National Forum

Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To Iakecounty90:  "They had 6 games and extra time to avoid relegation. It's not just penalties"
Fair point

Iarmhisamhi (Westmeath) - Posts: 21 - 29/09/2025 17:48:56    2637870

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Replying To iarmhiabu:  "Oh Glory to Mount Temple
And we flaunt our colours bravely
We're cheering for our heroes
Who wear the famous red of Caulry
We're cheering loud for McCormack
The roving county goalie
Who scored ten points a game
And won the Flanagan trophy

For Maguire on the front foot
With Luke Loughlin in his pocket
For the ever durable Damien
And the gallant Clinton boys
For Grennan and Shortall
Who kept The Downs at bay
And showed Martin and Lynam
How the Temple men can play

For Tiarnan the terrier
Whose latest kick got there
And also for Connolly
Unbeaten in the air
And then a cheer for Senan
With roots to County Clare
He kicked a late two pointer
That left Caulry with one to spare

We shan't not forget young Tadhg
The younger Baker brother
Our All Ireland winning captain
Charlie Drumm to shudder
And Murphy and Malynn
Who each has helped to play
Caulry the Westmeath kings
Crowned on a historic day

Hurrah for Pat Flanagan
Who showed our boys the way
Cake Curran and all the greats
Who placed them in the fray
And also for our sponsors
Who keep Caulry's colours high
And we'll not forget the mighty feat
In October of twenty five"
Seems this caulry supporter got a bit ahead of themselves. Everyone can dream but this was farcical.

yellowboy (Westmeath) - Posts: 87 - 29/09/2025 18:57:31    2637880

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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."
Wouldn't agree with you there.. Anyone who attended the garrycastle v tang game will know that Garrycastle were hurting, Tang tactically puzzled them getting 3 breaches but had the bit of luck on their side to get the result in the end.. Yesterday Tang were very blatantly up against all the elements but in fairness they had been competitive in every game this campaign only a couple of scores in any of the games, Malachys shipped 2 big beatens during the group stages.. Penalties is horrible but it looked like Tang were prepared for them and their keeper was excellent

#Putitup (Longford) - Posts: 53 - 29/09/2025 23:32:13    2637890

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Great credit to Tang, apart from lads who emigrated they were also missing the two Hanleys, the two Rocks, Tumelty and Jason Coughlan by the end of extra time. To come back with 13 men in extra time must have made it a memorable night in The Pigeons. They could achieve so much more if they were more disciplined too.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2373 - 30/09/2025 08:23:06    2637902

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Replying To yellowboy:  "Seems this caulry supporter got a bit ahead of themselves. Everyone can dream but this was farcical."
Call me conspiracy theorist yellowboy but for some bizarre reason I think that may have beeen someone from a club other than Caulry posting that !!!!

keepherclean (Westmeath) - Posts: 9 - 30/09/2025 10:59:20    2637924

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Replying To yellowboy:  "Seems this caulry supporter got a bit ahead of themselves. Everyone can dream but this was farcical."
If Caulry want to dream there is nothing wrong with that. Glorifying one's club or place was an old tradition or rallying theme. Maybe it will inspire others to emulate, or what about a few satires denigrating one's beloved club or the neighbouring outfit ! That could be interesting.

keepinaneye (Westmeath) - Posts: 1 - 30/09/2025 11:32:30    2637930

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Croke Park were very keen to change inter county group format as teams who lost 3 championship matches were able to progress to knock out stages.

It's changed for year.

Be interesting to see do Westmeath County board follow that procedure with 50% of the semi finalists having lost 3 championship matches.

Blackjack (Westmeath) - Posts: 36 - 30/09/2025 11:34:20    2637931

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Great credit to Tang, apart from lads who emigrated they were also missing the two Hanleys, the two Rocks, Tumelty and Jason Coughlan by the end of extra time. To come back with 13 men in extra time must have made it a memorable night in The Pigeons. They could achieve so much more if they were more disciplined too."
Not sure they deserve more credit for lads getting themselves sent off in the game.

Iakecounty90 (Westmeath) - Posts: 31 - 30/09/2025 11:52:30    2637932

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Replying To Iakecounty90:  "Not sure they deserve more credit for lads getting themselves sent off in the game."
No, they're saying the lads on the pitch deserve credit for digging it out when all the odds were against them after losing key players to cards and injuries during the match.

mintyfresh (Westmeath) - Posts: 274 - 30/09/2025 12:32:09    2637940

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Replying To Blackjack:  "Croke Park were very keen to change inter county group format as teams who lost 3 championship matches were able to progress to knock out stages.

