National Forum

Westmeath Hurling thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To overdabar:  "Its backfiring on the county board. Put on Senior A double header and a Senior B double header and you would get better crowds. People are not going to pay 3 times over the weekend to go to the park."
There was a cracking championship opener between prob the two best teams in the competition last night, a perfect evening for hurling and a fantastic match in terms of quality. Despite that there was a poor attendance, maybe the reality is our hurling support is meagre thin and it won't matter what matches or schedules are on. Blaming the board or prices or whatever is nit picking, a measly €10 in last night, wouldn't get better value anywhere.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1967 - 13/07/2024 22:43:15    2558841

Link

Replying To overdabar:  "Its backfiring on the county board. Put on Senior A double header and a Senior B double header and you would get better crowds. People are not going to pay 3 times over the weekend to go to the park."
Spot on.If you have attractive double headers the crowds will turn up.As expected Gaels too good for Plunketts.Daltons gave the wood a serious hiding in senior B.They will take all the beating maybe Delvin their only serious challengers.Southern Gaels with a good win over Turin in intermediate.Brownstown easily beat Brigids and look favourites

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1618 - 13/07/2024 22:46:58    2558846

Link

Replying To Mattyreilly:  "Brigids are a harmless outfit"
Maybe give credit to Brownstown, based on the league final minus Conor Shaw they're the most improved side in the county, fitter and more disciplined than in previous years, likes of Philly Gilsenan, Brian Guerin, Conor Shaw, Paddy Reilly, Emmet Cunneen and Niall Leonard are quality players, rightly favourites for the Intermediate championship

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1967 - 13/07/2024 22:54:31    2558848

Link

Replying To Mattyreilly:  "Brigids are a harmless outfit"
Crookedwood pretty dire as well

CleanShoulder (Westmeath) - Posts: 335 - 13/07/2024 23:06:27    2558850

Link

Replying To CleanShoulder:  "Championship Predictions
Senior
Between Castletown and Raharney, was a great game yesterday evening which could have went either way, but these are the two stand out teams with the strength in depth to go all the way, both teams will be getting all their key men back as the summer goes on. Castletown were impressive in the league final despite being down quite a few personnel and Raharney very strong and physical and not short on skill.
Gaels had a good league but apart from the first 10 minutes in the final were very much second best to Castletown. They have definitely come on under Joey Williams, especially in fitness, he's clearly getting everything out of the players compared to his brother in the couple of years previous. They are limited though and don't have the strength in depth of the previous mentioned teams, they have a couple of passengers on the field and are too reliant on David Williams for scores. In the final the full forward line was virtually non existent and 2 or 3 backs were very suspect. Between them and Clonkill for a semi place.
Clonkill in a big of a rebuild but have enough talent still there and coming through to trouble anyone on a given day, but definitely not near the force they were when winning the 3 in a row. A lot depends on the fitness and availability of their county men.
Pollard not a serious concern, will win a couple of games as usual but haven't the players or squad to put it up to the contenders on a consistent basis. Discipline usually an issue which they need to sort as well.
Plunketts will struggle for results, especially based on their league form which was poor enough in division 2, they are a coming team again though and would be great to see them competitive in games. They'll probably target Pollard or Gaels for a big performance in the hope of nabbing a result to stay up.
Castletown to bring it home in the final v Raharney
Clonkill for a semi spot with Plunketts making the drop back down.

Delvin and Daltons look the strongest in the second tier, Cullion had a decent league but it was div 3 and they were atrocious in their final against Raharney, they won't trouble the stronger teams. Castletown seconds not too shabby. Ringtown and Crookedwood had very poor leagues and are struggling for momentum, at least Ringtown got div 1 exposure though
Delvin to win it out, Dalton's to make the final and Castletown a semi. Crookedwood for relegation.

