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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To Left Full:  "Big weekend for the intermediate groups as well. Group A is very tight but Tubberclair should take care of Ballymore & Milltown will easily best Rochfortbridge who are already dropping to Group B for next year. Castleday-Rosemount is hard to call but I think Castledaly will shade it to take a semi final spot meaning Ballymore will drop to Group B.
Group B is just as tight for 4 teams. Malachys already through but are still likely beat Multy, Bal should beat CFCW easily as they are already relegated to Junior. Maryland-Milltownpass will be very close but I think if Bal win they go through regardless on head to head. Very competitive championship in both groups as usual."
Bal go through if they win and Multy don't win

Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1030 - 21/08/2023 17:49:58    2501674

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Replying To A_Chairde:  "Killucan are and will be the only team to get 'a crack' at the now perceived top two St Lomans and Kinnegad outside of Cusack this year. Interesting fact just saying."
If St. Lomans lose, they will still top the group with the massive score difference if I'm right? Killucan could potentially finish second with a win, and alongside a Tyrellspass win, Kinnegad would be out of the championship. It's all up for grabs. I can see St. Lomans giving the likes of TJ Cox, Peter Foy and Fola, their starting game time and it will mean St. Lomans have a fully primed pick for a semi final.

However, it's the Out of Cusack situation for this game, with Lomans already through, that intrigues me the most and maybe Killucan can pull it off. And Lomans, (knowing that if Tyrellspass Beat Kinnegad, Kinnegad are out) might in fact let them pull it off.

Edman78 (Westmeath) - Posts: 100 - 21/08/2023 22:50:51    2501703

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Will be interesting to see how Lomans cope without the big wide open spaces their super fit team are used to in Cusack? Have they a soft center and as Paudie once said-will they be able to handle the rough and tumble out around the middle which Killucan will definately bring to the table-no hiding places on the smaller Ballynacargy pitch-I fancy Killucan no matter what team Lomans start or finish with as physically I dont think Lomans will cope and also they are already qualified so no real pressure on them--only pride.!!

Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 208 - 22/08/2023 14:33:02    2501779

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Replying To Bruno@1:  "Will be interesting to see how Lomans cope without the big wide open spaces their super fit team are used to in Cusack? Have they a soft center and as Paudie once said-will they be able to handle the rough and tumble out around the middle which Killucan will definately bring to the table-no hiding places on the smaller Ballynacargy pitch-I fancy Killucan no matter what team Lomans start or finish with as physically I dont think Lomans will cope and also they are already qualified so no real pressure on them--only pride.!!"
Killucan can't score. No way they win. Even if lomans put out the junior team.

Lomans won't be worried about Kinnegad. They have no realistic challengers in Westmeath this year

CasKD (Westmeath) - Posts: 38 - 22/08/2023 15:27:38    2501793

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Loman's? Soft centre? Hasn't been evident in this year's championship and rarely if ever in past 10-12 years. Ridiculous statement. Also, in what scenario can Killucan finish second in group? If they beat Loman's they're on Five. Kinnegad have 5, Tyrrellspass and Caulry have four. Either Kinnegad or Tyrrellspass go to 7 or 6 regardless of result in Cusack.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1889 - 22/08/2023 17:05:10    2501817

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You're right, Killucan can't make a semi final, that was my mistake. The second scenario still applies, it would mean that Kinnegad exit the championship should Killucan, Caulry and Tyrellspass win!

Also agree about the "backbone" of St. Lomans, these are a group of winners, who have been tested time and time again and have come out on top 90% of the time, none of their occasional defeats having anything to do with not having a backbone. These are proper athletes and men. They have earned the right to be labeled as a group of winners, the most successful group of players in the past 10 years of Westmeath Football!

Edman78 (Westmeath) - Posts: 100 - 23/08/2023 10:26:15    2501857

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Replying To Edman78:  "If St. Lomans lose, they will still top the group with the massive score difference if I'm right? Killucan could potentially finish second with a win, and alongside a Tyrellspass win, Kinnegad would be out of the championship. It's all up for grabs. I can see St. Lomans giving the likes of TJ Cox, Peter Foy and Fola, their starting game time and it will mean St. Lomans have a fully primed pick for a semi final.

