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Westmeath Hurling thread

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Replying To stonemadbeany:  "Mostly Pollard, there is a Raleigh lad from Brownstown playing number 12 and he was the difference between the sides, as it has been said Pollard have the numbers but need the few Brownstown lads to win."
I dont know about the other grades but there are 3 Mcguiness couisis a Henry a Mulvany all Brownstown names on the 13s.I dont know some of the others but i would say its 50/50

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1542 - 01/11/2023 08:51:06    2511125

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Replying To Yellow&Green:  "It's very hard to gauge where Westmeath are at when it come to underage but from watching underage for a long number of years some of these lads are a cut above what I have seen in the past and are already producing the goods at under 15 club level as well.
- Jack McGuinness, Luke Ward and Conor Raleigh for Clan Na Gaels. Conor was exceptionally in the final and has to be a future star,fantastic catcher of a high ball.Some very solid defenders as well.
-Ben O'Louhlin probably the most skillful hurler I have seen in years and Killian Raleigh and Michael Brennan from Clonkill.
-Jonah Hassett and Darragh Daly and young Kelly for Plunkett's were excellent all year. Jonah is the star of the show for them.
- Jamie Leech (Turin) Luke Dowling and Lorcan ( second name I can't remember) were excellent for Na Piarsaigh and a match for any team.
- Liam Brogan for St.Brigid's looks to be their go to player and given the task of man marking the division 1 top players and doing alot of their scoring as well, great ball winner.
- Castletown Geoghegan have young Billy Whelan very talented, Luke Mc Donnell really good defender with skill and strength. Darren Corcoran was excellent in the couple of games I seen him especially in the semi-final.
-Ryan Denning for Delvin is a fine hurler and a lovely striker of the sliotor and great engine.
- Southern Gaels have Sam Meegan who is a match for any division 1 hurler in the county real stands out player.
At this age group a lot of the same names crop up for top footballers in the county as well so will be interesting to see were there loyalty lies. I know their are many more talented players in the county that I missed but these were the ones that stood out, I know Raharney, St.Vincent's and Cullion struggled at this age group this year so hard to pick who they have but they will be plenty of talent in their ranks."
Great insight Yellow&Green, clearly a man that follows his hurling in the county. Some super prospects there by the sounds of it which is promising. We will see how they get on at u14 county development in 2024, hopefully they are well looked after by the county board.
To be fair you can see a steady improvement year on year with each grade in underage in the county.
This years county u14s, u15s and u16s have lots of talented hurlers so hopefully this bunch of u13s can push that on even further.
It's a credit to the clubs that are putting in the groundwork. It helps when Plunketts, Southern Gaels and Brigids are now producing quality.
Shows in the competitiveness of Division 1 when Raharney couldn't make it into it!

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 858 - 01/11/2023 10:40:28    2511146

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Raharney just didn't have their usual crop of good hurlers at under 13 level both in quantity and quality, numbers in their main feeder primary schools have dropped significantly, let's not forget we're talking about 13 year olds, a lot can happen through the teenage years, developing their skills is the main goal.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1664 - 01/11/2023 11:19:14    2511155

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Replying To Greenandgoldie:  "Clonkill had two marking Raleigh and they could do nothing about it... It's great for hurling that they won. Especially when you consider Raharney had no team in Div 1 U13."
The future in Brownstown certainly looks bright with the amount of talent coming through and they have them at under 11 and under 15 too. I think they are the real winners out of these amalgamation. Rather than trying to scrape a team together they are now providing the best hurlers into the top teams. St.Paul's are also going well in the football too at this age group which helps.

Yellow&Green (Westmeath) - Posts: 45 - 01/11/2023 11:25:24    2511156

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Raharney just didn't have their usual crop of good hurlers at under 13 level both in quantity and quality, numbers in their main feeder primary schools have dropped significantly, let's not forget we're talking about 13 year olds, a lot can happen through the teenage years, developing their skills is the main goal."
As sure as the grass is green Raharney will keep producing quality hurlers. Its Cullion, Ringtown and Crookedwood I would be worried about with number just not coming through. The age change to even will mean they probably won't be able to field again this year a minor.