Brownstown and Raharney the standout contenders in the 3rd tier, way stronger than the rest. Would expect Brownstown to shade a final against Raharney second string but not a given. Brigids to qualify for the second semi final spot"
Agree Raharney and Castletown are the clear front runners.
Pollard more serious of an outfit than clonkill this year for me and I can see them taking the points tomottow.
Gaels possibly too reliant on David W, but if they can get Derek, jogger and eoin Daly firing like last year's county final they will be hard stopped. Not sure I agree with backs being suspect, they were probably strongest in defence last year with their workrate. They were missing dan Higgins (2023 hurler of the year in my opinion) & Phillip Reilly (captain) in the league final

westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 299 - 14/07/2024 00:59:52    2558862

Link

Replying To Claretandblue:  "There was a cracking championship opener between prob the two best teams in the competition last night, a perfect evening for hurling and a fantastic match in terms of quality. Despite that there was a poor attendance, maybe the reality is our hurling support is meagre thin and it won't matter what matches or schedules are on. Blaming the board or prices or whatever is nit picking, a measly €10 in last night, wouldn't get better value anywhere."
Nobody nit picking over prices. Im a hurling man. Im going to support my own club. Not overly interesested in going to other games. The same applies to the vast majority of people Id say. Having a Senior A game on Fri/Sat/Sun doesnt make sense. Are people going to bring a family in on 3 occasions over the weekend. Have at least one Senior A double header on.

overdabar (Westmeath) - Posts: 248 - 14/07/2024 10:41:51    2558910

Link

What should have happened this weekend. A senior B game on Fri eve. Sat eve Gaels/plunketts 5.15pm, castletown/raharney 7pm. Sunday Senior b game and pollard/clonkill.

overdabar (Westmeath) - Posts: 248 - 14/07/2024 11:10:35    2558922

Link

Clonkill now in the driving seat for 3rd place. Looked good without Mitchell & holding. Will get stronger as they progress

westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 299 - 14/07/2024 21:51:34    2559123

Link

Pollard disappointing tonight

Will be straight shootout between ourselves and Clonkill for third spot you'd imagine

LockLeanGayl (Westmeath) - Posts: 257 - 14/07/2024 22:04:52    2559128

Link

Replying To LockLeanGayl:  "Pollard disappointing tonight

Will be straight shootout between ourselves and Clonkill for third spot you'd imagine"
Don't think they were disappointing, they were just pollard really, can't understand how so many were favouring them to win this evening. Clonkill certainly in somewhat of a rebuild after a lot of retirements in the last year or two, few maybe unfamiliar names on the teamsheet, but as a club they still operate at a way higher standard than some others in the competition.

CleanShoulder (Westmeath) - Posts: 335 - 14/07/2024 22:44:38    2559145

Link

Couple of very interesting ties ahead in the second round of the senior. Clonkill if they can build on their result from tonight and spring a surprise will effectively be through to a semi, would leave Castletown scrambling for 3rd place which nobody would have anticipated a couple of days ago, still think Castletown too strong but not outside the realms of possibility.
Tie of the round is undoubtedly the local derby with Gaels and Pollard. Gaels would have been delighted with the draw of the two weakest teams in the first two rounds, meaning two routine wins would leave them a result away from the knockouts and a one in three shot of making it to a semi. Local derby's don't work like that though and pollard know that a loss here will effectively end their season and on the other hand a victory will give them an important head to head against their nearest rivals should they finish level on points, and the Gaels with the two best teams to play in the next two rounds. So much to play for in this one and so hard to call, the form book suggests the Gaels but form goes out the window in derby's. If pollard lose then round three v Plunketts is a relegation playoff. A lot will depend on injuries and who has a full squad available, and lots to ponder for both teams in the next two weeks.
Raharney to continue their march straight to the final now that they've overcome Castletown.

CleanShoulder (Westmeath) - Posts: 335 - 14/07/2024 23:06:08    2559152

Link

Impressive display by Clonkill although Pollard's second half display was poor, fitness wise the two teams were at opposite ends of the spectrum. Pollard looked leggy and Clonkill were getting stronger as the match progressed. Paul Poynton was immense in defence as was Darragh Egerton, Matthew Glynn, Andrew Shaw, Jordan Smyth and the brilliant Luke Loughlin were also influential, Darragh McCormack had a fine first half and John McCarthy hit good long range frees but overall they were well beaten and it was puzzling to see them persist with Alan Devine in the forwards when it was clear that he was injured. Clonkill need to solve their close range free taking problem as they missed three frees but with Brendan Murtagh on their coaching team it's a problem they'll surely solve.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1967 - 14/07/2024 23:39:42    2559157