However, it's the Out of Cusack situation for this game, with Lomans already through, that intrigues me the most and maybe Killucan can pull it off. And Lomans, (knowing that if Tyrellspass Beat Kinnegad, Kinnegad are out) might in fact let them pull it off."
But if Lomans did that would that not be 'disrespecting a championship encounter' like another manager was accused of doing in an earlier round??

keepherclean (Westmeath) - Posts: 7 - 23/08/2023 10:40:34    2501864

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Huge weekend ahead but which games to go to??
Moate V Shamrocks, the wheels came off the Moate wagon when they met the Tang gang, Ill go with Shamrocks but something tells me the late goal conceded to Athlone will come back to haunt the Springfield lads.
Athlone V Garrycastle, With nothing but pride at stake for Garrycastle Athlone should take care of business and make three wins in a row. Massive opportunity for Athlone to get there first senior championship win over near rivals.
Tang V Shandonagh, Shandonagh beat Moate to stop the rot and give with a squeak of getting out of Section B. Tang have small squad and havent luxury of making changes, Ill take the table toppers to carry winning momentum into quarter final.
Lomans V Killucan, This is set up for Killucan to make escape Houdini himself would be proud of, luring Lomans out of Cusack and down to Bal. With talk that Paddy Dowdall will leave out some county stars Killucan should be winning this
Tyrrellspass V Kinnegad, Kinnegad will be out to make up for there Killucan ambush but Im not sure if they able beat a fast improving Tyrrellspass and with Ger Egan back from injury Ill side with the Pass.
The Downs V Caulry, Pride at stake for the badly beaten champions, Shane Curran should leave his magic hat at home and not be playing tricks, Caulry win here and Tyrrellspass win they are into semi final.

lakecounty90 (Westmeath) - Posts: 115 - 23/08/2023 12:17:29    2501885

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No comparison, Loman's entitled to pick who they want as they've qualified in top two, likes of TJ, Fola, Ryan Jones, Sean Flan and Mousey hardly lower their standard, they'd all start for every other club.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1889 - 23/08/2023 12:32:19    2501893

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Replying To keepherclean:  "But if Lomans did that would that not be 'disrespecting a championship encounter' like another manager was accused of doing in an earlier round??"
Well now there is a clear difference, Lomans are guaranteed a semi final.
Caulry had everything to play for.

lakecounty90 (Westmeath) - Posts: 115 - 23/08/2023 12:34:03    2501896

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Replying To lakecounty90:  "Huge weekend ahead but which games to go to??
Moate V Shamrocks, the wheels came off the Moate wagon when they met the Tang gang, Ill go with Shamrocks but something tells me the late goal conceded to Athlone will come back to haunt the Springfield lads.
Athlone V Garrycastle, With nothing but pride at stake for Garrycastle Athlone should take care of business and make three wins in a row. Massive opportunity for Athlone to get there first senior championship win over near rivals.
Tang V Shandonagh, Shandonagh beat Moate to stop the rot and give with a squeak of getting out of Section B. Tang have small squad and havent luxury of making changes, Ill take the table toppers to carry winning momentum into quarter final.
Lomans V Killucan, This is set up for Killucan to make escape Houdini himself would be proud of, luring Lomans out of Cusack and down to Bal. With talk that Paddy Dowdall will leave out some county stars Killucan should be winning this
Tyrrellspass V Kinnegad, Kinnegad will be out to make up for there Killucan ambush but Im not sure if they able beat a fast improving Tyrrellspass and with Ger Egan back from injury Ill side with the Pass.
The Downs V Caulry, Pride at stake for the badly beaten champions, Shane Curran should leave his magic hat at home and not be playing tricks, Caulry win here and Tyrrellspass win they are into semi final."
Unfair to say wheels have came off Moate. They won their first two matches and only beaten by a point by Tang and two points against Shandonagh. I would hazard a guess that they have the youngest squad out of all the top 24 clubs in the championship. I doubt St Lomans manager Paddy Dowdall will drop any of his marquee players for the Killucan game either. Killucan were worthy semi finalists last year and clearly rattled St Lomans, only for Shane Dempsey they escaped with a fortunate win. St Lomans have a chance to eliminate their main challengers going on form so why wouldnt they put out their strongest team?

