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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To JoxerDaly:  "Lomans & Shamrocks are not his only choices in Mullingar. Shandonagh are the 2022 Intermediate Champions and will be playing Senior in 2023. The Downs are the current Senior Champions and in the Leinster Club Final. All 4 Mullingar clubs will be playing Senior in 2023, and all are good options for a player of this calibre."
Not sure if The Downs or Shandonagh would be happy to be referred to as a Mullingar Club.

Meridian (Westmeath) - Posts: 601 - 02/12/2022 15:19:36    2449346

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Replying To Meridian:  "Not sure if The Downs or Shandonagh would be happy to be referred to as a Mullingar Club."
How about a Mullingar club, 2 Westmeath clubs and a Leinster Regional club?

lady_gaagaa (Westmeath) - Posts: 97 - 02/12/2022 16:00:00    2449352

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Replying To Meridian:  "Not sure if The Downs or Shandonagh would be happy to be referred to as a Mullingar Club."
Well nobody is forcing them to invite kids from the town to play with them. I don't have a dog in this one either way, but I do live in a housing estate which is firmly in the town, and there are kids in the estate playing with all 4 clubs. Easy to tell as they are always wearing their colours. Of course Lomans and Shamrocks have players who are from the countryside. So works both ways. It's a free for all.

jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 443 - 02/12/2022 16:19:18    2449354

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O'Byrne Cup draw (as per Hoganstand article on main page)
3 games in a week for Dessie's 'competitive' debut:

Group A: Kildare, Louth, Westmeath, Wexford

Group B: Longford, Carlow, Meath, Laois

Group C: Dublin, Wicklow, Offaly

Fixtures:

Wednesday, 4 January 2023: Wexford v Kildare; Louth v Westmeath; Laois v Longford; Carlow v Meath; Wicklow v Dublin; Offaly Bye

Saturday, 7 January 2023: Westmeath v Wexford; Kildare v Louth; Longford v Carlow; Meath v Laois; Offaly v Wicklow; Dublin Bye.

Wednesday, 11 January 2023: Wexford v Louth; Westmeath v Kildare; Laois v Carlow; Meath v Longford; Dublin v Offaly; Wicklow Bye.

Sunday, 15 January 2023: Semi-Finals, Winners A v Winners C, Winners B Bye to Final.

Friday, 20 January 2023: Final

BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1129 - 02/12/2022 17:49:24    2449360

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Don't agree that The Downs were comfortably the better team vs Ratoath, it was an even game for long spells, The Downs shaded it and credit to them for doing so but Ratoath were seriously competitive and a couple of missed frees midway through second half were costly. 8-1 odds in a two horse race is borderline insulting, The Downs are unbeaten in all games this year, have a full panel to choose from. They need lots of breaks to go their way and need to be within 3-4 points at half time. Crokes have been doing enough defensively all year but don't shoot huge scores, The Downs have 3-29 in two provincial matches, would be a shock on a par with Mullinaghta's win four years ago against Crokes but The Downs have a fighter's chance."
Tough game on Sunday for The Downs. Kilmacud are favourites, but remember 2018 v Mullinaghta.
Good luck to the Westmeath men.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1735 - 02/12/2022 20:12:50    2449369

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Replying To CleanShoulder:  "I still hope they lose"
Why?

ExiledCuCu (Cavan) - Posts: 225 - 03/12/2022 18:13:15    2449449

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Replying To ExiledCuCu:  "Why?"
Backed Kilmacud and Ballyhale leinster double a couple of months ago

CleanShoulder (Westmeath) - Posts: 268 - 04/12/2022 17:35:47    2449508

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Leinster club final on expected lines, The Downs achieved a level of respectability in last ten mins but Crokes operating at a different level, looks like a fierce determination on their part to make up for All Ireland final defeat. The Downs have had a great year and made significant progress in Leinster but likes of Crokes, Kilcoo are fantastic sides.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1478 - 04/12/2022 18:03:52    2449512

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Very disappointing from the Downs. Didn't compete when it was necessary. Looked frozen. I thought they had a chance but never got close.

Captainfantastic (Westmeath) - Posts: 44 - 04/12/2022 19:18:56    2449516

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To be fair to The Downs, they had a great year. ACFL Division 1 League Winners and first SFC title since 2005, plus a quarter final and semifinal win in Leinster with a very young team, average age 22-23, Luke Loughlin in one of his interviews said at 27 he was the oldest starting player. Crokes are a serious outfit and there are not many teams in Ireland that will beat them on their day. The Downs couldn't cope with Shane Walsh. To put it in perspective, Walsh scored 0-3 from play, he had 1-1 in assists, and 0-6 from frees. He missed 3 frees also and had a goal chance saved by Trevor Martin in the second half. Walsh scored 0-9 against The Downs and he scored 0-9 for Galway against Kerry in the All-Ireland final. The club All-Ireland final is shaping up to be a repeat of last years - Kilcoo v Crokes - it will be interesting to see if Kilcoo can stop Walsh, after all he was brought in by Crokes to win the All-Ireland. Finally, a great run and great experience for The Downs but they will have their work cutout to get back to the same stage next year. Lomans haven't gone away, and Kinnegad, Tyrellspass and Caulry will fancy their chances also.

JoxerDaly (Westmeath) - Posts: 22 - 05/12/2022 09:21:37    2449533

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Hard luck to the Downs, their first defeat of an incredible season. They had fair share of posession but wasted a lot and couldnt handle Shane Walsh.