It's changed for year.

Be interesting to see do Westmeath County board follow that procedure with 50% of the semi finalists having lost 3 championship matches."
Blackjack - how much revenue would Westmeath GAA lose out on if format was changed to have less games?

IarmhiSupporter (Westmeath) - Posts: 4 - 30/09/2025 12:41:40    2637945

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Replying To Blackjack:  "Croke Park were very keen to change inter county group format as teams who lost 3 championship matches were able to progress to knock out stages.

It's changed for year.

Be interesting to see do Westmeath County board follow that procedure with 50% of the semi finalists having lost 3 championship matches."
If 3 teams qualified from group A , instead of 4, then Kinnegad would still be through having lost 3 games. So not sure what your proposing.

Intercounty system had 24 games to eliminate 4 teams from 16 (25%).
Our system has 30 games to eliminate 6 teams from 12 (50%).
Not remotely comparable.

jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 492 - 30/09/2025 12:48:25    2637946

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Replying To jamsie:  "If 3 teams qualified from group A , instead of 4, then Kinnegad would still be through having lost 3 games. So not sure what your proposing.

Intercounty system had 24 games to eliminate 4 teams from 16 (25%).
Our system has 30 games to eliminate 6 teams from 12 (50%).
Not remotely comparable."
I'd like to see 4 groups of 3. Top 2 into knockout stages. Third eliminated.
Bottom 4 teams in relegation play offs. Every team guaranteed 3 championship matches.
Lose 2 and you're gone.

Blackjack (Westmeath) - Posts: 36 - 30/09/2025 13:01:45    2637950

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Replying To IarmhiSupporter:  "Blackjack - how much revenue would Westmeath GAA lose out on if format was changed to have less games?"
That is a fair point re revenue. Understand the importance of that to run a county team. Thats why professional sports largely use round robin formats with next to no punishment for teams losing in terms of elimination from competition.

Blackjack (Westmeath) - Posts: 36 - 30/09/2025 13:05:06    2637953

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Replying To iarmhiabu:  "Oh Glory to Mount Temple
And we flaunt our colours bravely
We're cheering for our heroes
Who wear the famous red of Caulry
We're cheering loud for McCormack
The roving county goalie
Who scored ten points a game
And won the Flanagan trophy

For Maguire on the front foot
With Luke Loughlin in his pocket
For the ever durable Damien
And the gallant Clinton boys
For Grennan and Shortall
Who kept The Downs at bay
And showed Martin and Lynam
How the Temple men can play

For Tiarnan the terrier
Whose latest kick got there
And also for Connolly
Unbeaten in the air
And then a cheer for Senan
With roots to County Clare
He kicked a late two pointer
That left Caulry with one to spare

We shan't not forget young Tadhg
The younger Baker brother
Our All Ireland winning captain
Charlie Drumm to shudder
And Murphy and Malynn
Who each has helped to play
Caulry the Westmeath kings
Crowned on a historic day

Hurrah for Pat Flanagan
Who showed our boys the way
Cake Curran and all the greats
Who placed them in the fray
And also for our sponsors
Who keep Caulry's colours high
And we'll not forget the mighty feat
In October of twenty five"
Caulry GAA living in your head rent free....

Let the turkey see the stuffing...

Single man R E V E A L Y O U R S E L F.... No likey, no lighty

borisdblade (Westmeath) - Posts: 166 - 30/09/2025 13:23:05    2637957

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Replying To Blackjack:  "I'd like to see 4 groups of 3. Top 2 into knockout stages. Third eliminated.
Bottom 4 teams in relegation play offs. Every team guaranteed 3 championship matches.
Lose 2 and you're gone."
In that format there will be teams that reach a quarter final without winning any games. As an example, in 2020 they ended up running a 4 groups of 3 championship due to Covid. Garrycastle beat Caulry and Athlone in the first two games. Then Caulry and Athlone drew in the last game. Athlone ended up going through with one point due to the fact Garrycastle beat Caulry by more than they beat Athlone.

You're complaining about teams reaching the knockout having lost 3 games but at least they won two group games.