Yellow&Green (Westmeath) - Posts: 45 - 01/11/2023 13:39:55    2511165

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Replying To Yellow&Green:  "It's very hard to gauge where Westmeath are at when it come to underage but from watching underage for a long number of years some of these lads are a cut above what I have seen in the past and are already producing the goods at under 15 club level as well.
- Jack McGuinness, Luke Ward and Conor Raleigh for Clan Na Gaels. Conor was exceptionally in the final and has to be a future star,fantastic catcher of a high ball.Some very solid defenders as well.
-Ben O'Louhlin probably the most skillful hurler I have seen in years and Killian Raleigh and Michael Brennan from Clonkill.
-Jonah Hassett and Darragh Daly and young Kelly for Plunkett's were excellent all year. Jonah is the star of the show for them.
- Jamie Leech (Turin) Luke Dowling and Lorcan ( second name I can't remember) were excellent for Na Piarsaigh and a match for any team.
- Liam Brogan for St.Brigid's looks to be their go to player and given the task of man marking the division 1 top players and doing alot of their scoring as well, great ball winner.
- Castletown Geoghegan have young Billy Whelan very talented, Luke Mc Donnell really good defender with skill and strength. Darren Corcoran was excellent in the couple of games I seen him especially in the semi-final.
-Ryan Denning for Delvin is a fine hurler and a lovely striker of the sliotor and great engine.
- Southern Gaels have Sam Meegan who is a match for any division 1 hurler in the county real stands out player.
At this age group a lot of the same names crop up for top footballers in the county as well so will be interesting to see were there loyalty lies. I know their are many more talented players in the county that I missed but these were the ones that stood out, I know Raharney, St.Vincent's and Cullion struggled at this age group this year so hard to pick who they have but they will be plenty of talent in their ranks."
Great insight yellow and green.We seem to have a high quality group at this age and not with an over dependance on Clonkill,Raharney and Castletown.Plunketts,Southern Gaels,Fr Daltons and even Brigids and Cullion seem to be getting their act together. Clann Na Gael and Na Piarsaigh are now clearly contenders at most grades which will bring a bit of moaning from some in the big 3 but that has to be ignored for the overall good.The biggest worry is that St Vincents is not working as well as it should be and Delvin have dug themselves into not a very glorious isolation.
Saying that its a long way from 13s and 15s to senior.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1542 - 01/11/2023 21:58:38    2511233

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Replying To jobber:  "Great insight yellow and green.We seem to have a high quality group at this age and not with an over dependance on Clonkill,Raharney and Castletown.Plunketts,Southern Gaels,Fr Daltons and even Brigids and Cullion seem to be getting their act together. Clann Na Gael and Na Piarsaigh are now clearly contenders at most grades which will bring a bit of moaning from some in the big 3 but that has to be ignored for the overall good.The biggest worry is that St Vincents is not working as well as it should be and Delvin have dug themselves into not a very glorious isolation.
Saying that its a long way from 13s and 15s to senior."
It's purely a numbers game at these age groups, put hurls in young lads hands and hope they enjoy it and keep playing into the future. If you look at the top hurls at underage they are also the best footballers in most cases, their names appear on the rugby team sheets and they are playing soccer too..The county development squads need to help promote and encourage these lads to stick with it for the benefit of the whole county. Personally I would love to see every club fielding there own teams at the younger age groups but if the numbers aren't there not much can be done. Minor championship only had 10 teams in it this year and only 7 of these were stand alone clubs. As long as the big 3 are fielding their own team at every age group the gap won't close. Oliver Plunkett's are the only other sole team with a team in the top division in all underage so they are on the right track.

Yellow&Green (Westmeath) - Posts: 45 - 02/11/2023 11:01:55    2511264

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Its great to see Brownstown producing quality young hurlers between u11-u15 now considering the drop off they've had at adult level in recent years. Kingpins in Senior A hurling a long time ago but now dropped two grades to Intermediate. These young lads will hopefully revive a club with great tradition.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 858 - 02/11/2023 11:35:33    2511272

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Replying To jobber:  "Great insight yellow and green.We seem to have a high quality group at this age and not with an over dependance on Clonkill,Raharney and Castletown.Plunketts,Southern Gaels,Fr Daltons and even Brigids and Cullion seem to be getting their act together. Clann Na Gael and Na Piarsaigh are now clearly contenders at most grades which will bring a bit of moaning from some in the big 3 but that has to be ignored for the overall good.The biggest worry is that St Vincents is not working as well as it should be and Delvin have dug themselves into not a very glorious isolation.
Saying that its a long way from 13s and 15s to senior."
It is a long way from u13s and u15s to Senior but great for the game in Westmeath that Southern Gaels are on that list of yours. Fair play to the lads driving it on there, and surely if hurling is promoted right in the schools there numbers shouldn't be an issue in the future.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13070 - 02/11/2023 15:01:48    2511311

