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Westmeath Hurling thread

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Kerry were very poor, they've been decimated by retirements, transfers and emigration in past two years, think they had 6 of panel left from squad in 2021, the miracle is they beat Kildare in Newbridge. Our hurlers at a crossroads, reality is likes of Jogger, Aaron Craig, Joey, Niall O' B, Gary Grev, David Glennon and others are getting or gone past it, the idea that they could compete in two years at Liam Mc level is utterly unrealistic were we somehow to win McDonagh next year, highly unlikely with Carlow, Antrim or Offaly, Laois or Kildare in competition. Therefore longer term strategy required, new manager, ideally local, three year term, build team around likes of David O' Reilly, Eamon Cunneen, David Williams, Darragh McCormack, Killian Doyle, Mark Cunningham, Darragh Egerton and Kevin Regan and introduce under 20s gradually like Jack Murtagh, Oisin Murray and Peter Murphy. We could struggle in McDonagh initially but surely it will pay off.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2173 - 24/05/2025 17:29:35    2612089

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Kerry were very poor, they've been decimated by retirements, transfers and emigration in past two years, think they had 6 of panel left from squad in 2021, the miracle is they beat Kildare in Newbridge. Our hurlers at a crossroads, reality is likes of Jogger, Aaron Craig, Joey, Niall O' B, Gary Grev, David Glennon and others are getting or gone past it, the idea that they could compete in two years at Liam Mc level is utterly unrealistic were we somehow to win McDonagh next year, highly unlikely with Carlow, Antrim or Offaly, Laois or Kildare in competition. Therefore longer term strategy required, new manager, ideally local, three year term, build team around likes of David O' Reilly, Eamon Cunneen, David Williams, Darragh McCormack, Killian Doyle, Mark Cunningham, Darragh Egerton and Kevin Regan and introduce under 20s gradually like Jack Murtagh, Oisin Murray and Peter Murphy. We could struggle in McDonagh initially but surely it will pay off."
That Kerry team was very weak, it was said 18 players turned down the invite to play under their new management, that is crazy.

Past hurler (None) - Posts: 951 - 24/05/2025 20:58:41    2612185

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I said it before & I'll ay it again. John Greville should have been given the job so our board should go all out to get him back. He's the only man inside the county to drive it forward for the next 4-5 years. He has contacts all over the country & would bring a very good outside coach with him along with maybe one or two inside selectors.

Left Full (Westmeath) - Posts: 257 - 24/05/2025 21:46:25    2612209

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Replying To Left Full:  "I said it before & I'll ay it again. John Greville should have been given the job so our board should go all out to get him back. He's the only man inside the county to drive it forward for the next 4-5 years. He has contacts all over the country & would bring a very good outside coach with him along with maybe one or two inside selectors."
I agree totally Johnny Greville maybe outside coach selectors like Shane obrien and budda or someone like that from one of the clubs

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 714 - 24/05/2025 22:50:17    2612246

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Replying To Left Full:  "I said it before & I'll ay it again. John Greville should have been given the job so our board should go all out to get him back. He's the only man inside the county to drive it forward for the next 4-5 years. He has contacts all over the country & would bring a very good outside coach with him along with maybe one or two inside selectors."
I agree but do you think Greville who has the Meath job will return to work with the people who rejected him?

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1719 - 25/05/2025 08:01:15    2612272

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Replying To Left Full:  "I said it before & I'll ay it again. John Greville should have been given the job so our board should go all out to get him back. He's the only man inside the county to drive it forward for the next 4-5 years. He has contacts all over the country & would bring a very good outside coach with him along with maybe one or two inside selectors."
He didn't make final 2 last time. I'd say will be outside man. Aot need to move on. Trust the youth

Danup (Westmeath) - Posts: 82 - 25/05/2025 08:25:06    2612275

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Budda Mangan has done very well with CTG, I'd expect them to go well again this year. He could be an option definitely

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1041 - 25/05/2025 10:35:02    2612284

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If I was to call it now and the current manager is not staying on as nothing is confirmed I would say Obrien from Clonkill is the front runner as regards inside candidate

Has won 2 in a row in westmeath, including 2 strong performances in leinster against Ballyboden and Ballyhale.

Has had two terms as Westmeath u20 boss winning the tier 2 on both occasions.

Most importantly has the experience of being in Offaly senior hurling management team when they were going through transition.

