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Any word on the vacant jobs such as Moate and Milltown? has anyone been appointed. Westmeath will struggle but thats ok, its a rebuilding job thats needed, It could take Westmeath 2-3 years before we have any sort of team together but may catch some teams on the hop with the new rules. PowellJohn3 (Westmeath) - Posts: 64 - 06/01/2025 16:19:56 2584796 Link
Replying To mickcunningham: " Replying To iarmhiabu: "John Heslin rose above the rest. He had huge physical strength and shovels for hands for winning his own primary possession and holding off opposition players. Heslin dictated the next move. He has to be Westmeath's greatest all rounder. The Senior Footballers are on a hiding to nothing in Division 2 this year. Too many players gone at once, too many starters gone at once. The new manager has inherited a squad that has been stripped down to the bare bones. Ronan O'Toole doing sprints out the Castlepollard Rd in an *Antrim* shirt on New Years Eve, I slowed down and was prepared to stop." i dont agree i think a very strong management team has been assembled , and i would be confident of us remaining in division 2 . looking forward to it all" What's point of Ronan story and the jersey he was wearing?? Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1955 - 06/01/2025 16:32:34 2584799 Link
Being in division 3 in two years time would represent progress considering retirements and emigration. It's not beyond realms of possibility that we could be in division 4 in 2026. Hopefully not. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1955 - 06/01/2025 16:34:13 2584800 Link
Replying To mickcunningham: " Replying To iarmhiabu: "John Heslin rose above the rest. He had huge physical strength and shovels for hands for winning his own primary possession and holding off opposition players. Heslin dictated the next move. He has to be Westmeath's greatest all rounder. The Senior Footballers are on a hiding to nothing in Division 2 this year. Too many players gone at once, too many starters gone at once. The new manager has inherited a squad that has been stripped down to the bare bones. Ronan O'Toole doing sprints out the Castlepollard Rd in an *Antrim* shirt on New Years Eve, I slowed down and was prepared to stop." i dont agree i think a very strong management team has been assembled , and i would be confident of us remaining in division 2 . looking forward to it all" I'd be more concerned about the hemorrhaging within the team itself. Kevin Maguire, Jimmy Dolan, Andy McCormack, David Lynch and John Heslin, 5 starters from the Derry game that have either retired or gone travelling. There are question marks over 3 other starters, Ronan Wallace, Ronan O'Toole and Jonny Lynam. Hopefully Wallace, O'Toole and Lynam commit but try picking the team without those 8 players and things very quickly look bleak. I suppose Dessie saw what was coming down the line, a massive rebuild job. J Daly J Gonoud C Drumm _________ _________ _________ _________ R Connellan _________ _________ _________ S McCartan L Loughlin _________ S Baker iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 109 - 06/01/2025 16:56:19 2584804 Link
Not sure if all these players are in with the panel this year but I can see a team like this in the league. Am I missing anyone that you might think will push for gametime this year? J Daly J Gonoud C Drumm D Scahill C Dillon N Harte Joe Moran R Connellan S McCartan M Whittkar C McCormack S Baker L Dolan L Loughlin R Forde Subs: Danny McCartan Darragh Lowry Kieran Martin Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 520 - 06/01/2025 17:23:12 2584807 Link
Any sign of Sam Duncan returning to the fold? Maroon Heaven (Westmeath) - Posts: 38 - 06/01/2025 21:45:03 2584832 Link
Replying To Temple56: "Not sure if all these players are in with the panel this year but I can see a team like this in the league. Am I missing anyone that you might think will push for gametime this year? J Daly J Gonoud C Drumm D Scahill C Dillon N Harte Joe Moran R Connellan S McCartan M Whittkar C McCormack S Baker L Dolan L Loughlin R Forde Subs: Danny McCartan Darragh Lowry Kieran Martin" predictable and safe . didnt take long to come up with that selection mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1877 - 07/01/2025 07:31:13 2584844 Link
Replying To mickcunningham: "predictable and safe . didnt take long to come up with that selection" Not that predictable mick, but a good effort from temple. I'd probably add in sam smyth in front harte and Danny mcCartan ahead of baker Upforthegame23 (Westmeath) - Posts: 114 - 07/01/2025 08:38:02 2584847 Link
Replying To Maroon Heaven: "Any sign of Sam Duncan returning to the fold?" In Oz.. Matthew (None) - Posts: 1041 - 07/01/2025 09:20:47 2584851 Link
