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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To Mick1234:  "Any news on the football who is injured and who is not. I think we have a great chance again down. A win on Saturday could get our lads moving forward for championship they have been very unlucky in previous league games"
Charlie Drumm is gone travelling. Lose Saturday evening and it will be 10 losses in a row since the league final win over Down nearly a year ago. That's where we are at.

iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 141 - 13/03/2025 11:38:18    2596219

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Any word on what happened with the iarmhi podcast, post was removed

Upforthegame23 (Westmeath) - Posts: 140 - 14/03/2025 07:30:21    2596313

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Replying To Temple56:  "Population has to be taken in to consideration?

In the last census Athlone had a population of 22,869 202 more than Mullingar. For Westmeath as a county to thrive in GAA we need a good blend of players from both Athlone, Mullingar and everywhere in between.

Ray Connellen the only player the town of Athlone on either football or hurling squads. This has to be highlighted as a problem. I know of two lads that didn't get involved in a senior panels this year from the south of the county as they felt it was very Mullingar oriented.

COE should have been in Tyrrellspass or rochfortbrigid as it would be between both big towns and near the motorway!!!"
I know in Mount Temple It might have escaped you but we do have a county Hurling team of whom the majority are from the North of the county almost as far from Mullingar as you are.I am no lover of Lomans or Shamrocks but the reality is if you look at the map Mullingar is at the centre of the county and Tyrellspass as you suggest is almost an hour's drive from Castlepollard.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1665 - 14/03/2025 09:09:06    2596320

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I see Westmeath have named their team. I rather see Kevin O Sullivan at number 11. I think he has more to give Dan Cooney.

Mick1234 (Westmeath) - Posts: 17 - 14/03/2025 13:28:13    2596351

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COE is great news however i think as a county we should keep it out of the town and i believe there is a mullingar bias for one reason or another. A lot of senior players have said that now maybe there saying it because not getting picked i am not sure. There is a huge problem with Athlone, where soccer and Rugby are much bigger and squads like Athlone Town and Connacht Rugby are much more easier make than some rugby players from Mullingar trying to play for a soccer club in Dublin or Leinster Rugby.
Numbers in rural clubs around Athlone have been hit hard like Castledaly, Marland, Tang and Ballymore, Clubs Like Caulry and Tubberclair are doing well due to geographical positioning and investing in young talent and are boding better than the 2 town clubs in Garrycastle and Athlone which have been very underwhelming at underage for the last 6 years or so.

When you compare those 2 clubs to Shamrocks and Lomans underage its a huge different, why is there a difference ? thats a project for the county board to undertake ? have they not researched this ?

Kinnegad and Moate are similar sized towns and are up there where they should be.

The Downs and Shandonagh probably similar to Caulry and Tubberclair in terms of proximity to a town.

TUS should be a centre of excellence for underage clubs in south Westmeath. We dont utilise it barely.

PowellJohn3 (Westmeath) - Posts: 73 - 14/03/2025 15:52:43    2596372

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Replying To PowellJohn3:  "COE is great news however i think as a county we should keep it out of the town and i believe there is a mullingar bias for one reason or another. A lot of senior players have said that now maybe there saying it because not getting picked i am not sure. There is a huge problem with Athlone, where soccer and Rugby are much bigger and squads like Athlone Town and Connacht Rugby are much more easier make than some rugby players from Mullingar trying to play for a soccer club in Dublin or Leinster Rugby.
Numbers in rural clubs around Athlone have been hit hard like Castledaly, Marland, Tang and Ballymore, Clubs Like Caulry and Tubberclair are doing well due to geographical positioning and investing in young talent and are boding better than the 2 town clubs in Garrycastle and Athlone which have been very underwhelming at underage for the last 6 years or so.

When you compare those 2 clubs to Shamrocks and Lomans underage its a huge different, why is there a difference ? thats a project for the county board to undertake ? have they not researched this ?

