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So it's a repeat of last year's semi final. Here's the teams and scorers from 2021: Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mick O'Grady, Eoin Doyle, Mark Dempsey; David Hyland, Ryan Houlihan, Kevin Flynn; Kevin Feely 0-1, Aaron Masterson 0-1; Alex Beirne 0-1, Fergal Conway 0-1, Neil Flynn 0-7 (4 frees) Ben McCormack, Daniel Flynn 1-1, Jimmy Hyland 1-1 (1 free). Subs: Shea Ryan for Feely (34), Darragh Malone for Houlihan and Shane O'Sullivan 0-1 for McCormack (both half-time), Paddy McDermott for Doyle (52), Brian McLoughlin for Hyland (68). Westmeath: Jason Daly; Jack Smith, Kevin Maguire, Boidu Sayeh; James Dolan 0-1, Ronan Wallace, Sam McCartan 0-1 (1'45); Denis Corroon,Sam Duncan; Ray Connellan, David Lynch 0-1, Ronan O'Toole; Lorcan Dolan 0-5 (1 mark), Ger Egan 0-1, John Heslin 0-8 (7 frees)t. Subs: Darren Giles 0-1 for Sayeh (46), Fola Ayorinde for Corroon (51), Tommy McDaniel for Connellan (62), Nigel Harte for McCartan (72). Reading on the Louth page, they felt Kildare totally outmuscled them in the quarter final. I don't recall this being a major issue in Croke Park last year ? BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1130 - 03/05/2022 11:58:45 2414528 Link
Well done on Saturday, best side won and best of luck against Kildare. Pity that there is no TV coverage of the semi-finals. I'd be interested to see the two semi-finals. I spend so much time up and down the country travelling to see Longford during the league and qualifiers that I get it hard to justify going to any provincial game other than a final and I stopped going to those once they became a foregone conclusion. The GAA would want to get their finger out. There was just over 2,000 at Longford v Westmeath. I think the people that went were always going to go but the sunshine supporters who were put off by the bad weather would have watched online and brought in further income for GAA. I would have even watched the game again when I got home if it had been possible and I know there are others like me. Hopefully they go back on allowing games streamed online again next year. Mull93 (Longford) - Posts: 119 - 03/05/2022 12:21:29 2414548 Link
Well done on Saturday, best side won and best of luck against Kildare. Pity that there is no TV coverage of the semi-finals. I'd be interested to see the two semi-finals. I spend so much time up and down the country travelling to see Longford during the league and qualifiers that I get it hard to justify going to any provincial game other than a final and I stopped going to those once they became a foregone conclusion. The GAA would want to get their finger out. There was just over 2,000 at Longford v Westmeath. I think the people that went were always going to go but the sunshine supporters who were put off by the bad weather would have watched online and brought in further income for GAA. I would have even watched the game again when I got home if it had been possible and I know there are others like me. Hopefully they go back on allowing games streamed online again next year. Mull93 (Longford) - Posts: 119 - 03/05/2022 12:21:29 2414549 Link
Replying To Mull93: "Well done on Saturday, best side won and best of luck against Kildare. Pity that there is no TV coverage of the semi-finals. I'd be interested to see the two semi-finals. I spend so much time up and down the country travelling to see Longford during the league and qualifiers that I get it hard to justify going to any provincial game other than a final and I stopped going to those once they became a foregone conclusion. The GAA would want to get their finger out. There was just over 2,000 at Longford v Westmeath. I think the people that went were always going to go but the sunshine supporters who were put off by the bad weather would have watched online and brought in further income for GAA. I would have even watched the game again when I got home if it had been possible and I know there are others like me. Hopefully they go back on allowing games streamed online again next year." I'd say the combination of a wet day plus the €25 price of a stand ticket put a lot of people off. Will be interesting to see what the price options are for Croke Park. BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1130 - 03/05/2022 13:26:59 2414577 Link
