National Forum

Westmeath Hurling thread

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Replying To Dheen:  "Any more on if Kevin O'Brien and John Shaw are joining Joe Fortune's management team for the new season? And is Andrew Dermody staying on as u20 manager? I certainly hope he is, he's been fantastic. The u20 team will be the strongest it's been since 2016/2017 by all accounts."
Heard at match Sunday that county boards preference is for OBrien to take the U20 managers job. Doubt he could do the two...

Greenandgoldie (Westmeath) - Posts: 106 - 26/09/2023 13:44:39    2505839

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Replying To DanGer966:  "Delighted for llg but what do you mean great for hurling in north Westmeath that's where 90% of the hurling is played it is however good for the county in general that a new team is in the final hopefully they put it up to raharney more than they did in the group stage"
well it is more northerly than the big 3 teams and many people saying here that clubs in north westmeath struggling with numbers and possible amalgamation in future , so not having a go or scoring points on anyone here,just giving my view and support.

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 746 - 26/09/2023 14:43:51    2505854

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Replying To preddan:  "well it is more northerly than the big 3 teams and many people saying here that clubs in north westmeath struggling with numbers and possible amalgamation in future , so not having a go or scoring points on anyone here,just giving my view and support."
To me north Westmeath includes the following:

LLG, pollard, ringtown, delvin, brownstown

Raharney would be east Westmeath, clonkill would be central Westmeath

westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 244 - 26/09/2023 17:57:16    2505889

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LLG already getting the benefit of their underage amalgamation it would seem.

While Brownstown feeling the effects of their lack of underage work

valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1890 - 26/09/2023 19:20:15    2505898

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Replying To valley84:  "pity to see neither Southern Gaels and Brigids getting into IHC final
the senior clubs have the playing numbers to hold back players from their first teams and regrade 'retired' players"
What "retired " players have been regraded from both ctg or clonkills first Team?

Westmeath213 (Westmeath) - Posts: 333 - 26/09/2023 22:06:45    2505911

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Replying To westmeathgaa11:  "To me north Westmeath includes the following:

LLG, pollard, ringtown, delvin, brownstown

Raharney would be east Westmeath, clonkill would be central Westmeath"
Castletown North or south by geographical it says North but

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 291 - 27/09/2023 09:49:57    2505945

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Ctg south west

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 291 - 27/09/2023 09:53:10    2505946

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Ridiculous comment re Brownstown's underage work, they are doing the best they can with extremely limited resources, they had 2-3 subs last Saturday for a relegation play off, two lads suspended, the population is simply not there, Clann na Gael are favourites to win the under 13, they were narrowly beaten in the minor last sunday by Clonkill.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1665 - 27/09/2023 11:56:28    2505977

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Replying To valley84:  "LLG already getting the benefit of their underage amalgamation it would seem.

While Brownstown feeling the effects of their lack of underage work"
Brownstown's glory days of the past were built on a number of large families which dont exist anymore so population is an issue.Id say they are perhaps feeling the turmoil of the St Earnans breakup which led to a number of players going to Delvin.But it has to be said the Clann Na Gael amalgamation appears to be growing.They have an excellent under 13 side who will compete to win the championship while the minors narrowly lost out in the semi final to Clonkill.As with Na Piarsaig and Oliver Plunketts they are upping the competition at underage.It was a great game saturday with a good crowd and no doubt the loss of the two suspended players didnt help.In many ways you might be more worried for Delvin whose underage seems to have dried up.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1542 - 27/09/2023 17:31:09    2506034

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Replying To valley84:  "LLG already getting the benefit of their underage amalgamation it would seem.

While Brownstown feeling the effects of their lack of underage work"
I'm not sure if I would agree with LLG getting to the final is a direct benefit of amalgamation. The core of that team were born during the LLG dominant years of 96-02 and wouldn't have really played in na piarsigh amalgamations.
Perhaps a baby boom caused by celebrations?

Although I would say the real reason behind LLG being in the final is bad years for clonkill and pollard with a big number of CTGs county final team From last year missing

westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 244 - 28/09/2023 10:57:12    2506085

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Replying To westmeathgaa11:  "I'm not sure if I would agree with LLG getting to the final is a direct benefit of amalgamation. The core of that team were born during the LLG dominant years of 96-02 and wouldn't have really played in na piarsigh amalgamations.
Perhaps a baby boom caused by celebrations?

Although I would say the real reason behind LLG being in the final is bad years for clonkill and pollard with a big number of CTGs county final team From last year missing"
How many Gaels players are on the Na Piarsaigh team for the minor final? I know 3 of their prominent hurlers Conor Leech, Darragh Smith and Conor Heffernan are Turin.
There's no doubt that the Na Piarsaigh amalgamation has been successful. The Gaels are starting to reap the rewards and it won't be long until Turin do as well.
Over the next couple of years we should see the Gaels competing for the Senior A title regularly while Turin should get up to Senior B and be competitive there.
The Senior A championship will be harder won next year, Castletown will surely have Liam Varley, Conor Kane, Paddy Doody, Mick Heeney and some of these lads back from abroad, while you'd expect Peter Murphy and Sean Jackson to make the step up after driving Castletown to an Intermediate final. Clonkill will have Mitchell back, and Pollard will welcome back Darragh McCormack from injury as well as Tommy Gallagher and possibly David Higgins.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 858 - 28/09/2023 11:27:06    2506089

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Replying To valley84:  "LLG already getting the benefit of their underage amalgamation it would seem.