Kinnegad and Moate are similar sized towns and are up there where they should be.

The Downs and Shandonagh probably similar to Caulry and Tubberclair in terms of proximity to a town.

TUS should be a centre of excellence for underage clubs in south Westmeath. We dont utilise it barely."
Half of Athlone play for St. Brigid's and Clann na Gael in Roscommon.

Wmeath2 (Westmeath) - Posts: 182 - 14/03/2025 16:19:26    2596376

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Competition between clubs is important in terms of numbers being recruited, Mullingar as a town is unusual with four clubs operating in one town and up to last year four senior clubs with possibility of Shandonagh regaining senior status this year. That means clubs have to be very proactive. Athlone has traditionally had Gaa as its third sport, soccer is huge in the town, easily 5-6 active soccer clubs whereas Mullingar has two. The county board uses TUS regularly, senior football team train there once a week and underage development squads use it as their base too.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2086 - 14/03/2025 16:36:41    2596380

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Replying To Upforthegame23:  "Any word on what happened with the iarmhi podcast, post was removed"
They have removed the last 2 episodes now..
Go over to the hurling thread where there is a lot of discussion on episode 8 which was removed last Tuesday! Only went up on Monday.. some mess!

Matthew (None) - Posts: 1067 - 14/03/2025 16:52:10    2596382

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Competition between clubs is important in terms of numbers being recruited, Mullingar as a town is unusual with four clubs operating in one town and up to last year four senior clubs with possibility of Shandonagh regaining senior status this year. That means clubs have to be very proactive. Athlone has traditionally had Gaa as its third sport, soccer is huge in the town, easily 5-6 active soccer clubs whereas Mullingar has two. The county board uses TUS regularly, senior football team train there once a week and underage development squads use it as their base too."
Please name the four Mullingar town teams.

ExiledCuCu (Cavan) - Posts: 249 - 15/03/2025 19:42:15    2596562

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Replying To ExiledCuCu:  "Please name the four Mullingar town teams."
The Downs Shandonagh Shamrocks and Loman's

Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 59 - 15/03/2025 19:55:20    2596568

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Before I get attacked for this, I just want to qualify there's been a lot of positive signs this year with the turnover of players, style of play, high scores etc etc. However at what stage does this stop being a hard luck story? We really should have gotten over the line in some of these games. Real shame as it's demoralizing for a young team with potential.

Bluelake (Westmeath) - Posts: 229 - 15/03/2025 19:57:29    2596569

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Replying To Fighting-Cocks69:  "The Downs Shandonagh Shamrocks and Loman's"
Ha Ha Ha ha Ha…..The Downs and Shandonagh are town teams…..Ha Ha Ha…… must be school mid term …..

ExiledCuCu (Cavan) - Posts: 249 - 15/03/2025 20:20:05    2596580

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Replying To ExiledCuCu:  "Please name the four Mullingar town teams."
Surely you could figure that out?

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2086 - 15/03/2025 20:23:04    2596582

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Replying To Bluelake:  "Before I get attacked for this, I just want to qualify there's been a lot of positive signs this year with the turnover of players, style of play, high scores etc etc. However at what stage does this stop being a hard luck story? We really should have gotten over the line in some of these games. Real shame as it's demoralizing for a young team with potential."
Were you even at any of the games? Did you go to Newry; I expect not? A handful of people there again tonight.

Yes it was a very tough loss. We didn't get any calls from the referee tonight. Yes it was another hard luck loss… some of the points scored tonight were phenomenal from Westmeath. Luke got one of the best points I've ever seen tonight. I suggest people check it out!! Cooney got some very good 2 pointers also. Forde was outstanding aswell. McCormack generally did well with his kickouts and he is improving game by game with his kickouts.

Our bench is a little weak and we could do with getting Baker back as another option upfront. We had a few goal chances but we didn't take them and that was probably the difference in the end.