He's also still involved with Westmeath development and is highly regarded in Cusack park for that work he continues to do.

Danup (Westmeath) - Posts: 82 - 26/05/2025 06:57:11    2612585

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I would be shocked if O'Brien gets the job but knowing our county board you'd never know

Left Full (Westmeath) - Posts: 257 - 26/05/2025 09:06:02    2612603

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Well done to Castledaly in their first u8 hurling blitz at the weekend

Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1040 - 26/05/2025 11:42:08    2612681

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Replying To Left Full:  "I would be shocked if O'Brien gets the job but knowing our county board you'd never know"
Not a chance

Thechick (Westmeath) - Posts: 270 - 26/05/2025 12:41:05    2612709

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Replying To Jack_Sparrow:  "Well done to Castledaly in their first u8 hurling blitz at the weekend"
Great to see

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1041 - 26/05/2025 14:40:20    2612769

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Replying To Left Full:  "I would be shocked if O'Brien gets the job but knowing our county board you'd never know"
I'd say neither him or your man will even apply.

Danup (Westmeath) - Posts: 82 - 26/05/2025 17:35:33    2612838

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Replying To Thechick:  "Not a chance"
If he did apply there would be every chance imo. Why are we so quick to disregard our own candidates. Is it club bias possibly

Danup (Westmeath) - Posts: 82 - 26/05/2025 17:37:19    2612839

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Replying To Dheen:  "Budda Mangan has done very well with CTG, I'd expect them to go well again this year. He could be an option definitely"
Agree but will they wait till championship is over to appoint a new manager, hardly

Danup (Westmeath) - Posts: 82 - 26/05/2025 17:38:21    2612840

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Replying To Left Full:  "I said it before & I'll ay it again. John Greville should have been given the job so our board should go all out to get him back. He's the only man inside the county to drive it forward for the next 4-5 years. He has contacts all over the country & would bring a very good outside coach with him along with maybe one or two inside selectors."
Why didn't he get it last time

Onionbagger (Westmeath) - Posts: 101 - 26/05/2025 17:39:52    2612841

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Replying To Onionbagger:  "Why didn't he get it last time"
A very good question? However i dont think Greville would do our job now having given Meath a 3 year commitment.Especially as he has played such a young team in year 1.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1719 - 26/05/2025 20:04:55    2612889

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In all fairness both lads are great westmeath hurling men.
But when you are a selector with seniors for years and don't get the top job your race is run likewise with the u20 job. Both are gone from these positions and will not be in running. So only option is go outside as we've always done.

Danup (Westmeath) - Posts: 82 - 27/05/2025 12:23:50    2613022

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Replying To Danup:  "In all fairness both lads are great westmeath hurling men.
But when you are a selector with seniors for years and don't get the top job your race is run likewise with the u20 job. Both are gone from these positions and will not be in running. So only option is go outside as we've always done."
I disagree that your race is run. They can still be drafted back in from the cold, as you say. It just depends on whether they have the appetite to go for the job or not and a big change in county board thinking.

There's an element of taking the easy route at times to avoid bias type nonsense arguments, so an external coach is an easy out. External coaches tend to have some connection to a big county or setup too. The current coach has been involved in high profile setups before and was picked on that basis. I dunno what the Meath story stuff is that people mentioned before but it's irrelevant at this stage.

There's an element of results based thinking for external coaches too, they have a short mandate and won't necessarily risk their next gig on building Westmeath for the future. At this point, I think it's time to revise that idea and go back in-house. We should be getting our own coaches to progress from underage setups to senior or club to county and have a succession plan of sorts. The main goal is to be as competitive as possible while consistently bringing through young players. If we just try to be competitive in the short term, we're going nowhere. There isn't a pipeline of players available, so we have to maximise what resources we have.

There are options internally, we all know the names. It's just a case of whether the people in particular feel that bridges have been burned or if they'll be given a broad enough mandate to change things to the way they see it.

gedupoutofit (Westmeath) - Posts: 179 - 27/05/2025 13:57:37    2613050

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Excellent point. We got a small flavour of the bias here which is always going to be a factor. As I've said before a combination of internal coaches would cut out the bias. I feel there needs to be change, whether it happens or not who knows but strong candidate needed to bring in youth and drive it on

Danup (Westmeath) - Posts: 82 - 27/05/2025 14:25:01    2613057

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