National Forum

Westmeath Hurling thread

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Replying To westmeathgaa11:  "I'd love to know how people really think they can help rural clubs deal with dwindling numbers.
Local planning permission laws really don't help with a fear of new homes being built in rural areas which to me is really to the detriment of clubs like Collinstown, Brownstown."
Brownstown and Collinstown have decent numbers training and huge interest in the area. It's potential the lads sitting on the benches day in day out in these amalgamation that we could end up losing. That is my fear. if the numbers are close enough to field an underage team and adding in a few younger lads this should be promoted. Back 30 years ago we played 13 a side game at underage in Division 2 to accommodate everyone.

Yellow&Green (Westmeath) - Posts: 44 - 28/03/2024 19:06:05    2534367

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Replying To jobber:  "Hence Na Piarsaigh and Clan Na Gael.
Good to hear 5 new schools playing hurling.Where are they?"
I think the new schools entered this year were Ballinahown, Coosan, Dalystown, Rochfortbridge and I can't remember the other one but I remember it didn't go that well for them. Key was they all had teachers in the schools with a passion for hurling. I'm sure Rochfortbridge school had teams playing hurling in the 60s and 70s but I read somewhere it was 50 years since they last entered.

Yellow&Green (Westmeath) - Posts: 44 - 28/03/2024 20:05:03    2534376

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Replying To Yellow&Green:  "I think the new schools entered this year were Ballinahown, Coosan, Dalystown, Rochfortbridge and I can't remember the other one but I remember it didn't go that well for them. Key was they all had teachers in the schools with a passion for hurling. I'm sure Rochfortbridge school had teams playing hurling in the 60s and 70s but I read somewhere it was 50 years since they last entered."
Those schools very important for Southern Gaels and St Brigids lets hope they continue.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1457 - 28/03/2024 20:57:31    2534378

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Replying To valley84:  "Westmeath is unique in that
A - no parish rule. It has allowed big clubs get bigger by pulling in players from other clubs areas
B - no dual clubs. I don't think there is anywhere else with the amount of stand alone clubs within a short distance of each other. It actually makes retention of players very difficult for clubs as the neighbouring football/hurling clubs are always pulling against them
C - half the population is based in 2 towns. Not many counties in Leinster have that

Imagine then that we don't have an urban gaa development plan to grow the current clubs in those two towns. There is definitely scope for another underage football club in Athlone and in Mullingar"
There are currently four senior football clubs operating in the Mullingar area, no other town has that. Naas, a bigger town, has one club, Portlaoise has one club, you propose to make it five???

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1496 - 28/03/2024 21:29:23    2534387

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Schools are all well and good to get young lads and lasses playing hurling and football. But in some schools letting kids play is a big issue. Insurance and other impediments to children learning gaa. If it's raining or grass is wet no hurling or football in the primary school my kids go to. So how can we expect to produce young talent if the only hurling they're getting is an hour once a week at the local club. If parents new to an area didn't play hurling how can we expect them to instill a love for hurling if they don't or can't play it.
The dreaded head in the mobile at training waiting on their kids is not helping. Until hurling is at primary schools full time it's a major obstacle to trying and improve hurling at all levels. Not to mind introduce clubs into new areas. The demands on clubs is massive. Time slots for training between all underage and senior men and women's teams. Volunteers who put in Trojan work coaching the kids of the future are the ones keeping the show on the road. I know the gaa are sending in coaches into schools which is helping massively but the school curriculum needs to make more time for sport in schools. You can't grow the game until you grow the primary school uptake in hurling.

2maroonjerseys (Galway) - Posts: 26 - 29/03/2024 11:41:33    2534441

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U20 starting team named for the game tomorrow. Very strong on paper with a formidable forward line, I've heard they've been going well and they have a very good management team so let's hope they go on a good run this year again. Best of luck to all involved.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 792 - 29/03/2024 13:56:23    2534463

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Replying To 2maroonjerseys:  "Schools are all well and good to get young lads and lasses playing hurling and football. But in some schools letting kids play is a big issue. Insurance and other impediments to children learning gaa. If it's raining or grass is wet no hurling or football in the primary school my kids go to. So how can we expect to produce young talent if the only hurling they're getting is an hour once a week at the local club. If parents new to an area didn't play hurling how can we expect them to instill a love for hurling if they don't or can't play it.
The dreaded head in the mobile at training waiting on their kids is not helping. Until hurling is at primary schools full time it's a major obstacle to trying and improve hurling at all levels. Not to mind introduce clubs into new areas. The demands on clubs is massive. Time slots for training between all underage and senior men and women's teams. Volunteers who put in Trojan work coaching the kids of the future are the ones keeping the show on the road. I know the gaa are sending in coaches into schools which is helping massively but the school curriculum needs to make more time for sport in schools. You can't grow the game until you grow the primary school uptake in hurling."
Absolutely true.The fall off in volunteers is a huge issue.We need to educate the upcoming generations on the benefits of volunteerism to society as well as organise or clubs.But when there is a will there is a way.People telling us it cant be done never achieve anything.
As regards our under 20s the forward line looks strong but lets be honest the defence and midfield still have to prove themselves.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1457 - 29/03/2024 18:30:17    2534508

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Replying To Dheen:  "U20 starting team named for the game tomorrow. Very strong on paper with a formidable forward line, I've heard they've been going well and they have a very good management team so let's hope they go on a good run this year again. Best of luck to all involved."
Was very impressed vs ourselves last year and I believe alot of them are still underage?