Sigerson starting tonight and again nothing locally about it on westmeath GAA social media platforms. I see posts on meath, Kildale, longford, offaly, roscommon and laois about local players involved... someone said it in an earlier post but westmeath are shocking at promoting itself. Upforthegame23 (Westmeath) - Posts: 114 - 07/01/2025 10:51:17 2584865 Link
Replying To Upforthegame23: "Not that predictable mick, but a good effort from temple. I'd probably add in sam smyth in front harte and Danny mcCartan ahead of baker" Daly won't be starting in goals. Sam Smyth and Brian Guerin will be starting; both will be a massive addition to the team in 2025. Wallace will be starting! Baker needs to kick on and hopefully he is given that opportunity this year with a good run in the team. Harte maybe worth looking at midfield. I think Westmeath will surprise a few people in the league. Priority is to stay up in D2 and I expect they will do that job. Dolan made the job more difficult for the new management as he was very slow with integrating younger lads to the starting 15 over the last 2 years. Is Dylan Murtagh from Milltown involved? If so; he also is an option at midfield. Matthew (None) - Posts: 1041 - 07/01/2025 11:21:11 2584870 Link
Replying To Upforthegame23: "Not that predictable mick, but a good effort from temple. I'd probably add in sam smyth in front harte and Danny mcCartan ahead of baker" ray connellan would be a good captain mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1877 - 07/01/2025 11:26:58 2584872 Link
Replying To iarmhiabu: " Replying To mickcunningham: "[quote=iarmhiabu: "John Heslin rose above the rest. He had huge physical strength and shovels for hands for winning his own primary possession and holding off opposition players. Heslin dictated the next move. He has to be Westmeath's greatest all rounder. The Senior Footballers are on a hiding to nothing in Division 2 this year. Too many players gone at once, too many starters gone at once. The new manager has inherited a squad that has been stripped down to the bare bones. Ronan O'Toole doing sprints out the Castlepollard Rd in an *Antrim* shirt on New Years Eve, I slowed down and was prepared to stop." i dont agree i think a very strong management team has been assembled , and i would be confident of us remaining in division 2 . looking forward to it all" I'd be more concerned about the hemorrhaging within the team itself. Kevin Maguire, Jimmy Dolan, Andy McCormack, David Lynch and John Heslin, 5 starters from the Derry game that have either retired or gone travelling. There are question marks over 3 other starters, Ronan Wallace, Ronan O'Toole and Jonny Lynam. Hopefully Wallace, O'Toole and Lynam commit but try picking the team without those 8 players and things very quickly look bleak. I suppose Dessie saw what was coming down the line, a massive rebuild job. J Daly J Gonoud C Drumm _________ _________ _________ _________ R Connellan _________ _________ _________ S McCartan L Loughlin _________ S Baker"]Cant disagree with what youre saying , its definitely the most inexperienced squad weve had in years, the core of the team is gone sure. But in many ways its our own doing as we looked for the older lads to carry the can for far too long and didnt bring in enough new players , its as simple as that. i keep saying it you need an injection of new blood every year, how many players did Dessie give there champ debut in two years? Only a handful of new players got a look in. Be interesting to see the Tailtenn Cup winning team and how many will be playing this year . Weve put short term gains over the overall future of the team. Ill always try to be positive however Div 3 is a likely prospect. A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 255 - 07/01/2025 11:28:33 2584873 Link
Replying To Matthew: "Daly won't be starting in goals. Sam Smyth and Brian Guerin will be starting; both will be a massive addition to the team in 2025. Wallace will be starting! Baker needs to kick on and hopefully he is given that opportunity this year with a good run in the team. Harte maybe worth looking at midfield. I think Westmeath will surprise a few people in the league. Priority is to stay up in D2 and I expect they will do that job. Dolan made the job more difficult for the new management as he was very slow with integrating younger lads to the starting 15 over the last 2 years. Is Dylan Murtagh from Milltown involved? If so; he also is an option at midfield." Do you know who the new goalkeeper will be? Good to hear Sam Smyth and Guerin are involved, they both definitely add something. Hopefully Baker can make a difference this year and Danny Mc Cartan. It will be a difficult first season for Mc Cabe with many players new to senior inter county and trying to bed them in whilst adapting to the new rules. A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 255 - 07/01/2025 11:59:02 2584880 Link