It would be a big boost if a few of the injuries clear up for the Kildare game and that game is the priority now. A big difference in how the footballers are losing and the hurlers…

Matthew (None) - Posts: 1067 - 15/03/2025 20:26:36    2596585

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Replying To Bluelake:  "Before I get attacked for this, I just want to qualify there's been a lot of positive signs this year with the turnover of players, style of play, high scores etc etc. However at what stage does this stop being a hard luck story? We really should have gotten over the line in some of these games. Real shame as it's demoralizing for a young team with potential."
Young team learning the ropes in a difficult division after losing 6-7 experienced players. Not sure is it demoralising but disappointing. It's difficult to take as a supporter, the Down fans on the way out were certainly relieved and felt we were one of the best sides they had played.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2086 - 15/03/2025 20:32:02    2596589

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Replying To Bluelake:  "Before I get attacked for this, I just want to qualify there's been a lot of positive signs this year with the turnover of players, style of play, high scores etc etc. However at what stage does this stop being a hard luck story? We really should have gotten over the line in some of these games. Real shame as it's demoralizing for a young team with potential."
Young team learning the ropes in a difficult division after losing 6-7 experienced players. Not sure is it demoralising but disappointing. It's difficult to take as a supporter, the Down fans on the way out were certainly relieved and felt we were one of the best sides they had played.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2086 - 15/03/2025 20:34:34    2596592

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Surely you could figure that out?"
Your previous posts always had credibility and substance, until now. The suggestion that The Downs and Shandonagh are Mullingar towns teams is quite frankly hilarious. Both clubs were setup by families who engrained community ethos that still envelopes that spirit to this day. Neither club would consider themselves to be Mullingar based. Do you associate Milltown, Ballynacarrigy, Rochesforthbridge, Kinnegad, milltownpass, loughnavalley town teams…..?? Not interested in your response to be honest.

ExiledCuCu (Cavan) - Posts: 249 - 15/03/2025 20:55:53    2596600

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Replying To Matthew:  "Were you even at any of the games? Did you go to Newry; I expect not? A handful of people there again tonight.

Yes it was a very tough loss. We didn't get any calls from the referee tonight. Yes it was another hard luck loss… some of the points scored tonight were phenomenal from Westmeath. Luke got one of the best points I've ever seen tonight. I suggest people check it out!! Cooney got some very good 2 pointers also. Forde was outstanding aswell. McCormack generally did well with his kickouts and he is improving game by game with his kickouts.

Our bench is a little weak and we could do with getting Baker back as another option upfront. We had a few goal chances but we didn't take them and that was probably the difference in the end.

It would be a big boost if a few of the injuries clear up for the Kildare game and that game is the priority now. A big difference in how the footballers are losing and the hurlers…"
I was actually at the game. Good man, I see you're able to have a mature conversation about it. I've said there's loads of positives I'm just saying losing tight games isn't all hard luck. It's not all coincidence. That's not to say it won't come over time, young team and all.

Bluelake (Westmeath) - Posts: 229 - 15/03/2025 21:00:36    2596601

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Young team learning the ropes in a difficult division after losing 6-7 experienced players. Not sure is it demoralising but disappointing. It's difficult to take as a supporter, the Down fans on the way out were certainly relieved and felt we were one of the best sides they had played."
Again all things I've said. Loads of positives as again I've said. I'm sure the lads themselves would say they're sick of morale victories. I'm not sure what the answer is, not for a second saying I do, just posing the question

Bluelake (Westmeath) - Posts: 229 - 15/03/2025 21:04:39    2596607

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Just on way home from Newry now and so proud to see this young Westmeath team play such good attacking football.Ok we lost by the mimimun again but how referee Cawley did not give a free to Westmeath for a blatant touch of the ball on the ground right in ftont of the posts in the last minute was a disgrace -even the Down supportets around us called it out as a free but are not getting the luck at the minute and the few Westmeath fans whi travelled tonight saw us put in a great performance-well done lads.

Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 251 - 15/03/2025 21:34:16    2596620

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