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Westmeath Hurling thread

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Replying To LockLeanGayl: "Lads on here claiming we'd make a Leinster final That team was beaten by Meath at minor! Who in their right mind would have predicted that? There's some of that 20s team who won't start for their clubs this summer… Let's be realistic here now" We had a strong core there with Sean Jackson, Jack Murtagh, Conor Gaffney, Rhian Holding, Darragh Smith, Peter Clarke, David Williams, Peter Murphy, David O'Reilly and Darragh McCormack. That's 10 quality hurlers, 4 of which were our best players with the seniors this year in my opinion. They will all play senior hurling with their clubs this year and be pivotal with the exception of Darragh Smith and Jack Murtagh who are both underage. I was one who thought we could have a good run in Leinster and get to the last 4 which was entirely possible. Last year with the same group we lost by a few points to this very strong Offaly team having put in a very good second half in O'connor Park and then we beat Meath Antrim and Laois before losing narrowly by 4/5 points to Wexford. So it was within reason that people thought we could have a good run with this team this year, unfortunately it wasn't the case and we were far too reliant on those players mentioned and we didn't have enough outside of those 10 lads. The positive is all those named are going to progress on to the senior team with 4/5 having already done so. Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 963 - 28/07/2024 09:19:17 2562073 Link
Clonkill v CTG LLG V Pollard Raharney v Plunketts Any thoughts on the above. I'm going Castletown LLG Raharney Wouldn't be surprised if Clonkill match is closer than expected. Gaels to have too much for pollard Raharney to ease past Plunketts Greenandgoldie (Westmeath) - Posts: 154 - 30/07/2024 18:10:38 2563100 Link
Replying To Greenandgoldie: "Clonkill v CTG LLG V Pollard Raharney v Plunketts Any thoughts on the above. I'm going Castletown LLG Raharney Wouldn't be surprised if Clonkill match is closer than expected. Gaels to have too much for pollard Raharney to ease past Plunketts" This weekends games Will matter very little as regards Westmeath hurling & the future of it, as any young fella showing up well this weekend won't get an opportunity to develop at inter county level due to the recent senior hurling manager & Backroom team appointment, The pressure will be on him & he will go with the tried & trusted & in 2 or 3 years down the road we won't be any further on no development no vision just a mercenary & his cronies taking another pound of flesh. Obviously internal isn't a favored option but why not search extensively for the right external person to bring Westmeath hurling forward, The responsibility for this atrocious decision lies solely at the feet of or Charmain & his selection committee Time & history will be the judge & jury deelsider (Westmeath) - Posts: 32 - 30/07/2024 19:10:00 2563120 Link
Replying To deelsider: "This weekends games Will matter very little as regards Westmeath hurling & the future of it, as any young fella showing up well this weekend won't get an opportunity to develop at inter county level due to the recent senior hurling manager & Backroom team appointment, The pressure will be on him & he will go with the tried & trusted & in 2 or 3 years down the road we won't be any further on no development no vision just a mercenary & his cronies taking another pound of flesh. Obviously internal isn't a favored option but why not search extensively for the right external person to bring Westmeath hurling forward, The responsibility for this atrocious decision lies solely at the feet of or Charmain & his selection committee Time & history will be the judge & jury" Why is internal not an option. Surely will be tough to get lads to coach teams as the pathway to the intercounty job does not exist.. That could be a bigger problem. Strange to say the least. Greenandgoldie (Westmeath) - Posts: 154 - 30/07/2024 21:15:54 2563147 Link
So Eamon Cunneen won't be on Westmeath panel if he repeats first round performance? Nonsensical talk. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1945 - 30/07/2024 21:34:18 2563148 Link
Replying To Greenandgoldie: "Clonkill v CTG LLG V Pollard Raharney v Plunketts Any thoughts on the above. I'm going Castletown LLG Raharney Wouldn't be surprised if Clonkill match is closer than expected. Gaels to have too much for pollard Raharney to ease past Plunketts" Castletown Ourselves Raharney Think our game will be closest of weekend LockLeanGayl (Westmeath) - Posts: 257 - 31/07/2024 08:54:42 2563184 Link
Replying To LockLeanGayl: "Castletown Ourselves Raharney Think our game will be closest of weekend" Mitchell still out for Clonkill? Niall O Brien home for Castletown? Redzer99 (Waterford) - Posts: 84 - 31/07/2024 13:44:02 2563247 Link
Replying To Redzer99: "Mitchell still out for Clonkill? Niall O Brien home for Castletown?" I believe Mitchell and Darragh out for another couple of weeks, due back to face us Haven't heard if Niall is home but Castletown did rest their senior players in the 20s game last night LockLeanGayl (Westmeath) - Posts: 257 - 31/07/2024 22:26:24 2563319 Link
Replying To LockLeanGayl: "I believe Mitchell and Darragh out for another couple of weeks, due back to face us Haven't heard if Niall is home but Castletown did rest their senior players in the 20s game last night" According to social media report on game Peter Murphy, Peter Clarke, Sean Jackson and David O' Reilly all played against Clonkill in under 20s match this week. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1945 - 01/08/2024 09:46:23 2563349 Link
Replying To LockLeanGayl: "I believe Mitchell and Darragh out for another couple of weeks, due back to face us Haven't heard if Niall is home but Castletown did rest their senior players in the 20s game last night" His 60 days are up so if he's home he can play anyway Redzer99 (Waterford) - Posts: 84 - 01/08/2024 10:00:13 2563351 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "According to social media report on game Peter Murphy, Peter Clarke, Sean Jackson and David O' Reilly all played against Clonkill in under 20s match this week." That's gas a Clonkill management team member told me they didn't! LockLeanGayl (Westmeath) - Posts: 257 - 01/08/2024 15:00:33 2563443 Link
