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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To TigerWoods90: "Can anyone shed some light on what's happening at underage? I know there is a vacant minor board secretary position; is this going to hold up underage competition's as they usually start before this month is out and also what's the likely outcome of the vote on age groups; I see many lads who are now 'u18' are training and playing with their adult teams and yet could be put back to underage for the coming year despite the fact adult leagues start next week. Is a return to even ages but in 2024 viable or on the table?" I believe the age grades are sticking with the odd ages this year ie U17 etc but will revert to U18, U16, U14 in 2024. The directive from Croke Park was for county boards to decide for themselves. County remains at U17. Decoupling to happen at U18 in 2023 - ie players in their last year at U18 cannot play adult. That's my understanding but open to correction. BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1176 - 07/02/2023 11:28:11 2456967 Link
Replying To BigSur: "I believe the age grades are sticking with the odd ages this year ie U17 etc but will revert to U18, U16, U14 in 2024. The directive from Croke Park was for county boards to decide for themselves. County remains at U17. Decoupling to happen at U18 in 2023 - ie players in their last year at U18 cannot play adult. That's my understanding but open to correction." Typo there, decoupling at U18 in 2024 ie next year. BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1176 - 07/02/2023 12:01:34 2456982 Link
Replying To TigerWoods90: "Can anyone shed some light on what's happening at underage? I know there is a vacant minor board secretary position; is this going to hold up underage competition's as they usually start before this month is out and also what's the likely outcome of the vote on age groups; I see many lads who are now 'u18' are training and playing with their adult teams and yet could be put back to underage for the coming year despite the fact adult leagues start next week. Is a return to even ages but in 2024 viable or on the table?" Meeting next week ,could go to vote to change this year. Option 3 where lads turning 18 this year CAN play adult after the 1st March with parental consent could get over the line Its changing in 2024 anyway but theres a possibility of changing this year which alot of clubs favor Thechick (Westmeath) - Posts: 250 - 07/02/2023 12:42:42 2456998 Link
Replying To BarrRst: "Is the match streamed today v longford. You would not want to depend on westmeath gaa web page for info. It is a year out of date. Seems to think that we are heading to Laois to play a game this Sunday" Would not not have considered going? Was only €10… Westmeath were completely outnumbered at home to Cavan which is no surprise. Funny how everyone seems to turn up when we win anything! Anyways; I'm looking forward to the Offaly game. They need to bring the same performance that was shown in the second half against Longford. Matthew (None) - Posts: 1042 - 07/02/2023 13:21:01 2457026 Link
Replying To Matthew: "Would not not have considered going? Was only €10… Westmeath were completely outnumbered at home to Cavan which is no surprise. Funny how everyone seems to turn up when we win anything! Anyways; I'm looking forward to the Offaly game. They need to bring the same performance that was shown in the second half against Longford." nice westmeath support in longford . id say there was more there than was in mullingar for cavan game mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1879 - 07/02/2023 14:27:37 2457063 Link
What way are Loman's voting Chick!!!! Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1967 - 07/02/2023 14:47:24 2457070 Link
Is there even a minor board in place to hold a meeting on underage grades? Even age grades (12, 14, 16, 18) makes for an extra game day every week as opposed to off (13, 15, 17). Adult league dues to start next week and not a word about it, no county minor board, a lot of work to be done, fair play to anyone giving up their time to sort it out! Wmeath2 (Westmeath) - Posts: 180 - 07/02/2023 15:14:28 2457076 Link
Replying To mickcunningham: "nice westmeath support in longford . id say there was more there than was in mullingar for cavan game" Agree good numbers of Westmeath supporters in Longford so hopefully we can outnumber the Offaly fans in Mullingar on sat.week!! Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 218 - 07/02/2023 15:31:10 2457084 Link
Replying To Bruno@1: "Agree good numbers of Westmeath supporters in Longford so hopefully we can outnumber the Offaly fans in Mullingar on sat.week!!" dont go on saturday week bruno you will be a day too early mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1879 - 07/02/2023 15:43:46 2457091 Link
Replying To Wmeath2: "Is there even a minor board in place to hold a meeting on underage grades? Even age grades (12, 14, 16, 18) makes for an extra game day every week as opposed to off (13, 15, 17). Adult league dues to start next week and not a word about it, no county minor board, a lot of work to be done, fair play to anyone giving up their time to sort it out!" Retaining players at 17/18 is the important issue ,not winning championship at younger ages .Drop off at 17/18 is huge in every county Thechick (Westmeath) - Posts: 250 - 07/02/2023 15:53:51 2457093 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "What way are Loman's voting Chick!!!!" Would have no idea, but im sure you do Thechick (Westmeath) - Posts: 250 - 07/02/2023 15:57:28 2457095 Link