Replying To Mull93: "Well done on Saturday, best side won and best of luck against Kildare. Pity that there is no TV coverage of the semi-finals. I'd be interested to see the two semi-finals. I spend so much time up and down the country travelling to see Longford during the league and qualifiers that I get it hard to justify going to any provincial game other than a final and I stopped going to those once they became a foregone conclusion. The GAA would want to get their finger out. There was just over 2,000 at Longford v Westmeath. I think the people that went were always going to go but the sunshine supporters who were put off by the bad weather would have watched online and brought in further income for GAA. I would have even watched the game again when I got home if it had been possible and I know there are others like me. Hopefully they go back on allowing games streamed online again next year." 100% support having games streamed online again (club and county). But why are those who might watch a game online, 'sunshine supporters'? If they pay money to watch their team and cheer them on from their front room, they are regular supporters just like the rest. Some are old and unable to move out and about so easily and would love to be able to watch from home by having their family set it up online. Others don't find it so easy to get themselves and their children out to a game, so for some parents it is either pay to watch it online or not see it at all. Another cohort live away from home and this is their only way to see the games. There are a myriad reasons why people on any particular day can't get to physically be at games. That doesn't make them sunshine supporters. LongfordgaaAbú (Longford) - Posts: 471 - 03/05/2022 13:27:33 2414580 Link
The pricing last Saturday was a disgrace, obviously not a county board decision as Leinster Council are in charge but €25 to see two division 3 teams is unfair. The weather didn't help either but The Westmeath support has totally fallen away in football especially, Longford always bring good support. The lack of support for the minor footballers last Wednesday for a knockout championship game was shocking. Outside of parents of the players and development squad of under 16s, there were fewer than 100 Westmeath supporters in attendance. Wicklow outnumbered us. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1490 - 03/05/2022 13:46:55 2414587 Link
Replying To LongfordgaaAbú: "100% support having games streamed online again (club and county). But why are those who might watch a game online, 'sunshine supporters'? If they pay money to watch their team and cheer them on from their front room, they are regular supporters just like the rest. Some are old and unable to move out and about so easily and would love to be able to watch from home by having their family set it up online. Others don't find it so easy to get themselves and their children out to a game, so for some parents it is either pay to watch it online or not see it at all. Another cohort live away from home and this is their only way to see the games. There are a myriad reasons why people on any particular day can't get to physically be at games. That doesn't make them sunshine supporters." I agree with all the above, there are a number of genuine reasons why people can't go to a game live and it doesn't make you any less of a supporter if you watch it streamed. My point, which was maybe lost, is that the day was very wet and there would have been supporters who made the decision to stay at home based on the bad weather, maybe in combination with the fact that the stand was €25 compared to the terrace which was €15. Mull93 (Longford) - Posts: 119 - 03/05/2022 13:54:02 2414592 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "The pricing last Saturday was a disgrace, obviously not a county board decision as Leinster Council are in charge but €25 to see two division 3 teams is unfair. The weather didn't help either but The Westmeath support has totally fallen away in football especially, Longford always bring good support. The lack of support for the minor footballers last Wednesday for a knockout championship game was shocking. Outside of parents of the players and development squad of under 16s, there were fewer than 100 Westmeath supporters in attendance. Wicklow outnumbered us." Outside of a few year spell in the early 00's , this has always been the case. There just isn't that much interest in the county, unless there is a bandwagon to jump on. The lack of marketing and social media presence does not help of course. jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 443 - 03/05/2022 16:54:28 2414704 Link
The downs vs kinnegad in div 1 league final only division which final is guaranteed other leagues still all to play for . These two play eachother in the first round of championship be interesting to see what sort of lineups the clubs put out come the time depending on how close final is to the first round. Westmeath213 (Westmeath) - Posts: 332 - 05/05/2022 21:31:44 2415153 Link