Pollard, Raharney & Castletown wins for me this weekend westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 299 - 01/08/2024 16:42:30 2563463 Link
Raharney definitely anyway, no discussion needed. Hopefully Plunketts stick in there with another performance to build on. Castletown on Sunday but not as comfortable as a lot of people think it's going to be, Clonkill are blooding a few young lads who are adapting quickly and strongly to the grade. Castletown for all their talent seemed a little disjointed by times against Raharney. Tomorrow's game is the hardest to predict, local derbys take on a different form, Gaels are the better more balanced outfit from what I've seen, although still with a few weaknesses, scoring was better spread their last game to take a bit of pressure off Williams, but still suspect in one or two positions at the back. Pollard are wounded and know a defeat effectively knocks them out of the championship and into relegation talk, their grit alone won't be enough to win the game, they will need an all round better performance than last day out, Gaffney, McCormack and McCarthy were nearly on their own in the middle three lines of the pitch and will need a lot more help to create an upset. Gaels to get over the line I think but just about. CleanShoulder (Westmeath) - Posts: 332 - 01/08/2024 17:43:44 2563479 Link
Looking like a relegation battle between Plunketts and Pollard Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 963 - 02/08/2024 20:44:05 2563628 Link
Disappointing match in the Park, tame for a local derby and the Gaels clearly the better side, should have been out of sight by half time but missed glaring chances. Pollard needed a goal early in second half but it came too late, Joey Williams will realise it was a performance nowhere near good enough to win a championship. Issues need sorting out including a reliable free taker, surprisingly so but they had 3-4 players all on frees at different stages, their big rivals have free takers who score 90% of frees within range, Pollard look in bother with Charlie McCormack injured and some of their better known players struggling with injury. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1945 - 02/08/2024 22:16:23 2563638 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "Disappointing match in the Park, tame for a local derby and the Gaels clearly the better side, should have been out of sight by half time but missed glaring chances. Pollard needed a goal early in second half but it came too late, Joey Williams will realise it was a performance nowhere near good enough to win a championship. Issues need sorting out including a reliable free taker, surprisingly so but they had 3-4 players all on frees at different stages, their big rivals have free takers who score 90% of frees within range, Pollard look in bother with Charlie McCormack injured and some of their better known players struggling with injury." I wonder what the new manager thought of what I assume was his first senior club game in Westmeath. Sounds from your comment that it wouldn't have been massively encouraging. fizzygravy (USA) - Posts: 163 - 03/08/2024 11:18:23 2563668 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "Disappointing match in the Park, tame for a local derby and the Gaels clearly the better side, should have been out of sight by half time but missed glaring chances. Pollard needed a goal early in second half but it came too late, Joey Williams will realise it was a performance nowhere near good enough to win a championship. Issues need sorting out including a reliable free taker, surprisingly so but they had 3-4 players all on frees at different stages, their big rivals have free takers who score 90% of frees within range, Pollard look in bother with Charlie McCormack injured and some of their better known players struggling with injury." Agree with most of that. I think David is a reliable free taker he just missed a couple last night. He's usually bang on Pollard didn't offer a lot upfront apart from Darragh McCormack. Wonder will Bulfin try get him in with the county? LockLeanGayl (Westmeath) - Posts: 257 - 03/08/2024 11:45:05 2563674 Link
Replying To LockLeanGayl: "Agree with most of that. I think David is a reliable free taker he just missed a couple last night. He's usually bang on Pollard didn't offer a lot upfront apart from Darragh McCormack. Wonder will Bulfin try get him in with the county?" He'd be silly not to Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 963 - 03/08/2024 12:12:11 2563678 Link
Pollard really were quite poor, perhaps having 6/7 players with 3 different counties isn't beneficial to a team. Gaels didn't put in a performance that you could say they are a top 2-3 team either. Can see them finishing 4th. Not putting away teams this year. Could have had their last 3 games in Cusack this year put to bed before half time but not one bit clinical in which would be a worry for Joey Williams and co. westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 299 - 03/08/2024 12:56:55 2563685 Link
Agree with previous posters, it was a very poor spectacle last evening. Pollard were atrocious, based on their performances in the first two rounds I can see them getting relegated, it's a long time since I've seen such a poor Pollard team. The Gaels, although comfortably the better side and well worth their win, did not play well either. Based on that performance I don't think they'll make the top 3 for a semi final spot. Maybe it was the 3 week gap between games and a number of players tied up with football in that time, but there's serious work to be done to get them back to the level they were at last year. Big games ahead for both teams in 2 weeks time. If Pollard lose they'll surely be relegated. The Gaels were lucky with the draw to get the 2 weakest sides first and get 4 points on the board, but they might be their last, if they don't get a result against Castletown it could start a momentum slide where the last game against Clonkill is all or nothing, and on current viewing I'd fancy Clonkill, although let's see how they perform tomorrow evening first. CleanShoulder (Westmeath) - Posts: 332 - 03/08/2024 14:24:40 2563697 Link