Looking forward to tomorrow. Dessie going for tried and trusted experience. Expect it to be a cagey game with Louth hugely experienced in their defensive structure under Mickey Harte and Devlin

Feel we have more in our attack than them and going for a Westmeath win

Mountlin (Westmeath) - Posts: 59 - 23/04/2023 02:20:35    2472616

Would expect more than 4,000 from working with some Louth lads. Very big following from Louth going to show up.

Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1031 - 23/04/2023 08:36:29    2472628

Laughable second half performance from Westmeath. Serious questions need to be asked

westmeathman99 (Westmeath) - Posts: 118 - 23/04/2023 15:37:44    2472758

Another collapse. Serious fragility's in not being able to close out a game.

dakid (Australia) - Posts: 285 - 23/04/2023 15:44:11    2472762

Not enough experienced players Mick!!!!!

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1948 - 23/04/2023 15:58:27    2472772

Another collapse! So frustrating for the supporters.

Parkman (Westmeath) - Posts: 2 - 23/04/2023 16:33:21    2472785

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1873 - 23/04/2023 16:45:00    2472791

It was a collapse alright. We looked so assured first half. We should have been prepared for Louth going all guns blazing at the start of second half. We weren't. Louth pushed up on our kickout second half and it appeared to me we didn't have a kickout strategy when a team doesn't concede it to us. Think Louth won our first 5 kickouts.

There was a sense of panic when we conceded the penalty. We started making silly mistakes and poor decisions. A few observations for me. I saw 3 or 4 Westmeath players with their hands on their knees in the early stages of the second half. Is fitness an issue? Was Heslin fit to last a full game? He didn't move around much second half. Ultimate responsibility lies with management. Far too late to make changes and introduce fresh legs when it looked to me some lads were out on their feet and struggling to get around. Very disappointing to lose in this manner.

lady_gaagaa (Westmeath) - Posts: 97 - 23/04/2023 17:14:31    2472801

Game was lost on the line today.After 10 mins in second half we were gone and changes needed to be made but management seem reluctant to take off"established" players when they drift out of games.First half was excellant but we needed leaders in that second half but they went missing.

Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 211 - 23/04/2023 18:02:40    2472829

The team selection is wrong. League clearly a waste of everyone's time. Where was Scahill? Poor management and question marks over the fitness levels. Simple aerobic fitness levels not good enough. Recurring theme in key matches. Great opportunity to reach a Leinster final lost.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1948 - 23/04/2023 18:19:03    2472849

I feel westmeath should try and tempt tom cribbin out of retirement. Two leinster final appearances in a row and players all had great time for him. Dont think he would have done brown today either.

Leitrimdivide (Leitrim) - Posts: 84 - 23/04/2023 18:37:49    2472864

lady_gaagaa (Westmeath) - Posts: 97 - 23/04/2023 18:44:17    2472872

LilywhiteGael (Kildare) - Posts: 113 - 23/04/2023 18:53:35    2472878

Seen none of it so can't really add much, I did text a few at half time saying Dessie done good job when ye were 8 up against a Louth side who had a great league but no team should ever lose from that far ahead. Shocking tbh. Be better off for player back in Tailteann as after todays collapse facing sides like Kerry or the Dubs do Westmeath no good. We are in same boat but a bit ahead of yourselves at the minute

sourmilk93 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1186 - 23/04/2023 20:29:01    2472933

We have regressed badly since the tailtean Cup win, fitness levels looked terrible, tactically woeful, louth pushed up on our kickouts we had no plans to counter it, very slow in possession, we let louth regroup on countless occasions, no team in championship football should ever loose from 8 points up, thought louth were very poor also though they had more hunger

dec (None) - Posts: 287 - 23/04/2023 21:23:55    2472971

Why bring back Dempsey if his not going to get a run in the championship..

Mooo (Westmeath) - Posts: 43 - 23/04/2023 21:33:10    2472976

Showed extreme nievety today in the second half. The momentum shift for Louth was huge. Agree that judgement from the sideline could have been much better regarding subs. Players need to take responsibility too. Some of the decision making in the second hand was very poor

After looking forward to today I'm not looking forward to the Al group stage.

Mountlin (Westmeath) - Posts: 59 - 23/04/2023 21:43:52    2472980

Westmeath fans have been seriously let down by the county board . We've never shown serious ambition to push and develop , compete at highest level possible . Dessie a hero in Westmeath Gaa no doubt about it and can't blame someone when offered the county job , hes entitled to go for it . But the board have shown zero ambition . County was on a high after Tailteann Cup , chance to take advantage of that , appoint an experienced manager and get experienced personnel in . Roscommon our neighbours aren't just small bit ahead , they're streets ahead . Had few difficult years but have really got things in order and showed sum bottle to go get Davy Burke . Even Offaly aswel assembled a very experienced management team . Money of course a huge factor but need to wake up before we head for div 4 and football wilderness in next year or 2

philbrown (Westmeath) - Posts: 236 - 23/04/2023 22:28:00    2472994

Thought at half time we were home and hosed. Harte must of ate them in the dressing room it took them that long to come out! I think the second half was summed up by Ray Connellan giving away the ball in the last few minutes. He stood with his hands on his head and watched as Louth went down and scored. Never bothered to try and get back.

ManBallAndAll (Westmeath) - Posts: 18 - 24/04/2023 00:07:44    2473017

I have no words to describe what I saw yesterday so I will leave it at that

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1873 - 24/04/2023 09:39:10    2473063