While Brownstown feeling the effects of their lack of underage work"
Personally I think if LLG and Castlepollard truly want to close the gap on the so called big 3, they need to be putting out their own underage teams. It's a numbers game and you need to keep as many young lads interested and involved as possible. Not 7 or 8 of the best lads from each club playing underage and letting the rest drop of or taking up other sports. Use a few younger lads like Fr.Dalton', Southern Gaels or St.Brigid's do if numbers are tight. Let them find there level in a suitable division. We need to be growing numbers for the future. I have seen Clan Na Gaels and Na Piarsaigh arrive to games with 25 plus players and only using 16 or 17.

Yellow&Green (Westmeath) - Posts: 45 - 29/09/2023 16:07:35    2506284

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Replying To Yellow&Green:  "Personally I think if LLG and Castlepollard truly want to close the gap on the so called big 3, they need to be putting out their own underage teams. It's a numbers game and you need to keep as many young lads interested and involved as possible. Not 7 or 8 of the best lads from each club playing underage and letting the rest drop of or taking up other sports. Use a few younger lads like Fr.Dalton', Southern Gaels or St.Brigid's do if numbers are tight. Let them find there level in a suitable division. We need to be growing numbers for the future. I have seen Clan Na Gaels and Na Piarsaigh arrive to games with 25 plus players and only using 16 or 17."
I totally agree with this. I've seen it too. Although it's great to be competitive at underage, the numbers will not be there after minor. The lads on these amalgamations not getting game time will be gone by 17. I've seen 22 togged at an U15 match.

Greenandgoldie (Westmeath) - Posts: 106 - 30/09/2023 10:05:46    2506341

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Replying To Yellow&Green:  "Personally I think if LLG and Castlepollard truly want to close the gap on the so called big 3, they need to be putting out their own underage teams. It's a numbers game and you need to keep as many young lads interested and involved as possible. Not 7 or 8 of the best lads from each club playing underage and letting the rest drop of or taking up other sports. Use a few younger lads like Fr.Dalton', Southern Gaels or St.Brigid's do if numbers are tight. Let them find there level in a suitable division. We need to be growing numbers for the future. I have seen Clan Na Gaels and Na Piarsaigh arrive to games with 25 plus players and only using 16 or 17."
I have seen Castletown,Clonkill and Raharney arriving at underage games with 25 or 26 and only using 16.In an ideal World you are right give every child a game but lets face reality all the North Westmeath hurling clubs want to compete at the highest level but population numbers dont help.Pollard the Gaels,Brownstown,Delvin,Ringtown underage players were competing at a very low level if at all but now Na Piarsaigh will play the minor final and Clan Na Gael in all probability will play the under 13.When did that happen last at premier level?

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1542 - 30/09/2023 11:09:46    2506355

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The kids just aren't there in north Westmeath to field on your own as a club. Just look at photos in local papers for the infant classes in schools.

valley84 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1890 - 30/09/2023 16:29:09    2506381

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Replying To valley84:  "The kids just aren't there in north Westmeath to field on your own as a club. Just look at photos in local papers for the infant classes in schools."
Daltons have u11 playing u13 which works well as more game time and experience for the young lads. The end goal is getting enough to senior level, young lads get game time they'll stick around. CTG are crying out for players underage now whether that's the nos aren't there at u7,9 and 11 I do t know. They're all competing for young lads now. You're right the nos aren't there.

2maroonjerseys (Galway) - Posts: 48 - 30/09/2023 23:02:32    2506418

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I wouldn't rule out the Gaels on Sunday.
A few occasions over last few years they could have beat Raharney.
I think it will be a lot harder for Raharney than people think.

Greenandgoldie (Westmeath) - Posts: 106 - 02/10/2023 09:49:11    2506552

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Replying To Greenandgoldie:  "I wouldn't rule out the Gaels on Sunday.
A few occasions over last few years they could have beat Raharney.
I think it will be a lot harder for Raharney than people think."
Yeah I agree, they've beaten Clonkill, Pollard and Castletown, they are really there on merit.
They have to be clever where they play the Jogger, I'd have him back in at full back.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 858 - 02/10/2023 11:00:29    2506575

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Raharney to win by 7-8 points, they have far better hurlers. Ringtown to win the senior b & Clonkill to win intermediate.

Left Full (Westmeath) - Posts: 245 - 02/10/2023 11:24:42    2506583

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Replying To Dheen:  "Yeah I agree, they've beaten Clonkill, Pollard and Castletown, they are really there on merit.
They have to be clever where they play the Jogger, I'd have him back in at full back."
I'm still not convinced they have a chance. Although I would say that's very unfair to say put jogger at fullback, Dan higgins has been having a standout year for the Gaels and is arguably there most consistent performing throughout the campaign

westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 244 - 02/10/2023 11:30:06    2506585

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