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Westmeath Hurling thread

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "It's worrying that our under 20 s side has a majority of players also eligible next year and in some cases in 2024 for this grade. The aim of our 20s is to ensure a conveyor belt to the senior side, ultimately we're not going to win a Leinster title or even get to a final so this side is a development squad for the future. We need 2-3 players from each year to progress onto senior panel and that's more difficult if majority of players are teenagers. The modern game in both codes needs players at least 22-23 before they're fit for senior. Our senior squad is unchanged for last 5-6 years and we need young talent coming through."
I agree. The lack of 20year olds is mostly down to poor underage management when these lads were 13/14.We just don't have enough coaches and this is a big problem. Fortune has brought in Gillen and promoted a few more and we still are not an old team. But you are right we need to find a lot of new faces in the next few years.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1803 - 21/03/2022 08:20:33    2406076

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "It's worrying that our under 20 s side has a majority of players also eligible next year and in some cases in 2024 for this grade. The aim of our 20s is to ensure a conveyor belt to the senior side, ultimately we're not going to win a Leinster title or even get to a final so this side is a development squad for the future. We need 2-3 players from each year to progress onto senior panel and that's more difficult if majority of players are teenagers. The modern game in both codes needs players at least 22-23 before they're fit for senior. Our senior squad is unchanged for last 5-6 years and we need young talent coming through."
Your right in that Shane Williams is the only player on his last year of u20 who has made the step up to senior. The middle year has 3, with Eamon Cunneen, Jamie Mulkearns and Mark Cunningham making the step up. I expect us to get quiet a few from the guys on their first year of u20, probably 5/6 players. Darragh McCormack, Conor Gaffney, Peter Clarke, David O'Reilly, David Williams and Rhian Holding all have potential to make the step up to senior. David Maloney of Castletown and Kevin Hogan of Lough Lene Gaels are two of the best defenders in u20 in Westmeath also but neither are on the county panel. Plenty of talented young players to work with in the county but we need to be emphasising S&C with these players so they can maximise their potential. If we do put that physical work into the mentioned players, we can have good campaigns for the next two years in u20 and get some new blood into the senior panel because we have far too many players unchallenged at the moment, becoming comfortable and their performance levels have dropped massively this year as a result of that.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1055 - 21/03/2022 09:48:31    2406094

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Presume you mean David Maloney is not on the senior county panel? He's surely on the under 20 panel, he's playing for Castletown seniors and was outstanding in under 19 competition last year. If we have 6 defenders better than him then we'd win Leinster.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2429 - 21/03/2022 10:14:09    2406106

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Replying To Dheen:  "Your right in that Shane Williams is the only player on his last year of u20 who has made the step up to senior. The middle year has 3, with Eamon Cunneen, Jamie Mulkearns and Mark Cunningham making the step up. I expect us to get quiet a few from the guys on their first year of u20, probably 5/6 players. Darragh McCormack, Conor Gaffney, Peter Clarke, David O'Reilly, David Williams and Rhian Holding all have potential to make the step up to senior. David Maloney of Castletown and Kevin Hogan of Lough Lene Gaels are two of the best defenders in u20 in Westmeath also but neither are on the county panel. Plenty of talented young players to work with in the county but we need to be emphasising S&C with these players so they can maximise their potential. If we do put that physical work into the mentioned players, we can have good campaigns for the next two years in u20 and get some new blood into the senior panel because we have far too many players unchallenged at the moment, becoming comfortable and their performance levels have dropped massively this year as a result of that."
Spot on we badly need competition for places which might partly explain our up and down performances.Even yesterday until the sending off we were at nothing and then young Charley Mccormack gave us a bit of momentum.OK second half was good but Kerry or Down not to mind the big boys would have been out the gate.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1803 - 21/03/2022 11:02:12    2406128

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Presume you mean David Maloney is not on the senior county panel? He's surely on the under 20 panel, he's playing for Castletown seniors and was outstanding in under 19 competition last year. If we have 6 defenders better than him then we'd win Leinster."
He's not on the u20 panel, not sure why. He will have another 2 years at u20 after this year so we will see plenty of him. Would be a certain starter for u20s this year if he was on the panel.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1055 - 21/03/2022 11:52:50    2406148

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Replying To jobber:  "I agree. The lack of 20year olds is mostly down to poor underage management when these lads were 13/14.We just don't have enough coaches and this is a big problem. Fortune has brought in Gillen and promoted a few more and we still are not an old team. But you are right we need to find a lot of new faces in the next few years."
That statement is so far from the truth ,its not down to poor underage management ,its down to proper resources at those younger ages not being made available and when these guys get to 18/19/20 its only realised and discussed then .The work that's going on in Offaly for example if your 14/15 is years ahead of us and its not down to Shane Lowry money ,its down to developing players year on year not talking about developing players

Thechick (Westmeath) - Posts: 281 - 21/03/2022 12:01:12    2406151

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Replying To Thechick:  "That statement is so far from the truth ,its not down to poor underage management ,its down to proper resources at those younger ages not being made available and when these guys get to 18/19/20 its only realised and discussed then .The work that's going on in Offaly for example if your 14/15 is years ahead of us and its not down to Shane Lowry money ,its down to developing players year on year not talking about developing players"
It absolutely is down to poor or nonexistent management as we lack volunteers because so many hurling people are desperately trying to help their clubs survive.What we do agree on is a lack of resources being provided but remember there are twice as many football clubs.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1803 - 21/03/2022 17:52:25    2406303