The football championship format is definitely not one of the issues in Westmeath GAA. This group set up has been in operation for a long time now and every year the two groups end up interesting with a lot to play for in the last round of games. That's all you want from a group stage really.

anon (None) - Posts: 359 - 30/09/2025 14:23:27    2637968

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Replying To Blackjack:  "I'd like to see 4 groups of 3. Top 2 into knockout stages. Third eliminated.
Bottom 4 teams in relegation play offs. Every team guaranteed 3 championship matches.
Lose 2 and you're gone."
This was what we had for 2020 due to Covid. Athlone got to a semi winning only one match. Groups of 3 are rubbish.

jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 492 - 30/09/2025 14:49:23    2637975

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Replying To Iakecounty90:  "Not sure they deserve more credit for lads getting themselves sent off in the game."
Where was that said? To win a match minus two players is a remarkable achievement. Please point out your issue with my praising Tang

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2373 - 30/09/2025 14:49:48    2637976

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Replying To Blackjack:  "I'd like to see 4 groups of 3. Top 2 into knockout stages. Third eliminated.
Bottom 4 teams in relegation play offs. Every team guaranteed 3 championship matches.
Lose 2 and you're gone."
Why would you change a great system? Makes no sense from any perspective, as other poster pointed out county board needs money, gates are a massive part of that, giving club players three championship matches is hardly recognising their efforts, nine league matches versus three championship ones is not a healthy ratio

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2373 - 30/09/2025 14:52:59    2637977

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Now we're down to the semi finals, I think the senior and intermediate are along the lines of what would have been expected and the best 4 teams in each competition are through. After that there's a gap between the top 2 teams in senior with the Downs and Lomans notably stronger than the other semi finalists. The intermediate is a little tighter at the top with nothing between any of the 3 from group A, Milltownpass while good value for their semi final spot would be a little off the pace of the rest in my opinion.
The junior was always going to be a bit harder to call, mostly due to the uncertainty of what strength would be left in the senior secondary team group, but top 2 from both groups safely into the semis and these 4 look to also have a big gap to the chasing pack. While anyone could win this I wouldn't bet against a second team coming out on top this year. Junior 2 only has one first team proper left and I don't think they'll come out on top, one of the group toppers I think will get over the line and up to Junior proper.
On the relegation front I don't see it as a big shock that Malachys are back down, they came out of nowhere to win intermediate a couple of years ago and have lost a few since that and have other distractions, there's a firm eye on the two in a row in the senior hurling with Castletown and some lads opting out from playing both. In saying this there was little between them and Tang who are struggling a bit at this level, so it will be a regret for Malachys that a couple more of them didn't play both codes and cement senior status.
Intermediate was going to be a dogfight at the bottom the same as the top, CFCW who were expected to be in the shake up to go back down had a brilliant year winning 3 games to power clear of the bottom, Kilbeggan did well to stay up last year but found wanting this time around, Ballymore and Maryland can consider themselves lucky though, neither set the world alight.
Junior maybe more of a surprise that another first team have made the drop, it's also a bit concerning that there's more of an imbalance coming between the first and second teams in junior 1 and 2, if Paul's fail to get promoted it will be 8-6 in favour of the second strings in junior 1 and there will be 4 first teams in junior 2 next year. Ballycomoyle had shown quite strong up until a couple of years ago with a couple of semi final spots so probably wouldn't have been on the relegation radar at the outset but have looked to be a bit of a shambles this year. Killucan counting their blessings as they look to have been extremely weak and took a few rankings themselves. It's disappointing though to see a club not able to field in a championship match, I wonder when was the last year this happened, even Loughnavalley when struggling to stay afloat always managed to round up a panel. Obviously the apparent boycott or ban of hurlers not playing football would've hurt Ballycomoyle but still should have enough to put up a fight one would imagine. Similarly to the few that opted out for Malachys to concentrate on Castletown their decision is vindicated somewhat with the Gaels pushing strongly for the championship and looking decent.

CleanShoulder (Westmeath) - Posts: 378 - 30/09/2025 15:07:49    2637978

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Replying To borisdblade:  "Caulry GAA living in your head rent free....

Let the turkey see the stuffing...

Single man R E V E A L Y O U R S E L F.... No likey, no lighty"
Honestly delighted at the reaction to my new Caulry song but obviously disappointed they bought into the hype, ultimately Pat Flanagan's team aren't ready to be Champions yet. I felt really inspired to sing their praises. All the excitement around this Caulry team made me believe now was their time. Caulry for Flan 26?

iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 224 - 30/09/2025 15:19:05    2637983

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