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 234 - 23/08/2023 14:47:10    2501948

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Replying To A_Chairde:  "Unfair to say wheels have came off Moate. They won their first two matches and only beaten by a point by Tang and two points against Shandonagh. I would hazard a guess that they have the youngest squad out of all the top 24 clubs in the championship. I doubt St Lomans manager Paddy Dowdall will drop any of his marquee players for the Killucan game either. Killucan were worthy semi finalists last year and clearly rattled St Lomans, only for Shane Dempsey they escaped with a fortunate win. St Lomans have a chance to eliminate their main challengers going on form so why wouldnt they put out their strongest team?"
What is St. Lomans strongest team is the question? They've been keeping 3/4 starters on the bench until the Caulry game.

This would be the strongest team for the semi final and what seems to be the options for each position.

Jason Daly

Oisin Hogan
Darragh O'Keefe
Gerry Grehan / Eoghan Hogan

Jack Geoghegan / Conor O'Donoghue
David Whelan / Kelvin Reilly
Peter Foy

Enda Gaffney
Sean Flanagan / Fola Ayorinde

Kevin Regan / Tristan Graham
Ronan O'Toole
Sam McCartan

Danny McCartan
John Heslin
Tj Cox / Shane Dempsey

From what I can see there are 6 positions that have a 50/50 of who starts or who doesn't, which is to the envy of every club in Westmeath. The most fascinating tussle for a start has to be between TJ Cox and Shane Dempsey. One of those forwards will miss out on a start it seems but having one of them as the impact finisher is a great complaint to have. They are blessed with talent. Strongest panel I've seen them with for years.

Edman78 (Westmeath) - Posts: 100 - 23/08/2023 16:39:46    2501969

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Replying To CasKD:  "Killucan can't score. No way they win. Even if lomans put out the junior team.

Lomans won't be worried about Kinnegad. They have no realistic challengers in Westmeath this year"
This Loman's junior team must be something else. The hospital outfit must possess one of the greatest junior teams to ever grace the hallowed soil of Moynihan park in the town of the stones. Killucan should put out their junior team to see who truly possesses the greatest junior team in the senior championship.

Tactically, it would be a masterstroke of pure genius by Killucan, as nobody ever expects the team who needs to win in the senior championship to put out their junior team to bedazzle and befuddle the opposition's junior team.

Or is it a double bluff by Loman's management team, saying they'll play the junior team and then putting out the senior team at the last moment. The mind games in the age of social media knows no bounds.

Knowing well the tight confines of a pitch surrounded by rocks, Killucan's junior team could soften up the hospital men's soft centre. As everyone knows a team going for a 7th senior title in 10 years and already planted in the semi finals of champ 2023, are clearly like a pack of eggs, always ready to crack and turn yellow in the middle of a game. Are these bad eggs now gone off?

The expectation is rising for a crunch game in Rock town this Sunday. Can Killucan crack the Lomans' shells? Soon all this pre-match subterfuge will be clarified by a season defining result in the Westmeath senior championship.

RadioactiveTan (UK) - Posts: 28 - 24/08/2023 05:53:38    2502004

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Replying To Edman78:  "What is St. Lomans strongest team is the question? They've been keeping 3/4 starters on the bench until the Caulry game.

This would be the strongest team for the semi final and what seems to be the options for each position.

Jason Daly

Oisin Hogan
Darragh O'Keefe
Gerry Grehan / Eoghan Hogan

Jack Geoghegan / Conor O'Donoghue
David Whelan / Kelvin Reilly
Peter Foy

Enda Gaffney
Sean Flanagan / Fola Ayorinde

Kevin Regan / Tristan Graham
Ronan O'Toole
Sam McCartan

Danny McCartan
John Heslin
Tj Cox / Shane Dempsey

From what I can see there are 6 positions that have a 50/50 of who starts or who doesn't, which is to the envy of every club in Westmeath. The most fascinating tussle for a start has to be between TJ Cox and Shane Dempsey. One of those forwards will miss out on a start it seems but having one of them as the impact finisher is a great complaint to have. They are blessed with talent. Strongest panel I've seen them with for years."
Very strong outfit with a great age profile

Nice mix of youth and experience

westmeath99 (Westmeath) - Posts: 20 - 24/08/2023 12:57:18    2502060

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Replying To Edman78:  "What is St. Lomans strongest team is the question? They've been keeping 3/4 starters on the bench until the Caulry game.

