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2-16 in knockout championship matches and stoppage time will not be a friend of Garrycastle.

In 2013, John Heslin scored 2-16 for Lomans against Garrycastle including a last minute goal. Garrycastle were aggrieved as time appeared to be up after they scored a penalty deep into stoppage time.

In 2025 Shamrocks scored 2-16 to beat Garrycastle including a goal with the last play.

Both were in and around the 6th minute of stoppage time and on both occasions Garrycastle felt time should have been up. The final whistle blew after both goals too.

Funny how history can repeat itself.

Blackjack (Westmeath) - Posts: 36 - 29/09/2025 10:23:37    2637775

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Replying To Blackjack:  "I think any team that loses 5 matches deserve to be relegated to be honest."
Great win for tang but a sickner way to gown for malachys agree 5 matches both lost not just malachys and can't conplain about going down but penalties tough win to lose.

Anyway i dont agree that it affects castletown they still have 3 weeks or near enough to prepare for final it may help them go harder for hurling .

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1015 - 29/09/2025 10:48:09    2637779

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Replying To Fighting-Cocks69:  "Yeah, not a great look. Even at minor level the matchups were nearly identical, with Shandonagh, Downs, Lomans, and Shamrocks all reaching the semi-finals. The U20s was fairly similar too, apart from that prominent Tubberclair side which has been very successful at underage and will probably go into the U20 final as favourites."
Tubberclair will certainly be favourites. Especially since Ryan Kelly looks to be out long term after being carried off against The Downs last weekend.
Tubberclair, Moate, Caulry all very competitive at various grades underage. But the 4 clubs above do seems to be the dominant 4.

jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 492 - 29/09/2025 11:10:17    2637782

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No disrespect to Tang who did what they had to do to beat Garrycastle but maybe Castles defeat to Shamrocks was karma for the weak effort they put in against Tang-a bit unfair to Malackys.

Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 282 - 29/09/2025 11:21:33    2637784

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Replying To Bruno@1:  "No disrespect to Tang who did what they had to do to beat Garrycastle but maybe Castles defeat to Shamrocks was karma for the weak effort they put in against Tang-a bit unfair to Malackys."
In all fairness to Garrycastle I wouldnt say they took it easy on Tang in any way. They didn't make wholesale changes from the teams they had previously been putting out and they had a kick at the end to win it. It was an end to end tough physical match that Tang came out on top. The narrative coming out of Garrycastle for the couple of weeks before was that they wanted to relegate Tang who relegated them two years ago and I'm sure they would have happily done so. This spin coming out that it was unfair on Malachys is ridiculous. Fair enough they beat Tang in round 1 but they have been poor since losing four on the trot before yesterday. Penalties is a hard way to go out but Malachys leading by 5 points with two extra men with 5 minutes to go in extra time and not close it out can only blame themselves. They played two thirds of normal time with an extra man and all of extra time with two extra men. Make of that what you will.

mintyfresh (Westmeath) - Posts: 274 - 29/09/2025 12:05:43    2637792

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Replying To mintyfresh:  "In all fairness to Garrycastle I wouldnt say they took it easy on Tang in any way. They didn't make wholesale changes from the teams they had previously been putting out and they had a kick at the end to win it. It was an end to end tough physical match that Tang came out on top. The narrative coming out of Garrycastle for the couple of weeks before was that they wanted to relegate Tang who relegated them two years ago and I'm sure they would have happily done so. This spin coming out that it was unfair on Malachys is ridiculous. Fair enough they beat Tang in round 1 but they have been poor since losing four on the trot before yesterday. Penalties is a hard way to go out but Malachys leading by 5 points with two extra men with 5 minutes to go in extra time and not close it out can only blame themselves. They played two thirds of normal time with an extra man and all of extra time with two extra men. Make of that what you will."
Tough to take for St Malachys but you have five group games to win and they should have been home and hosed with tang being down to 13 men.
Garrycastle unfortunate but time is always added on for any stoppages in injury time so can't have any complaints.
Caurly overhyped as usual. Will be interesting to see what Kinnegad team turn up for the semi final.
Intermediate semi finals should be exciting. Will be harder to call than the senior.

Westmeath2024 (Westmeath) - Posts: 9 - 29/09/2025 12:42:15    2637800

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Replying To Westmeath2024:  "Tough to take for St Malachys but you have five group games to win and they should have been home and hosed with tang being down to 13 men.
Garrycastle unfortunate but time is always added on for any stoppages in injury time so can't have any complaints.
Caurly overhyped as usual. Will be interesting to see what Kinnegad team turn up for the semi final.
Intermediate semi finals should be exciting. Will be harder to call than the senior."
I did say I agreed I just meant it was unlucky as tang lost same amount and then Relegation final to lose on penalties. Anyway sure hurling will help change focus . Nothing between a lot of teams in senior b and top intermediate teams. Great format

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1015 - 29/09/2025 12:56:44    2637802