Link

Yes its pretty naieve for some posters to be writing off Clonkill. In a bit of a transition at the moment but lots of quality coming through. Loads of underage success. Superb facilities. They will be more than a match for anyone in this championship.

overdabar (Westmeath) - Posts: 248 - 15/07/2024 10:39:47    2559231

Link

Was at Friday nights game and Sunday game. Pity new senior manager wasn't there to see it. The standard in class hurling particularly Friday night was unreal. As for Sunday write off Clonkill at your peril. Luke Loughlin outstanding... Loads of potential for county seniors on display.

Onionbagger (Westmeath) - Posts: 85 - 15/07/2024 13:42:41    2559283

Link

Replying To Onionbagger:  "Was at Friday nights game and Sunday game. Pity new senior manager wasn't there to see it. The standard in class hurling particularly Friday night was unreal. As for Sunday write off Clonkill at your peril. Luke Loughlin outstanding... Loads of potential for county seniors on display."
Yeah that's very true, plenty of talent on display. Luke Loughlin was excellent at full forward in the game yesterday evening, Darragh McCormack showed his class and probably would have had a goal to add to his 3/4 points had he not been dragged down to the ground by Darragh Egerton, Egerton obviously knew it was the only way of stopping McCormack from rattling the net!
I didn't make any of the games Saturday but the standard in game Friday evening and the games yesterday was superb.
Clonkill's young team surprised me.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 971 - 15/07/2024 14:04:42    2559287

Link

Replying To Onionbagger:  "Was at Friday nights game and Sunday game. Pity new senior manager wasn't there to see it. The standard in class hurling particularly Friday night was unreal. As for Sunday write off Clonkill at your peril. Luke Loughlin outstanding... Loads of potential for county seniors on display."
Who is the new manager??

LockLeanGayl (Westmeath) - Posts: 257 - 15/07/2024 14:23:27    2559295

Link

Replying To LockLeanGayl:  "Who is the new manager??"
Davy Fitzsheflin

CleanShoulder (Westmeath) - Posts: 335 - 15/07/2024 14:38:10    2559303

Link

Replying To Dheen:  "Yeah that's very true, plenty of talent on display. Luke Loughlin was excellent at full forward in the game yesterday evening, Darragh McCormack showed his class and probably would have had a goal to add to his 3/4 points had he not been dragged down to the ground by Darragh Egerton, Egerton obviously knew it was the only way of stopping McCormack from rattling the net!
I didn't make any of the games Saturday but the standard in game Friday evening and the games yesterday was superb.
Clonkill's young team surprised me."
Did you watch the game? Was clearly an engineered free by McCormack which was bought by the referee, egertons arm was grabbed and dragged down

westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 299 - 15/07/2024 14:47:30    2559305

Link

Replying To LockLeanGayl:  "Who is the new manager??"
That's the thing we have none

Onionbagger (Westmeath) - Posts: 85 - 15/07/2024 14:55:49    2559309

Link

Replying To Dheen:  "Yeah that's very true, plenty of talent on display. Luke Loughlin was excellent at full forward in the game yesterday evening, Darragh McCormack showed his class and probably would have had a goal to add to his 3/4 points had he not been dragged down to the ground by Darragh Egerton, Egerton obviously knew it was the only way of stopping McCormack from rattling the net!
I didn't make any of the games Saturday but the standard in game Friday evening and the games yesterday was superb.
Clonkill's young team surprised me."
Clonkill hurled well and deserved to win but not sure about quality of the game. The pace was pedestrian at times and Pollard repeatedly drove long clearances straight to Darragh Egerton as sweeper, he seemed to get injured early on but still coped easily with the loose balls in his direction. Luke would certainly be an option for county hurlers if he was interested but inter county football prob his first preference. Clonkill's young players hurled well and it's a great boost for them having lost so many experienced players.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1967 - 15/07/2024 15:16:36    2559317

Link