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Westmeath Hurling thread

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Replying To Dheen:  "Great effort by a young inexperienced Westmeath side to hold the All Ireland champions to 6 pts."
Not alone that led after 52 minutes and a point down after an hour.If Mitchell's shot had gone in Who knows.Our work rate was great .I thought our defence were tigerish from start to finish and hopefully we can move onwards and upwards.The return of the experienced players Will strengten the Squad but these lads today showed at least some of these what work rate IS all about.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1618 - 11/02/2024 17:31:44    2525485

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David Williams, Conor Gaffney, David O' Reilly, Shane McGovern, Joey Boyle when introduced we're all excellent, huge crowd from Limerick, credit to them, disappointing home support, Limerick's play was shoddy, Diarmuid Byrnes must have hit 6 wides alone, encouraging before the test of Tipp in Semple.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1968 - 11/02/2024 20:11:19    2525512

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "David Williams, Conor Gaffney, David O' Reilly, Shane McGovern, Joey Boyle when introduced we're all excellent, huge crowd from Limerick, credit to them, disappointing home support, Limerick's play was shoddy, Diarmuid Byrnes must have hit 6 wides alone, encouraging before the test of Tipp in Semple."
When you see how Kerry are struggling in Division 2 in transition, its a credit to the quality of our youngsters that they were able for the step up against the All Ireland champions today running them close. David Williams was unlucky to be sent off towards the end.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 971 - 11/02/2024 20:49:54    2525530

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Westmeath always seem to play well against limerick, yesterday was a good performance hopefully more to come.

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 763 - 12/02/2024 12:53:51    2525631

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Replying To preddan:  "Westmeath always seem to play well against limerick, yesterday was a good performance hopefully more to come."
With Robbie Greville and Davy Glennon back training the squad will be stronger.I haven't heard anything about Kilian Doyle is he training or has he left?

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1618 - 15/02/2024 15:19:52    2526221

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Is Aonghus Clarke and Niall O'Brien part of the panel, The hurlers need everyone at there disposal to compete.

PowellJohn3 (Westmeath) - Posts: 66 - 15/02/2024 16:08:19    2526231

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Well done to Westmeath last Sunday. That's two years in a row Limerick have had to dig it out in Cusack Park.
Westmeath's work rate and intensity in the tackle really showed up how much work some of our established players still have to do before Championship, and Westmeath have shown that some of our fringe panel members likely won't make the grade this year in terms of the touch, timing and physicality.

Thanks again to the the Locals in Mullingar for the welcome and the banter. They are a sound bunch. Its becoming one of our favourite away day venues

LimerickandProud (Limerick) - Posts: 100 - 15/02/2024 16:52:51    2526239

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Replying To PowellJohn3:  "Is Aonghus Clarke and Niall O'Brien part of the panel, The hurlers need everyone at there disposal to compete."
No neither involved

DanGer966 (Westmeath) - Posts: 29 - 15/02/2024 18:54:40    2526257

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Replying To jobber:  "With Robbie Greville and Davy Glennon back training the squad will be stronger.I haven't heard anything about Kilian Doyle is he training or has he left?"
Killian Doyle, Davy Glennon, Robbie Greville all part of the panel just injured or doing rehabilitation. I've heard Conor Shaw is involved too but I've also heard he isn't

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 971 - 15/02/2024 19:07:12    2526260

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Great to see Conor Gaffney, Peter Clarke, David Williams and David O'Reilly becoming prominent players for our seniors, they should stand out in u20. I haven't heard much in recent weeks of u20s, before Christmas the talk was that they were flying in training and preparation with a big squad of 50 players, I'd imagine that has been cut since.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 971 - 15/02/2024 19:09:54    2526261

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Replying To LimerickandProud:  "Well done to Westmeath last Sunday. That's two years in a row Limerick have had to dig it out in Cusack Park.
Westmeath's work rate and intensity in the tackle really showed up how much work some of our established players still have to do before Championship, and Westmeath have shown that some of our fringe panel members likely won't make the grade this year in terms of the touch, timing and physicality.