Replying To Thechick: "Meeting next week ,could go to vote to change this year. Option 3 where lads turning 18 this year CAN play adult after the 1st March with parental consent could get over the line Its changing in 2024 anyway but theres a possibility of changing this year which alot of clubs favor" Option 3 is absolutely the best outcome. A lad at 18 not being allowed to play adult football is a joke. Not sure I buy the whole drop out rates by staying at u17 either, most lads drop out as they don't want to play football not because they are losing out a year. TigerWoods90 (Westmeath) - Posts: 155 - 07/02/2023 16:15:24 2457102 Link
Replying To TigerWoods90: "Option 3 is absolutely the best outcome. A lad at 18 not being allowed to play adult football is a joke. Not sure I buy the whole drop out rates by staying at u17 either, most lads drop out as they don't want to play football not because they are losing out a year." If your a light17 year old ,maybe not 18 until Nov/Dec you not going to be to eager to go train with adults ,some wil but the majority are iffy and all over the country are dropping out, another year might not hold them all but it could only help Thechick (Westmeath) - Posts: 250 - 07/02/2023 16:22:27 2457105 Link
Option 3 is the worst option for reasons just outlined. No need to have lads 18 playing adult if age grades remain at odd ages. Having players available to both under 18s and adult represents nightmare scenario for fixtures which decoupling avoids. Hard to say which option will be voted for, status quo might remain for 2023 Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1967 - 07/02/2023 17:06:44 2457117 Link
Replying To mickcunningham: "dont go on saturday week bruno you will be a day too early" See that now-but on the westmeath and nat lge sites the game is down for sat.or maybe im seeing things!! Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 218 - 07/02/2023 19:13:32 2457140 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "Option 3 is the worst option for reasons just outlined. No need to have lads 18 playing adult if age grades remain at odd ages. Having players available to both under 18s and adult represents nightmare scenario for fixtures which decoupling avoids. Hard to say which option will be voted for, status quo might remain for 2023" Nightmare for fixtures committee yet it was the norm for a lifetime up until 2020 and we managed just fine each year. If it returns to even ages I hope to god we vote 18 year olds can play adult. Spare a thought for those clubs who need those 3 or 4 players each year to ensure they can compete. Tyrone tonight just voted for even ages but with 18 year olds allowed play adult. TigerWoods90 (Westmeath) - Posts: 155 - 07/02/2023 22:00:51 2457163 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "Option 3 is the worst option for reasons just outlined. No need to have lads 18 playing adult if age grades remain at odd ages. Having players available to both under 18s and adult represents nightmare scenario for fixtures which decoupling avoids. Hard to say which option will be voted for, status quo might remain for 2023" Tyrone voted in option 3 last night Thechick (Westmeath) - Posts: 250 - 08/02/2023 07:55:50 2457165 Link
Replying To Thechick: "Retaining players at 17/18 is the important issue ,not winning championship at younger ages .Drop off at 17/18 is huge in every county" Agreed. The GAA have made some really bad decisions over the years but changing the grades is up there with the worst of them. The rationale for changing them was , I believe, to not have minors doing leaving Cert, but that did not consider that with the 6 year cycle LC average age has increased with the result that there is now as many LCs playing u20 as would have been playing u18. Then leaving it up to county boards to decide age groups is very strange as it should be consistent. And this puts the CBs in a dilemma. i.e do they deploy u17/u20 to align with county set up or keep with u18 / u21 to maximise plater retention. Player retention is the biggest issue because 18 year olds ( in general) are not strong enough for adult football and most county boards deploy very condensed ( sometimes 1 x knockout competition) at u20/u21. The whole thing was poorly thought out and , in my opinion, was all done in the guise of being seen to do something significant in the interests of player welfare.... and we know how little really is thought of player welfare by looking at what is being asked of inter county 3rd level students in recent weeks. anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 960 - 08/02/2023 08:58:21 2457171 Link
Moate CS Leinster Senior Final fixed for O Moore park in Portlaoise this Friday. 3 o clock.. Best of luck to squad and management. A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 259 - 08/02/2023 12:37:04 2457242 Link
Westmeath Under 20 footballers play Louth in their first League game in Cusack Park this Sat at 2pm Thechick (Westmeath) - Posts: 250 - 08/02/2023 16:25:58 2457312 Link