/2026 10:53:52    2680565

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Replying To Chops:  "Slightly better? Here's some facts. Galway won 67% of their own kickouts and 54% of Westmeaths. That's a mountain of lost possession. Conroy at 37 kicked 5 points. How much did our midfield kick? 2 points between them. Galways starting full forward line kicked 2-9 with 2-8 from play. Our inside forwards kicked 8 points, 5 of those from frees. We were outgunned simple as. We have a good young team that needs to be playing league football at a higher level. We need to be playing the Galways and Monaghans and Dublins more often to get that level. I hope we can lift it against Monaghan and get to a quarter final. It has been an incredible year and a quarter final would be the cherry on top."
Seems to be a lot of experts on the thread

Joeynyc (Westmeath) - Posts: 22 - 19/06/2026 11:40:25    2680573

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Replying To Joeynyc:  "Seems to be a lot of experts on the thread"
A post based on data not personal opinion ,how refreshing. I saw people in Galway ive never seen in Cusack Park ,isnt it great ,there bringing their kids who are the future of the game in Westmeath . We have all got behind this squad so far this championship ,stay the course ,dont revert to the normal personal jibing at players because they dont play with my club.

Thechick (Westmeath) - Posts: 288 - 19/06/2026 13:05:28    2680591

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Replying To Thechick:  "A post based on data not personal opinion ,how refreshing. I saw people in Galway ive never seen in Cusack Park ,isnt it great ,there bringing their kids who are the future of the game in Westmeath . We have all got behind this squad so far this championship ,stay the course ,dont revert to the normal personal jibing at players because they dont play with my club."
Agreed. A lot of negative comments about bandwagon etc but it's great to see so many kids at games and out on the pitch with the players afterwards. These kids are the future Ronan Wallaces and Ray Connellans etc. The players have given the kids something aspire to after Westmeaths second every Leinster title.

Chops (Westmeath) - Posts: 927 - 19/06/2026 18:40:10    2680631

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