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Replying To mintyfresh:  "In all fairness to Garrycastle I wouldnt say they took it easy on Tang in any way. They didn't make wholesale changes from the teams they had previously been putting out and they had a kick at the end to win it. It was an end to end tough physical match that Tang came out on top. The narrative coming out of Garrycastle for the couple of weeks before was that they wanted to relegate Tang who relegated them two years ago and I'm sure they would have happily done so. This spin coming out that it was unfair on Malachys is ridiculous. Fair enough they beat Tang in round 1 but they have been poor since losing four on the trot before yesterday. Penalties is a hard way to go out but Malachys leading by 5 points with two extra men with 5 minutes to go in extra time and not close it out can only blame themselves. They played two thirds of normal time with an extra man and all of extra time with two extra men. Make of that what you will."
Spin I think maybe generally people think unfair lose on penalties but I am not making excuses it was poor to not hold onto lead and can't have any complaints.

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1015 - 29/09/2025 12:58:03    2637804

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Replying To Gaaforlife2023:  "Great win for tang but a sickner way to gown for malachys agree 5 matches both lost not just malachys and can't conplain about going down but penalties tough win to lose.

Anyway i dont agree that it affects castletown they still have 3 weeks or near enough to prepare for final it may help them go harder for hurling ."
A replay would have affected Castletown was my point. They got to final by finishing first in group and had five weeks to prepare. Two of those weeks lost to footballers involved in relegation and a replay of football would have meant another week lost

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2373 - 29/09/2025 13:30:57    2637806

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Replying To jamsie:  "Tubberclair will certainly be favourites. Especially since Ryan Kelly looks to be out long term after being carried off against The Downs last weekend.
Tubberclair, Moate, Caulry all very competitive at various grades underage. But the 4 clubs above do seems to be the dominant 4."
Where are those three clubs very competitive at underage?

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2373 - 29/09/2025 13:32:36    2637807

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Where are those three clubs very competitive at underage?"
Tubberclair were in the last 3 minor finals, and won 2 of them. They are in the u20 final.
Moate won 2 of their 5 group games in Minor division 1 this year. They won the u20 last year.
I think that counts as competitive.
Caulry, fair enough seem to have regressed from the past few years. Their 20s were decent this year though.
My point was - the underachievement in the west of the county isn't across the board. Athlone and Garrycastle are obviously not doing well, for whatever reasons.
It does seem like this years senior semi final line up will become very familiar over the next few years. Plus Shandonagh you'd imagine, when their current group of 16/17 year olds comes through. So 5 clubs that are relatively close together.

jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 492 - 29/09/2025 14:19:19    2637818

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i think we will see the gulf in class between the top 2 and the rest, the downs and lomans will win both semi finals, Kinnegad to put up a test with them probably having the 3rd best panel, i dont think theres much in the difference between the 4th best team in Senior against the semi finalist of intermediate, Shamrocks against Milltown, Tubberclair, Shandonagh, Miltownpass although they would win but would they win by more than 6-7 points ?i dont think so. A lot of teams on level terms all depends of availability of squad and the big players. Tang probably wouldnt have been in rlegation if had those few away and same goes for malachys if they had some of there big hurling names, the gap gets a lot closer then to the teams a head of them, Same goes for killucan if they had the greville twins they probably make a quarter. All very tight apart from the Downs and Lomans. My Power rankings that bracket between 5-8 hard to call:
1. The Downs
2. Lomans
3.kinnegad
4.Shamrocks
5. Garrycastle
6. Tyrllesspass
7.Caulry
8. Athlone
9.Killucan
10.Moate
11.Tang
12.Tubberclair
13.Shandonagh
14.Milltown
15.Miltownpass
16.St.Malachys
17. Multyfarhnam
18.Rosemount
19.Castledaly
20.St.marys
21. CFCW
22.Maryland
23.Ballymore
24.Kilbeggan/ St.Joes/ Ballinagore

PowellJohn3 (Westmeath) - Posts: 88 - 29/09/2025 14:20:54    2637820

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4 minor semi finalists from greater Mullingar area. 3 of the senior semi finalists from greater Mullingar area and Coralstown is very close to Mullingar. Same story at senior level for most of this millennium. Castledaly only other team from Athlone and surrounding areas to win a senior title other than Garrycastle, who have been excellent but they've only been to one semi final in the past 6 seasons.
Hurling in Athlone is still a long way off competing at senior level.
It's an issue for the county as it's a big population base and a thriving town so Westmeath GAA need to find a way to incorporate and improve the standard of the GAA in Athlone and surrounding areas.