Fair point 213, the league has served its purpose for both sides and winning a league title might not be number one priority. The Downs are unbeaten however and winning becomes a habit plus Lar Wall would like to begin his term with a title. Teams at this level know each other well so hardly any tactical or personnel surprises. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1490 - 06/05/2022 17:51:41 2415336 Link
Replying To Westmeath213: "The downs vs kinnegad in div 1 league final only division which final is guaranteed other leagues still all to play for . These two play eachother in the first round of championship be interesting to see what sort of lineups the clubs put out come the time depending on how close final is to the first round." That would be a great battle between the those two teams . Whenever they will be played Bettyboo22 (Westmeath) - Posts: 108 - 06/05/2022 19:41:47 2415346 Link
More interesting is at the bottom where Lomans might need to win both their remaining games to stay up, as their score difference is so poor. Would be mad if they were in Div2, especially as their 2nd team could yet win Div3. jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 443 - 07/05/2022 13:56:20 2415404 Link
Replying To jamsie: "More interesting is at the bottom where Lomans might need to win both their remaining games to stay up, as their score difference is so poor. Would be mad if they were in Div2, especially as their 2nd team could yet win Div3." Ye that would be mad alright Bettyboo22 (Westmeath) - Posts: 108 - 07/05/2022 14:51:31 2415409 Link
Replying To Bettyboo22: "That would be a great battle between the those two teams . Whenever they will be played" Finals originally fixed for month after last round of league games which are in last week of may with finals in end of June leading into championship. I wonder with the downs and kinnegad playing eachother in last round in the league would they play that as the league final ? Westmeath213 (Westmeath) - Posts: 332 - 07/05/2022 15:23:34 2415422 Link
Any thoughts for starting line up vs kildare ? Have we any injuries . Kildare are a good bit more physical than us. We won all the breaking ball against lonford. We will need the same on Sunday Mattyreilly (Westmeath) - Posts: 153 - 09/05/2022 09:40:05 2415796 Link
Save for injuries you'd imagine the same team will start again ? Is James Dolan close to resuming action ? Did Ger Egan get through ok ? Ronan OToole might nudge out one of the forwards but I believe he's carrying a knee issue so maybe better as impact sub. J Daly; J Smith, K Maguire, D Giles; J Gonoud, R Wallace, N Harte (0-02); J Lynam, R Connellan (0-02); S McCartan, G Egan, D Lynch; L Loughlin, J Heslin (1-05, 0-04 frees), A Gardiner (0-03). Subs: R.O'Toole (1-00) for Connellan (temp) (44), R O'Toole for Egan (49), L Dolan (0-01) for Loughlin (60), K Martin for Gardiner (67), R Forde (1-00) for Lynam (67), C. Drumm for Giles (70 + 2). BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1130 - 09/05/2022 09:50:57 2415800 Link
Pretty much everyone writing off Westmeath this weekend . Have we any chance ? Thought we arguably should have beaten Kildare in croke park last year and both panels are fairly similar this year. Lakecounty94 (Westmeath) - Posts: 58 - 10/05/2022 13:39:20 2416242 Link
The goals were the killer last year but from memory I think Kildare possibly took the foot of the gas. I thought they were comfortably the best team although the 2 point win did not really reflect that. Kildare for me are much improved under the new management while I'm not convinced Westmeath had the same room for improvement. Loughlin wasn't playing last year so he certainly makes them better but overall not sure if the gap has closed. Bookies currently have Westmeath 5/1 and Kildare 1/6. BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1130 - 10/05/2022 15:05:46 2416280 Link
Is there anywhere to read the new 4 year strategic plan online ? the21yardline (Westmeath) - Posts: 178 - 10/05/2022 15:18:02 2416290 Link
the big difference this year is the kildare management . totally committed kildare men . we have regressed a bit and the loss of egan and dolan is huge . if both are fit for sunday they should start as i feel it will be in the early stages we will struggle . prior commitments mean i will not be travelling . i wish jack and the team the very best of luck mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1802 - 10/05/2022 15:37:14 2416309 Link