This would be the strongest team for the semi final and what seems to be the options for each position.

Jason Daly

Oisin Hogan
Darragh O'Keefe
Gerry Grehan / Eoghan Hogan

Jack Geoghegan / Conor O'Donoghue
David Whelan / Kelvin Reilly
Peter Foy

Enda Gaffney
Sean Flanagan / Fola Ayorinde

Kevin Regan / Tristan Graham
Ronan O'Toole
Sam McCartan

Danny McCartan
John Heslin
Tj Cox / Shane Dempsey

From what I can see there are 6 positions that have a 50/50 of who starts or who doesn't, which is to the envy of every club in Westmeath. The most fascinating tussle for a start has to be between TJ Cox and Shane Dempsey. One of those forwards will miss out on a start it seems but having one of them as the impact finisher is a great complaint to have. They are blessed with talent. Strongest panel I've seen them with for years."
With The Downs and Garrycastle gone. Shamrocks are the only team left that have beat Lomans in a knockout game over the last 10 years, are Shamrocks the only team left Lomans will fear in the knockouts?

Shamrocks have it all to do to even make the QF.

Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 497 - 24/08/2023 16:42:37    2502113

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Looking at tonight's fixtures in Intermediate section A. It's unusual to see Tubberclair the venue for Castledaly/Rosemount and Castledaly the venue for Tubberclair/Ballymore. It's not very fair for Castledaly and Tubberclair clubs having to host games at the same time as their intermediate teams play championship games elsewhere. There will be people from both clubs unable to go to their game as they will need to provide stewards in their own grounds

mintyfresh (Westmeath) - Posts: 245 - 25/08/2023 09:56:54    2502180

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Replying To Edman78:  "What is St. Lomans strongest team is the question? They've been keeping 3/4 starters on the bench until the Caulry game.

This would be the strongest team for the semi final and what seems to be the options for each position.

Jason Daly

Oisin Hogan
Darragh O'Keefe
Gerry Grehan / Eoghan Hogan

Jack Geoghegan / Conor O'Donoghue
David Whelan / Kelvin Reilly
Peter Foy

Enda Gaffney
Sean Flanagan / Fola Ayorinde

Kevin Regan / Tristan Graham
Ronan O'Toole
Sam McCartan

Danny McCartan
John Heslin
Tj Cox / Shane Dempsey

From what I can see there are 6 positions that have a 50/50 of who starts or who doesn't, which is to the envy of every club in Westmeath. The most fascinating tussle for a start has to be between TJ Cox and Shane Dempsey. One of those forwards will miss out on a start it seems but having one of them as the impact finisher is a great complaint to have. They are blessed with talent. Strongest panel I've seen them with for years."
Strongest squad of players but not as strong as last year when they had Dowdall playing and Kelvin Reilly.

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 234 - 25/08/2023 10:48:52    2502188

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Replying To Temple56:  "With The Downs and Garrycastle gone. Shamrocks are the only team left that have beat Lomans in a knockout game over the last 10 years, are Shamrocks the only team left Lomans will fear in the knockouts?

Shamrocks have it all to do to even make the QF."
I think you'd need to go back to 2006 to find another team beating them in knockout. Castledaly I think.
Lomans wouldn't fear Shamrocks now. They beat them in 2nd gear last year.

jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 459 - 25/08/2023 11:14:21    2502189

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Replying To mintyfresh:  "Looking at tonight's fixtures in Intermediate section A. It's unusual to see Tubberclair the venue for Castledaly/Rosemount and Castledaly the venue for Tubberclair/Ballymore. It's not very fair for Castledaly and Tubberclair clubs having to host games at the same time as their intermediate teams play championship games elsewhere. There will be people from both clubs unable to go to their game as they will need to provide stewards in their own grounds"
Stewards being provided by the clubs playing the matches and the county board in both cases

martyW (Westmeath) - Posts: 333 - 25/08/2023 11:45:25    2502197

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Replying To martyW:  "Stewards being provided by the clubs playing the matches and the county board in both cases"
Still odd considering there is alternative venues available. Athlone, Moate or Tang could all host either game and no need for playing clubs to provide stewards.

mintyfresh (Westmeath) - Posts: 245 - 25/08/2023 12:04:28    2502199

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