Thanks again to the the Locals in Mullingar for the welcome and the banter. They are a sound bunch. Its becoming one of our favourite away day venues"
It's always great to have Limerick in Mullingar.All the kids on the field at half time added to the day.Great you enjoyed your day.Hopefully next time we run ye even closer.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1618 - 15/02/2024 22:35:55    2526287

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Replying To Dheen:  "Great to see Conor Gaffney, Peter Clarke, David Williams and David O'Reilly becoming prominent players for our seniors, they should stand out in u20. I haven't heard much in recent weeks of u20s, before Christmas the talk was that they were flying in training and preparation with a big squad of 50 players, I'd imagine that has been cut since."
It can't be easy for either management to have so many under 20's on senior panel but what can Fortune do with so many injuries and other players opting out.Westmeath aren't Limerick and all 4 lads did well but they need to give same commitment to 20's as well which often doesn't happen when players play a grade above.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1618 - 15/02/2024 22:40:48    2526288

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Big game at the weekend, it's going to be difficult on the big open pitch of Thurles but a similar effort and showing as against Limerick would be more than pleasing. Best of luck to the players and management.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 971 - 21/02/2024 13:23:18    2527375

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I'd say there's no comparison between the two matches, Cusack Park often suits us, Limerick had only 5-6 regulars, Kiely knows that winning the league and then the 5 in a row is virtually impossible, all focus is on the championship, Tipp on the best pitch in the country is a different proposition, they'll be close to full strength and their strength is goal scoring with Jake Morris, Mark Kehoe etc. Liam Cahill would love to win the National league. Conceding fewer than three goals on Saturday would be massive boost to our confidence.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1968 - 21/02/2024 14:21:26    2527386

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "I'd say there's no comparison between the two matches, Cusack Park often suits us, Limerick had only 5-6 regulars, Kiely knows that winning the league and then the 5 in a row is virtually impossible, all focus is on the championship, Tipp on the best pitch in the country is a different proposition, they'll be close to full strength and their strength is goal scoring with Jake Morris, Mark Kehoe etc. Liam Cahill would love to win the National league. Conceding fewer than three goals on Saturday would be massive boost to our confidence."
Hopefully your players don't think the same way as you going up there or they will definitely ship a bad beating.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14240 - 21/02/2024 21:48:09    2527457

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Replying To Viking66:  "Hopefully your players don't think the same way as you going up there or they will definitely ship a bad beating."
Exactly we need to play with the same passion for the 70 minutes we did at Cusack and not the 25 at Salthill.Our team is very young but hopefully some of the injuries will clear up and more experienced players will make the 26 which will help in the last half hour our big weakness.
Nevertheless a hungry Tipperary in Thurles is a big ask but a great experience for young players who can be Westmeath's future.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1618 - 22/02/2024 08:42:09    2527485

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Replying To jobber:  "Exactly we need to play with the same passion for the 70 minutes we did at Cusack and not the 25 at Salthill.Our team is very young but hopefully some of the injuries will clear up and more experienced players will make the 26 which will help in the last half hour our big weakness.
Nevertheless a hungry Tipperary in Thurles is a big ask but a great experience for young players who can be Westmeath's future."
Belief is a big problem for middle tier counties. Most believe they can beat Wexford and try hard and occasionally win. Most think they can't beat Galway , Tipp, Kilkenny etc, don't perform to their best level, and get thrashed. It's a self fulfilling prophecy. "We think we can't win" always leads to not winning. In any sport.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14240 - 22/02/2024 09:25:25    2527492

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Replying To Viking66:  "Hopefully your players don't think the same way as you going up there or they will definitely ship a bad beating."
Think realistically is not part of a player's preparations you're suggesting? Surely better than naivety. Where did I suggest not playing with passion as another poster referred to? Maybe teams play better against likes of Wexford and Dublin because those teams are inferior in quality. Your last post suggested teams don't try hard against Tipp etc.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1968 - 22/02/2024 10:40:18    2527514

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Westmeath schools playing Kilkenny schools in Leinster Final in Cusack Park on Saturday. Hopefully they get good support, free entry. Best of luck to all involved.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 971 - 22/02/2024 11:33:05    2527522

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Think realistically is not part of a player's preparations you're suggesting? Surely better than naivety. Where did I suggest not playing with passion as another poster referred to? Maybe teams play better against likes of Wexford and Dublin because those teams are inferior in quality. Your last post suggested teams don't try hard against Tipp etc."
If you are a player and you run out onto any pitch thinking we aren't going to win, you aren't going to play as hard, no matter how much you try to, or think that you are going to.
In the last 2 championships you drew and won against us. In the same 2 years in championship, even though we didn't go particularly well, our record against the top 2 teams in Leinster, Kilkenny and Galway, was played 4, won 2, drawn 1, and lost 1, with a points difference in the 4 games of exactly 0. Pretty even stuff. Your lads played 4 against Galway and Kilkenny, lost 4, with a points difference of minus 98. Yes -98.
If belief wasn't part of the problem how do you explain why a team you didn't lose to in the championship in 2 games in the last 2 years was 98 points better against 2 other teams over 4 championship games in the same 2 years? I wouldn't say Galway and Kilkenny tried any harder against you than they did against us.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14240 - 22/02/2024 12:23:18    2527530

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