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Vs Kerry in the semi final this Saturday in Cusack Park.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1055 - 22/03/2022 09:00:36    2406354

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The fact David Maloney is not on the under 20 hurling panel raises questions. He was arguably the player of that championship last winter. Maybe he chose not to play but otherwise it's a staggering omission. He's highly regarded in his own club and will feature in this years senior championship.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2429 - 22/03/2022 16:00:54    2406524

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Replying To jobber:  "It absolutely is down to poor or nonexistent management as we lack volunteers because so many hurling people are desperately trying to help their clubs survive.What we do agree on is a lack of resources being provided but remember there are twice as many football clubs."
Well said from the armchair

Thechick (Westmeath) - Posts: 281 - 22/03/2022 16:51:31    2406552

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "The fact David Maloney is not on the under 20 hurling panel raises questions. He was arguably the player of that championship last winter. Maybe he chose not to play but otherwise it's a staggering omission. He's highly regarded in his own club and will feature in this years senior championship."
Anytime anyone bigs up a player or club on this you usually challenge them with being from that club , two posts about CTG players ,to quote you "you seem to have an indepth knowledge"

Thechick (Westmeath) - Posts: 281 - 22/03/2022 16:53:54    2406553

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "The fact David Maloney is not on the under 20 hurling panel raises questions. He was arguably the player of that championship last winter. Maybe he chose not to play but otherwise it's a staggering omission. He's highly regarded in his own club and will feature in this years senior championship."
Agreed, he will feature for Castletown seniors along with David O'Reilly and Peter Clarke. Three very talented players.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1055 - 22/03/2022 17:20:06    2406560

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Replying To Thechick:  "Anytime anyone bigs up a player or club on this you usually challenge them with being from that club , two posts about CTG players ,to quote you "you seem to have an indepth knowledge""
If you have good knowledge of Westmeath hurling and go to all these games including underage, you don't have to be from a particular club to know about players. I'm looking forward to seeing the 3 young lads from CTG that I mentioned, and also Darragh McCormack and Conor Gaffney from Castlepollard, Kevin Hogan and David Williams from Lough Lene Gaels, Rhian Holding and Josh Murtagh from Clonkill. They should all feature for their senior teams this year and hopefully make an impression.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1055 - 23/03/2022 10:11:55    2406619

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Thanks Dheen. Chick's hurling knowledge wouldn't extend very far, as you say yourself Chick, try going to a few games. Any hurling man would understand young Maloney's potential. His dad was a fair operator too at wing back.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2429 - 23/03/2022 11:55:28    2406650

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The lads in charge of the U20 team have looked at all available players. CTG have one of their own as a selector. There's a few lads who aren't available who would probably start if they were there. Zach Ahern is a big loss. Dara Seery and Sean Leech have opted for football only this year. The group who are 20 this year were a small group to start with when they first came into an U13 development squad. There's been no big drop off.. the numbers and quality wasn't there to start with.

midfield9 (Westmeath) - Posts: 102 - 23/03/2022 12:26:37    2406657

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Thanks Dheen. Chick's hurling knowledge wouldn't extend very far, as you say yourself Chick, try going to a few games. Any hurling man would understand young Maloney's potential. His dad was a fair operator too at wing back."
I'm sure you marked him several times . Great to see all the work you guys are doing at underage and with the development squads bearing fruit , keep up the good work and maybe allow a few others to help ye along the way

Thechick (Westmeath) - Posts: 281 - 23/03/2022 12:47:19    2406664

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You certainly never marked him Chick unless Jimmy Maloney played at a lower level late in his career.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2429 - 23/03/2022 13:46:32    2406676

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Replying To midfield9:  "The lads in charge of the U20 team have looked at all available players. CTG have one of their own as a selector. There's a few lads who aren't available who would probably start if they were there. Zach Ahern is a big loss. Dara Seery and Sean Leech have opted for football only this year. The group who are 20 this year were a small group to start with when they first came into an U13 development squad. There's been no big drop off.. the numbers and quality wasn't there to start with."
They definitely didn't look at everybody anyway. A lot of players who stood out in the u19 championship last year aren't involved on the u20 team, if you went to the games you'd see that. Like I've said many times on here, it's the age group on their last year of u20 this year that are considerably weak. The other two age groups have some quality players. Which leaves us with a skillful but very light u20 team this year.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1055 - 23/03/2022 13:56:18    2406680

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Replying To Dheen:  "They definitely didn't look at everybody anyway. A lot of players who stood out in the u19 championship last year aren't involved on the u20 team, if you went to the games you'd see that. Like I've said many times on here, it's the age group on their last year of u20 this year that are considerably weak. The other two age groups have some quality players. Which leaves us with a skillful but very light u20 team this year."
That's very harsh on the management team. The clubs were asked to send in players, players were asked to go in. There's an open door. If they're good enough and available they're on the panel.

midfield9 (Westmeath) - Posts: 102 - 23/03/2022 16:29:53    2406724

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Replying To midfield9:  "That's very harsh on the management team. The clubs were asked to send in players, players were asked to go in. There's an open door. If they're good enough and available they're on the panel."
I'm not trying to be critical of the management team who by all accounts are doing a good job. Maybe they have asked everyone, and some of those players just opted not to go in.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1055 - 23/03/2022 16:59:08    2406737

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