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Westmeath Football thread

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Huge amount of fellas in there last year unavailable through injury, schools football a big step up to u-20, as a county we need everyone avilable those mentioned above are all nailed on starters and have played a full year of adult football last year. two other lads who opted out were byrne and maloney who i think would add something to the team, and then the other admision would be Henson for Garrycastle. The annoying thing about it theres a quality team there there without 7-9 players who i feel would make a massive difference and are better stronger players than those who played last week. nadunta2025 (Westmeath) - Posts: 29 - 30/03/2026 08:28:37 2663899 Link
Replying To OverTheHill85: "There was a stark difference in how they were moving, they seemed physically so far ahead. We have to beat Dublin now to advance it would seem. Beating just Wexford which will be extremely difficult won't be enough. It must be said there are 7 starters missing from that U20 team from what I was told last night, there are three from Tubberclair in Bourke, Staunton and O'Connor, Curran from Moate, Geary from Athlone, Ryan Kelly from Shamrocks and Conor Callaghan from Kinnegad. All seven of these are in their last year and have played adult championship for their club. The younger Whittaker looked promising when he came on. I think the question again that must be raised is the fact U18s cannot play adult football until they are 19. I think 8 or 9 of the team would not have played for their clubs above underage yet and then the step up is massive." Good point, not letting lads play Adult football until they are over 18 is another factor to the dreadful performances of the County U20 team. It is beyond belief that they have not been doing any gym sessions as a group. What has been learned from last year? Sent out like lambs to the slaughter again. iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 327 - 30/03/2026 11:25:29 2663935 Link
Replying To iarmhiabu: "Good point, not letting lads play Adult football until they are over 18 is another factor to the dreadful performances of the County U20 team. It is beyond belief that they have not been doing any gym sessions as a group. What has been learned from last year? Sent out like lambs to the slaughter again." it was disappointing. With lads from Marist and CBS on that team, a few from Moate who've all played Schools Leinster and All-Ireland finals, and a couple from AIT after winning a Freshers All-Ireland, along with a strong Shamrocks and Tubberclair group, I genuinely thought it was one of the best U20 sides we've had in years. I know they probably didn't get much time training together, but the physical side was very noticeable - same as against Meath last year. McFadden even said it after the league final: ''the game now is nearly all about kick-outs and having big men, and that's something we thankfully have plenty of.'' Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 160 - 30/03/2026 14:30:28 2663965 Link
Replying To nadunta2025: "Huge amount of fellas in there last year unavailable through injury, schools football a big step up to u-20, as a county we need everyone avilable those mentioned above are all nailed on starters and have played a full year of adult football last year. two other lads who opted out were byrne and maloney who i think would add something to the team, and then the other admision would be Henson for Garrycastle. The annoying thing about it theres a quality team there there without 7-9 players who i feel would make a massive difference and are better stronger players than those who played last week." Well said these are FACTS GCCABU (Westmeath) - Posts: 27 - 30/03/2026 14:41:17 2663967 Link
Replying To GCCABU: "Well said these are FACTS" Maloney had a leg brace on last Monday when himself,Ty and Micky Weir were on the iarmhi podcast 10 with the management team. He didn't play on Friday as the Board wouldn't pay for a Dunnes Store plastic bag to wrap around it to keep it dry (other supermarket plastic bags are also availablle FACT ExiledCuCu (Cavan) - Posts: 287 - 30/03/2026 19:21:50 2664018 Link
Super win for the minors this evening in Kinnegad , massive performances all over the pitch. Well done to mick Dillon and his team. A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 382 - 31/03/2026 22:06:03 2664201 Link
Replying To A_Chairde: "Super win for the minors this evening in Kinnegad , massive performances all over the pitch. Well done to mick Dillon and his team." Have some really good players. And probably as many as 10 forwards who are good enough to excel at this level. Showed a lot of metal coming back after going behind. The Dublin wing forward was one of the best players I've seen at this age , ever. Apparently underage again next year. jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 515 - 01/04/2026 10:38:20 2664228 Link
Replying To jamsie: "Have some really good players. And probably as many as 10 forwards who are good enough to excel at this level. Showed a lot of metal coming back after going behind. The Dublin wing forward was one of the best players I've seen at this age , ever. Apparently underage again next year." which one, what was his name and club Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 160 - 01/04/2026 16:42:25 2664298 Link
Replying To Fighting-Cocks69: "which one, what was his name and club" can't remember his name. Scored 1-8. Scored 1-9 against Offaly. Whitehall is his club. jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 515 - 01/04/2026 16:59:28 2664307 Link
Replying To jamsie: "can't remember his name. Scored 1-8. Scored 1-9 against Offaly. Whitehall is his club." Cian Rafferty jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1911 - 01/04/2026 21:25:40 2664337 Link
u20s win in Wexford, very good result and means we play Dublin for 2nd spot in the group. Louth beat Dublin by 3 tonight. Well done to the minors and u20s A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 382 - 01/04/2026 21:55:42 2664342 Link
Great to see the minors and u20s win this week! Hopefully the u20s can follow the minors by beating Dublin! I must say I was very impressed with how well drilled the minor team was, a 4 point win was not flattering! Westmeath25 (Westmeath) - Posts: 13 - 02/04/2026 00:00:37 2664357 Link
Replying To A_Chairde: "Super win for the minors this evening in Kinnegad , massive performances all over the pitch. Well done to mick Dillon and his team." Mighty win for the minors. Extra sweet getting a rare win over Dublin. Played very well as a team, particularly impressive how they slowed down the game out the field and drew Dublin out before attacking with speed for several scores. Also good win for the u20s last night crispsandwich99 (Westmeath) - Posts: 8 - 02/04/2026 08:17:56 2664367 Link
Replying To jobber: "Cian Rafferty" Is it Raftery or Rafferty? winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 965 - 02/04/2026 09:15:56 2664370 Link
Replying To winatallcost: "Is it Raftery or Rafferty?" Rafferty and hes only 15 A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 382 - 02/04/2026 13:52:42 2664413 Link
We have a very talented group of young players at both minor and u20 level.I understand its a huge step up from underage to senior county level but these squads are the future for Westmeath GAA and should be trained and encouraged as a group to stick together on a 2 or 3 year training programne with senior county level being the end game.Other sports have their academies with long term goals so why shouldnt Westmeath GAA think likewise.Of course clubs would have to come on board and buy into this but if we have any thoughts of being real competitive at senior level -these young lads have to buy into it now.Having seen them play they definately have what it will take but now is the time to norture and prepare them. Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 313 - 02/04/2026 14:27:07 2664418 Link
Minor footballers win two championship matches in succession for first time in ages and majority of comments here focus on a Dublin player's correct name, his club and his age without a single comment on one of our players. Maybe post on the Dublin page if it's that important. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2593 - 02/04/2026 14:42:35 2664432 Link
Replying To Westmeath25: "Great to see the minors and u20s win this week! Hopefully the u20s can follow the minors by beating Dublin! I must say I was very impressed with how well drilled the minor team was, a 4 point win was not flattering!" Has Dean Mc Nicholas joined the minor management mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1951 - 02/04/2026 15:13:32 2664435 Link
Well done to the 20s last night, a winner takes all game vs Dublin should definitely see a big crowd behind them next Wednesday night. OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 267 - 02/04/2026 15:33:58 2664443 Link