Blackjack (Westmeath) - Posts: 36 - 29/09/2025 14:55:12    2637829

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Replying To PowellJohn3:  "i think we will see the gulf in class between the top 2 and the rest, the downs and lomans will win both semi finals, Kinnegad to put up a test with them probably having the 3rd best panel, i dont think theres much in the difference between the 4th best team in Senior against the semi finalist of intermediate, Shamrocks against Milltown, Tubberclair, Shandonagh, Miltownpass although they would win but would they win by more than 6-7 points ?i dont think so. A lot of teams on level terms all depends of availability of squad and the big players. Tang probably wouldnt have been in rlegation if had those few away and same goes for malachys if they had some of there big hurling names, the gap gets a lot closer then to the teams a head of them, Same goes for killucan if they had the greville twins they probably make a quarter. All very tight apart from the Downs and Lomans. My Power rankings that bracket between 5-8 hard to call:
1. The Downs
2. Lomans
3.kinnegad
4.Shamrocks
5. Garrycastle
6. Tyrllesspass
7.Caulry
8. Athlone
9.Killucan
10.Moate
11.Tang
12.Tubberclair
13.Shandonagh
14.Milltown
15.Miltownpass
16.St.Malachys
17. Multyfarhnam
18.Rosemount
19.Castledaly
20.St.marys
21. CFCW
22.Maryland
23.Ballymore
24.Kilbeggan/ St.Joes/ Ballinagore"
Athlone should not be below Caulry

Bluelake (Westmeath) - Posts: 318 - 29/09/2025 15:14:31    2637833

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The championship format in Westmeath is very good and should not be messed with.Ok the top 4 in senior A are ahead of the rest and probably Garrycastle and Caulry who were promoted this year might slip back to senior B after next year but will probably go back up again the following year as Caulry have done recently.Its up to the the other clubs to close the gap on the Mullingar clubs and Kinnegad.Milltownpass very impressive yesterday and their forward line are really good -intermediate very hard to call this year

Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 282 - 29/09/2025 15:36:33    2637837

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Replying To PowellJohn3:  "i think we will see the gulf in class between the top 2 and the rest, the downs and lomans will win both semi finals, Kinnegad to put up a test with them probably having the 3rd best panel, i dont think theres much in the difference between the 4th best team in Senior against the semi finalist of intermediate, Shamrocks against Milltown, Tubberclair, Shandonagh, Miltownpass although they would win but would they win by more than 6-7 points ?i dont think so. A lot of teams on level terms all depends of availability of squad and the big players. Tang probably wouldnt have been in rlegation if had those few away and same goes for malachys if they had some of there big hurling names, the gap gets a lot closer then to the teams a head of them, Same goes for killucan if they had the greville twins they probably make a quarter. All very tight apart from the Downs and Lomans. My Power rankings that bracket between 5-8 hard to call:
1. The Downs
2. Lomans
3.kinnegad
4.Shamrocks
5. Garrycastle
6. Tyrllesspass
7.Caulry
8. Athlone
9.Killucan
10.Moate
11.Tang
12.Tubberclair
13.Shandonagh
14.Milltown
15.Miltownpass
16.St.Malachys
17. Multyfarhnam
18.Rosemount
19.Castledaly
20.St.marys
21. CFCW
22.Maryland
23.Ballymore
24.Kilbeggan/ St.Joes/ Ballinagore"
Agree with much of this but I have a hunch that Kinnegad will beat Loman's. I'm basing this on the feeling that Lomans are in a small decline -in my opinion and Kinnegad have very good momentum and believe they will get to a final. Kinnegad by 1-2 points. The Downs by 5/6

Iarmhisamhi (Westmeath) - Posts: 21 - 29/09/2025 15:47:15    2637843

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Replying To Blackjack:  "4 minor semi finalists from greater Mullingar area. 3 of the senior semi finalists from greater Mullingar area and Coralstown is very close to Mullingar. Same story at senior level for most of this millennium. Castledaly only other team from Athlone and surrounding areas to win a senior title other than Garrycastle, who have been excellent but they've only been to one semi final in the past 6 seasons.
Hurling in Athlone is still a long way off competing at senior level.
It's an issue for the county as it's a big population base and a thriving town so Westmeath GAA need to find a way to incorporate and improve the standard of the GAA in Athlone and surrounding areas."
Excellent facts and very hard to argue with. What should Westmeath GAA do to correct this north south divide in terms of competitiveness?

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2373 - 29/09/2025 16:56:32    2637858

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Excellent facts and very hard to argue with. What should Westmeath GAA do to correct this north south divide in terms of competitiveness?"
Maybe not build the centre of excellence in the heart of mullingar going to just boost the north clubs even more

wmeath7 (Westmeath) - Posts: 2 - 29/09/2025 17:02:01    2637861

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Surely Caulry will appeal against the result with Kinnegad?

Chops (Westmeath) - Posts: 859 - 29/09/2025 17:21:13    2637865

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Replying To wmeath7:  "Maybe not build the centre of excellence in the heart of mullingar going to just boost the north clubs even more"
Mullingar is a very logical location for centre of excellence. By all metrics it's centre of the county.
But with circumstances as they are, personally I would have built it in Athlone or as close as possible.
Also we could maybe train more in university facility across all ages, particularly in football. It's slightly less practical in hurling as could be long round trip for a lot of hurlers from north Westmeath but long term to progress as a county it could be essential.

Blackjack (Westmeath) - Posts: 36 - 29/09/2025 17:25:24    2637867

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