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I'm doing up a map of all the hurling and football clubs in Westmeath and trying to map them to areas or match a hurling area to a football area. I know their is no parish rule and some football clubs might have no hurlers at all. A few questions if any one can help.
- Where would Collinstown lads play football
- Multy lads hurl
- Ballynacarrigy lads hurl
-CFCW lads hurl
- what area do Southern Gaels pick up
-what area do Fr.Dalton's pick up.
- would the village of Rathown play football with Bun.
- Any hurlers in Caurly and with who do they hurl.

Yellow&Green (Westmeath) - Posts: 45 - 02/11/2023 15:29:00    2511320

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Southern Gaels . Have to pick from Athlone, Mayland, Tang, Tuberclare, Caulry, Castledaly, Garrycastle, Moate and Rosemount. Not sure about Moate and Rosemount.

Icehouse (Westmeath) - Posts: 79 - 02/11/2023 16:36:08    2511326

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I believe that Caulry were to be a hurling club. But the curate at the time got them to change direction , a Caulry player of the 30's told me this about 50 years ago in a pub.

Icehouse (Westmeath) - Posts: 79 - 02/11/2023 16:41:32    2511327

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Replying To Yellow&Green:  "I'm doing up a map of all the hurling and football clubs in Westmeath and trying to map them to areas or match a hurling area to a football area. I know their is no parish rule and some football clubs might have no hurlers at all. A few questions if any one can help.
- Where would Collinstown lads play football
- Multy lads hurl
- Ballynacarrigy lads hurl
-CFCW lads hurl
- what area do Southern Gaels pick up
-what area do Fr.Dalton's pick up.
- would the village of Rathown play football with Bun.
- Any hurlers in Caurly and with who do they hurl."
Collinstown have lads playing football for Ballycomoyle, multy and CFCW
Ballycomoyle then pull lads from LLG, pollard and ringtown
Multy have lads playing for LLG and crookedwood
A couple of ballynacarrugy lads have played with Castletown geoghan

westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 243 - 02/11/2023 17:36:15    2511332

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Ballynacarrigy lads mainly hurl with cullion
Daltons can pick from ballymore milltown rosemount Maryland tang moate

Marún&bán (Westmeath) - Posts: 3 - 02/11/2023 18:04:01    2511337

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A few underage Ballynacargy footballers now playing hurling with Cullion, Rosemount seniors key men with Castletown Geoghan, majority of Ballycomoyle adults hurl with Lough Lene Gaels.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1664 - 02/11/2023 18:18:24    2511338

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Replying To Marún&bán:  "Ballynacarrigy lads mainly hurl with cullion
Daltons can pick from ballymore milltown rosemount Maryland tang moate"
Dalton over stepping their mark a bit. Southern Gaels are an amalgamation of Athlone and Walderstown . Which is Drumraney i.e. Tang and Maryland.

Icehouse (Westmeath) - Posts: 79 - 02/11/2023 22:20:52    2511363

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LLG have made u17, u19, junior & senior finals for 2023. Is this a sign that amalgamations are beneficial for clubs, although it will probably be 4 out of 4 finals with no cup won it won't have been a bad year for the Collinstown side

westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 243 - 05/11/2023 22:48:28    2511657

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Replying To westmeathgaa11:  "LLG have made u17, u19, junior & senior finals for 2023. Is this a sign that amalgamations are beneficial for clubs, although it will probably be 4 out of 4 finals with no cup won it won't have been a bad year for the Collinstown side"
LLG didnt reach any underage final.They dont compete at underage on their own.
Na Piarsaigh reached the under 17 and under 19 finals.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1542 - 06/11/2023 18:07:39    2511815

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Replying To jobber:  "LLG didnt reach any underage final.They dont compete at underage on their own.
Na Piarsaigh reached the under 17 and under 19 finals."
You know what I meant

westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 243 - 07/11/2023 11:25:13    2511877

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Replying To westmeathgaa11:  "You know what I meant"
I dont.You are giving the "Collinstown" team all the credit when Turin have played a huge part in both the under 17 and under 19 achievements.Dont get me wrong its great news LLG have had a fine year with their senior and junior teams as well as their contribution to Na Piarsaigh but talk like that can lead to amalgamation break ups.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1542 - 07/11/2023 17:20:13    2511982

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