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Westmeath Hurling thread

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Replying To Sloweddie:  "So by your own logic if the 70% football clubs in Westmeath suddenly decided to become true Irish patriots and facilitate our national sport. Westmeath could in all likelihood be competing for all Ireland's. You need to start changing your allegiance 125 years and 1 Leinster title or maybe 2 let's watch this space"
My logic is over the last 20 years we have over performed in inter county hurling and we have under performed in inter county football!!

Just off the numbers of players playing both codes.


We don't have enough playing numbers in hurling to be competitive at the top table in hurling. It's actually not that hard to be in the top 12 teams in hurling. Look at how quick Kildare came up thought the ranks.

In football we have underperformed we are a small county and it's near impossible to have both county teams doing well at the same time.

Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 648 - 08/05/2026 12:37:45    2671601

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Replying To Temple56:  "My logic is over the last 20 years we have over performed in inter county hurling and we have under performed in inter county football!!

Just off the numbers of players playing both codes.


We don't have enough playing numbers in hurling to be competitive at the top table in hurling. It's actually not that hard to be in the top 12 teams in hurling. Look at how quick Kildare came up thought the ranks.

In football we have underperformed we are a small county and it's near impossible to have both county teams doing well at the same time."
Why is it nearly impossible? You dont have any dual players.
If hurling continues to develop the level of players that is currently coming through in Westmeath you have every chance of doing an Offaly and staying/ competing in Leinster. The talent is there. Not all of it will transfer to senior so you need to continue the work.

Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 366 - 08/05/2026 14:10:42    2671630

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Replying To Temple56:  "My logic is over the last 20 years we have over performed in inter county hurling and we have under performed in inter county football!!

Just off the numbers of players playing both codes.


We don't have enough playing numbers in hurling to be competitive at the top table in hurling. It's actually not that hard to be in the top 12 teams in hurling. Look at how quick Kildare came up thought the ranks.

In football we have underperformed we are a small county and it's near impossible to have both county teams doing well at the same time."
so you want hurling to die off and go away is that what your point sums up??

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 832 - 08/05/2026 17:57:13    2671683

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Posters who talk about us competing in Leinster in the next few years would have had a reality check in Cusack Park this afternoon. An 18 points defeat to Laois and they had at least 15 wides also. We are a lot closer to Christy Ring status than Liam McCarthy and our win in London is the only reason we won't be relegated. We just don't have the players to compete with Laois, Carlow and probably Antrim and Down. Two tough away fixtures left. Difficult to see Westmeath winning McDonagh Cup in next 4-5 years.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2630 - 09/05/2026 19:12:42    2671841

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Posters who talk about us competing in Leinster in the next few years would have had a reality check in Cusack Park this afternoon. An 18 points defeat to Laois and they had at least 15 wides also. We are a lot closer to Christy Ring status than Liam McCarthy and our win in London is the only reason we won't be relegated. We just don't have the players to compete with Laois, Carlow and probably Antrim and Down. Two tough away fixtures left. Difficult to see Westmeath winning McDonagh Cup in next 4-5 years."
Looking at the minors thats what people are talking about in the next few years as they have the quality to compete with the top teams, if they can be kept together. For the next few years we will be in where we are at unfortunately as we dont have near enough quality at senior level currently. The last couple of years we've been producing good minor teams its important we keep this going and keep the focus there.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1127 - 09/05/2026 19:50:07    2671844

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Definitely sobering today. Laois were very good. First touch, pace and power several steps higher than us. Some players seem not to be near that level though we kept trying in fairness. Hopefully some new players come through from underage. Not great support either but then that always improves with success. Hard to see us challenging for a while.

Iarmhisamhi (Westmeath) - Posts: 55 - 09/05/2026 21:46:19    2671871

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Replying To Dheen:  "Looking at the minors thats what people are talking about in the next few years as they have the quality to compete with the top teams, if they can be kept together. For the next few years we will be in where we are at unfortunately as we dont have near enough quality at senior level currently. The last couple of years we've been producing good minor teams its important we keep this going and keep the focus there."
The step up from county minors who are all 16-17 to inter county senior takes at least 6-7 years and there's so many pitfalls along the way. Any minor side that produces 3-4 inter county players is way beyond average, today was a surprise to me, Laois were 6-8 points better than us in the league 7 weeks ago but today it was a gulf in standard. At one stage a 25 points drubbing was on the cards. Sean Jackson made two decent saves and Laois shot 20 wides according to newspaper online reports. The rebuilding process is going to take a long time

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2630 - 10/05/2026 00:05:48    2671904

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Replying To Iarmhisamhi:  "Definitely sobering today. Laois were very good. First touch, pace and power several steps higher than us. Some players seem not to be near that level though we kept trying in fairness. Hopefully some new players come through from underage. Not great support either but then that always improves with success. Hard to see us challenging for a while."
We all knew from early on with the huge number of retirements over a 2 year period that we were heading to a period of rebuilding. Looking at it, scoring 2-19 wasnt particularly poor but defensively we were blown away by Laois's movement,skill,speed and above all physique.

People talking about the minors are deluding themselves,these lads are 16 and 17, years away from senior county hurling. Our under 20's have been a big disappointment and i dont see a lot coming through there.No doubt Conor Shaw,Peter Clarke and above all David O Reilly returning from injury can help but injuries are inevitable and the panel is very weak.

Management need to find big physical athletic backs from the 2026 championship, and have an ongoing S&C programme for promising players or fighting to stay in Mcdonagh will be our lot not challenging to win it for years to come.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1945 - 10/05/2026 08:48:50    2671927

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