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 174 - 05/12/2022 10:47:28    2449543

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Hard luck to The Downs. A great year, going unbeaten in Westmeath is some achievement. Yesterday was their first lost since the county semi last year against Garrycastle.

Very soft goal at the start of the game yesterday didn't help their cause. Not the first time Trevor Martin has been caught under a high ball!! I'd say Crokes had spoke about in the build up about how poor he is under a high ball. The Downs really held their own in the 2nd half and put a a respectable score line up.

Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 383 - 05/12/2022 11:22:10    2449548

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Replying To JoxerDaly:  "To be fair to The Downs, they had a great year. ACFL Division 1 League Winners and first SFC title since 2005, plus a quarter final and semifinal win in Leinster with a very young team, average age 22-23, Luke Loughlin in one of his interviews said at 27 he was the oldest starting player. Crokes are a serious outfit and there are not many teams in Ireland that will beat them on their day. The Downs couldn't cope with Shane Walsh. To put it in perspective, Walsh scored 0-3 from play, he had 1-1 in assists, and 0-6 from frees. He missed 3 frees also and had a goal chance saved by Trevor Martin in the second half. Walsh scored 0-9 against The Downs and he scored 0-9 for Galway against Kerry in the All-Ireland final. The club All-Ireland final is shaping up to be a repeat of last years - Kilcoo v Crokes - it will be interesting to see if Kilcoo can stop Walsh, after all he was brought in by Crokes to win the All-Ireland. Finally, a great run and great experience for The Downs but they will have their work cutout to get back to the same stage next year. Lomans haven't gone away, and Kinnegad, Tyrellspass and Caulry will fancy their chances also."
Fair summary. Crokes are a serious outfit and so clever and experienced across all facets of the game. You want to measure yourself against the best and the 3 Leinster games will be of great benefit to The Downs. This young team will be looking to get a few more county titles under their belt but Lomans, Kinnegad and Caulry will out for revenge plus the forever contenders Tyrellspass and Garrycastle. Competitive club championships are good for the county teams.

BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1129 - 05/12/2022 12:07:43    2449556

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The weather conditions yedterday did not allow for good football but once Crokes got the goal the game was over as a contest. Poor effort from the keeper in defending it!

tarfboy (Dublin) - Posts: 27 - 05/12/2022 12:45:49    2449562

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Replying To Temple56:  "Hard luck to The Downs. A great year, going unbeaten in Westmeath is some achievement. Yesterday was their first lost since the county semi last year against Garrycastle.

Very soft goal at the start of the game yesterday didn't help their cause. Not the first time Trevor Martin has been caught under a high ball!! I'd say Crokes had spoke about in the build up about how poor he is under a high ball. The Downs really held their own in the 2nd half and put a a respectable score line up."
Martin shouldve cleared his lines for goal but dealt with everything else well enough.

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 174 - 05/12/2022 13:45:07    2449572

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Playing provincial club finals in Croke Park seems to be the policy and obviously guarantees a top class pitch irrespective of weather. It also reduces the possibility of a shock result, The Downs were second best yesterday in every position but had the game been in Tullamore or Portlaoise then definitely gives underdogs a better chance. Mullinaghta beat Crokes in Tullamore few years ago and deserved to win but the better pitch will always help the favourites.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1478 - 05/12/2022 18:15:58    2449598

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Any more talk of managerial vacancies being filled across senior and intermediate championship teams. You'd imagine most clubs would have them in place before Christmas and back training in January?

mintyfresh (Westmeath) - Posts: 211 - 05/12/2022 21:43:01    2449605

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Replying To mintyfresh:  "Any more talk of managerial vacancies being filled across senior and intermediate championship teams. You'd imagine most clubs would have them in place before Christmas and back training in January?"
Steven Morley staying with Killucan and David Martin to Miltownpass

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 174 - 06/12/2022 09:53:20    2449614

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Replying To A_Chairde:  "Steven Morley staying with Killucan and David Martin to Miltownpass"
The Downs - Guessing Lar wall is staying on here. Haven't heard anything to say he isn't staying and it would be a big loss if he left.
Lomans - Just going on the rumours here about Paddy Dowdall but I don't think that has been confirmed.
Kinnegad - Jack Cooney and Paschal Kellaghan
Tyrellspass - Ray Sheridan staying from what I've heard
Caulry - Shane Curran staying
Killucan - Morley staying
Garrycastle -
Shamrocks -
Athlone - Eoin Jordan staying on here from what I've heard
Tang - Keith Higgins from Tubber in Offaly taking over here
Moate - McNeill that was previously over Kinnegad
Shandonagh - I'm guessing Kevin Hickey staying here

Rosemount -
Tubberclaire - there were rumours McCabe stepped down after intermediate final loss but hearing contradictory rumours since saying he's not. Anyone any info here?
Milltown -
Rochfortbridge - Peter Tormey involved here again but not sure if it as manager or part of coaching ticket
Castledaly - Paul Kelly
Ballymore - I heard the same man is in charge here again. His name escapes me. He is from Longford
Miltownpass - David Martin
Malachys - Kenny McKinley staying here
CFCW -
Ballynacargy -
Maryland - Damien Reynolds staying on here
Multy -

I've just gone through the clubs there and left blank the ones I don't know. Looking at it there is a few spots still up for grabs. Interesting times ahead

mintyfresh (Westmeath) - Posts: 211 - 06/12/2022 17:27:10    2449677

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Enda Monaghan staying at Shamrocks

Baldy1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 84 - 07/12/2022 12:34:13    2449743

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