Replying To A_Chairde: "Do you know who the new goalkeeper will be? Good to hear Sam Smyth and Guerin are involved, they both definitely add something. Hopefully Baker can make a difference this year and Danny Mc Cartan. It will be a difficult first season for Mc Cabe with many players new to senior inter county and trying to bed them in whilst adapting to the new rules." One of the forwards will be in goals and it makes sense it's the only way of freeing up an extra player in the opposition half coffey (Westmeath) - Posts: 17 - 07/01/2025 13:32:36 2584904 Link
for earlier parts of the league it will be a bit mix and match as a few only back in the fold. I think we will see corner backs who like to attack especially against louth and Monaghan with Mulroy and mccarron. I think they will play mccormack in goal can kick it a mile, great passer and can score long range. Scahill I heard hasnt been going well, Dylan Murtagh another guy, his brother Jack has a much better chance of getting minutes, I think Mccabe starts midfield for the 2- pointer rule along with connellan, Not sure on a centre forward, will Brian Cooney make the jump to senior level this year? 1. Conor mccormack 2 Liam Daly 3 Charlie Drumm 4 Conor Dillon 5 Johnny Lynam 6 Ronan Walace 7 Brian Guerin/ Darragh Lowry 8 Eoghan mccabe 9 Ray Connellan 10 Kevin O Sullivan 11 Luke Loughlin 12 Sam mccartan 13 Mattew Whittaker 14 Senan Baker 15 Robbie Forde PowellJohn3 (Westmeath) - Posts: 64 - 07/01/2025 14:07:37 2584911 Link
Replying To PowellJohn3: "for earlier parts of the league it will be a bit mix and match as a few only back in the fold. I think we will see corner backs who like to attack especially against louth and Monaghan with Mulroy and mccarron. I think they will play mccormack in goal can kick it a mile, great passer and can score long range. Scahill I heard hasnt been going well, Dylan Murtagh another guy, his brother Jack has a much better chance of getting minutes, I think Mccabe starts midfield for the 2- pointer rule along with connellan, Not sure on a centre forward, will Brian Cooney make the jump to senior level this year? 1. Conor mccormack 2 Liam Daly 3 Charlie Drumm 4 Conor Dillon 5 Johnny Lynam 6 Ronan Walace 7 Brian Guerin/ Darragh Lowry 8 Eoghan mccabe 9 Ray Connellan 10 Kevin O Sullivan 11 Luke Loughlin 12 Sam mccartan 13 Mattew Whittaker 14 Senan Baker 15 Robbie Forde" Interesting move for Conor Mc Cormack , makes perfect sense as hes such a good kicker of the ball and an excellent play maker. A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 255 - 07/01/2025 15:11:57 2584928 Link
Replying To PowellJohn3: "for earlier parts of the league it will be a bit mix and match as a few only back in the fold. I think we will see corner backs who like to attack especially against louth and Monaghan with Mulroy and mccarron. I think they will play mccormack in goal can kick it a mile, great passer and can score long range. Scahill I heard hasnt been going well, Dylan Murtagh another guy, his brother Jack has a much better chance of getting minutes, I think Mccabe starts midfield for the 2- pointer rule along with connellan, Not sure on a centre forward, will Brian Cooney make the jump to senior level this year? 1. Conor mccormack 2 Liam Daly 3 Charlie Drumm 4 Conor Dillon 5 Johnny Lynam 6 Ronan Walace 7 Brian Guerin/ Darragh Lowry 8 Eoghan mccabe 9 Ray Connellan 10 Kevin O Sullivan 11 Luke Loughlin 12 Sam mccartan 13 Mattew Whittaker 14 Senan Baker 15 Robbie Forde" A very good take on the team. I also expect McCormack to wear the #1 jersey. I'd probably put Smyth in corner back and I expect Guerin to start on the half back line. Ray once fit will be in midfield. Are the two Murtagh's part of the squad? Matthew (None) - Posts: 1041 - 07/01/2025 16:09:47 2584942 Link
Replying To Matthew: "A very good take on the team. I also expect McCormack to wear the #1 jersey. I'd probably put Smyth in corner back and I expect Guerin to start on the half back line. Ray once fit will be in midfield. Are the two Murtagh's part of the squad?" Is keiran martin involved this year ? Mattyreilly (Westmeath) - Posts: 164 - 07/01/2025 16:17:42 2584944 Link
Replying To Matthew: "A very good take on the team. I also expect McCormack to wear the #1 jersey. I'd probably put Smyth in corner back and I expect Guerin to start on the half back line. Ray once fit will be in midfield. Are the two Murtagh's part of the squad?" Mickey Dan and Brendan?? No, I think they've both retired CleanShoulder (Westmeath) - Posts: 333 - 07/01/2025 17:08:58 2584951 Link