TerribleFootwork (Wexford) - Posts: 1727 - 29/03/2024 22:30:31    2534536

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Replying To TerribleFootwork:  "Was very impressed vs ourselves last year and I believe alot of them are still underage?"
8 of the starting team today played vs yourselves last year. They have back Darragh McCormack at centre forward who is very talented and was unfortunately out all last year due to an ACL injury, great to see him back. Conor Heffernan at corner forward is up out of minor and is a very lively, fast and skilful forward. Looking good on paper is one thing, hopefully they can back it up on the pitch. I've no doubt Kevin O'Brien and co have them well prepared.
Best of luck to yourselves vs the cats today.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 792 - 30/03/2024 07:58:03    2534560

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Extremely disappointing display by ou under 20 hurlers this afternoon, we led by 8 points after only 15 mins and looked likely to win comfortably but we're outplayed thereafter. We held on for a draw but considering that we had an apparently very strong panel this result was not expected. Contrast our performance with Offaly who defeated Dublin in Parnell Park, not an easy place to win in,

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1496 - 30/03/2024 15:50:24    2534623

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Replying To Dheen:  "8 of the starting team today played vs yourselves last year. They have back Darragh McCormack at centre forward who is very talented and was unfortunately out all last year due to an ACL injury, great to see him back. Conor Heffernan at corner forward is up out of minor and is a very lively, fast and skilful forward. Looking good on paper is one thing, hopefully they can back it up on the pitch. I've no doubt Kevin O'Brien and co have them well prepared.
Best of luck to yourselves vs the cats today."
After watching that I dont think they were well prepared.Meath were afraid of us stood off and at 1-9 to 3 it was by how much.Meath got a few scores got the crowd going and we fell apart.All the bad old Westmeath habits,Waiting for things to happen,moaning instead of burying them.Very very dissappointing,Meath for attitude well worth the draw.Theres been a lot of talk about O Brien as a future senior manager.He better step up to the mark quickly for he never prepared his team for Meaths never say die spirit.
THE MINORS HAVE BEEN WARNED
Theres nothing like a good championship match to improve a team but we will surely have to as next up are Derry fresh from beating Antrim.
Conceding 20 points v Meath not a good start.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1457 - 30/03/2024 16:04:14    2534626

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Poor performance, expected more from this team. We hockeyed Meath last year with more or less the same team. A draw even though away isn't acceptable. I feel we took Meath for granted, definitely a warning to our minors for next week. I doubt we will be as bad against Derry but today when we were up 1-09-0-03 we should have pushed on.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 792 - 30/03/2024 16:19:00    2534628

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Kevin O'Brien should be getting more from a team with Sean Jackson, Conor Gaffney, Peter Murphy, David O'Reilly, Peter Clarke, David Williams and Darragh McCormack etc.
Pity Andrew Dermody stepped down as he was excellent. Let's hope Kevin O'Brien proves us wrong.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 792 - 30/03/2024 16:21:32    2534629

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Replying To Dheen:  "Kevin O'Brien should be getting more from a team with Sean Jackson, Conor Gaffney, Peter Murphy, David O'Reilly, Peter Clarke, David Williams and Darragh McCormack etc.
Pity Andrew Dermody stepped down as he was excellent. Let's hope Kevin O'Brien proves us wrong."
First game back for McCormack in fairness you couldn't fault him two serious sidelines over the bar worked hard on the ball yeah gave away a couple of frees but should have been given a few frees to. David williams also worked hard he is still a threat when on the ball done well to win the penalty, I thought Peter Murphy worked hard but had no support at times and Meath got the ball back. David O'Reilly done well got some scores for himself. The forwards did look scattered at times one minute Clarke was inside then Williams was in then it all changed again. They need to work on some of the backs alot of Dodgy moments Rian Holding had a great game I thought. Conor gaffney done well at times to. Its about doing the simple ting with the ball get it and just drive it. The Ref did not help at times he was very inconsistent. These lads Williams McCormack etc can't do it on there own its a team effort Management need to get it right for the next day.

pollard123 (Westmeath) - Posts: 16 - 30/03/2024 17:06:24    2534643

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Very worrying start to the campaign from a team that there was so much expected of.

Bigjoe1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 39 - 30/03/2024 17:30:40    2534646

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Meath beat Wicklow in minor by 3 points. We beat Wicklow by 49 points last week, I hope our lads treat this game with Meath next with the same respect as the Wicklow game.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 792 - 30/03/2024 17:34:09    2534648

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I had heard the Meath team were going well this year. That said, Westmeath need to kick on from this. They are capable of reaching a Leinster final with this team.

35OLT (USA) - Posts: 90 - 30/03/2024 21:35:09    2534710

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No cohesiveness at all in the forwards, very individualistic performances throughout to me, possibly the boys being away with the seniors isn't helping

westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 220 - 30/03/2024 21:44:00    2534715

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Replying To 35OLT:  "I had heard the Meath team were going well this year. That said, Westmeath need to kick on from this. They are capable of reaching a Leinster final with this team."
On this display they would not reach a B final.
Lets get real.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1457 - 30/03/2024 22:16:26    2534717

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Replying To westmeathgaa11:  "No cohesiveness at all in the forwards, very individualistic performances throughout to me, possibly the boys being away with the seniors isn't helping"
Yeah I'd have to agree, played as individuals. They need to play as a forward unit. Some moments of brilliance individually like McCormacks two sideline cuts and O'Reillys scores but they didn't play as a team and they ultimately let us down. 9 points up and didn't kick on also shows that we took Meath for granted, they will surely learn from this next day out.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 792 - 30/03/2024 22:35:09    2534719

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