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Westmeath Hurling thread

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "We were very well beaten by Meath, 10-15 points, Conor Raleigh was playing for Meath, he's one of our best prospects,"
Conor Raleigh wasn't playing he's too young.

Gaawestmeath (Westmeath) - Posts: 124 - 20/12/2025 22:47:37    2649035

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Replying To Gaawestmeath:  "Conor Raleigh wasn't playing he's too young."
I believe you are right but there were four or 5 players from Delvin and Brownstown players on the Meath schools outfit.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1861 - 21/12/2025 14:10:04    2649076

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Replying To Gaawestmeath:  "Conor Raleigh wasn't playing he's too young."
3rd years can play Senior if they are good enough. Sean O Brien played Senior for Good Counsel when he was in 3rd year

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17916 - 22/12/2025 08:31:59    2649157

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Replying To Viking66:  "3rd years can play Senior if they are good enough. Sean O Brien played Senior for Good Counsel when he was in 3rd year"
Raleigh is certainly good enough, himself and Conor Williams are two of our brightest prospects, both on a minor team in 2026 with great potential.
Anyone hear how they've been going along with our u20s and seniors? I've heard the senior set up is good with a lot of youth and players enjoying it so far.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1074 - 22/12/2025 12:57:39    2649184

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Replying To Gaawestmeath:  "Conor Raleigh wasn't playing he's too young."
He was playing. There's no age limit at schools level unlike at club level.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2518 - 22/12/2025 19:30:40    2649250

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "He was playing. There's no age limit at schools level unlike at club level."
Conor Raleigh wasn't playing for Meath. You cant play for a combined schools team if you are still eligible for Junior schools. Unlike a standalone school where this doesn't apply

royalpains (Meath) - Posts: 11 - 22/12/2025 21:05:47    2649257

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "He was playing. There's no age limit at schools level unlike at club level."
No he wasn't I was at the game. Wexford poster is correct, but for combined schools teams, If you are eligible for junior you can't play senior. He would have been more than good enough to start but he was too young.

Gaawestmeath (Westmeath) - Posts: 124 - 23/12/2025 08:07:55    2649277

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Well lads what's your predictions for 2026.

Senior. Castletown
Relegated....... Delvin/ Dalton's , hard to call.


Senior B
Plunketts
Relegated, Brigits.


Intermediate
Cullion.

Bigjoe1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 84 - 02/01/2026 11:49:26    2649393

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Replying To Bigjoe1:  "Well lads what's your predictions for 2026.

Senior. Castletown
Relegated....... Delvin/ Dalton's , hard to call.


Senior B
Plunketts
Relegated, Brigits.


Intermediate
Cullion."
Senior Raharney relegated Delvin
Senior B Plunketts relegated Crookedwood
Intermediate Southern Gaels

Any news on our team to play KK Sunday.A helluva tough start for a team so hit by retirement and injuries. Kilkenny were within a whisker of burying Tipp in the All Ireland semi final so hopefully a performance.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1861 - 02/01/2026 13:05:19    2649401

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Replying To jobber:  "Senior Raharney relegated Delvin
Senior B Plunketts relegated Crookedwood
Intermediate Southern Gaels

Any news on our team to play KK Sunday.A helluva tough start for a team so hit by retirement and injuries. Kilkenny were within a whisker of burying Tipp in the All Ireland semi final so hopefully a performance."
Kilkenny have named a very experimental team. Only 2 with any championship minutes in the Leinster final last year, 1 came on in the 67th minute, and 1 other in the 71st minute.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17916 - 03/01/2026 12:12:45    2649496

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Replying To Viking66:  "Kilkenny have named a very experimental team. Only 2 with any championship minutes in the Leinster final last year, 1 came on in the 67th minute, and 1 other in the 71st minute."
I have just seen our own team and experimental is the Word here as well.Six players from senior B or intermediate.I make at least 4 making their Inter county debuts. I hope we being energy passion and ambition to it it's all we can ask of this young young team.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1861 - 03/01/2026 13:12:37    2649503

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Replying To jobber:  "I have just seen our own team and experimental is the Word here as well.Six players from senior B or intermediate.I make at least 4 making their Inter county debuts. I hope we being energy passion and ambition to it it's all we can ask of this young young team."
I don't think it's too experimental from the point of view that it's virtually a full hand available. Could be a very lean year

CleanShoulder (Westmeath) - Posts: 401 - 03/01/2026 15:23:08    2649524

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Replying To Bigjoe1:  "Well lads what's your predictions for 2026.

Senior. Castletown
Relegated....... Delvin/ Dalton's , hard to call.


Senior B
Plunketts
Relegated, Brigits.


Intermediate
Cullion."
Senior. Castletown
Relegated. Lough Lene Gaels

B. Plunketts
Relegated. Castlepollard

Inter. Southern Gaels

CleanShoulder (Westmeath) - Posts: 401 - 03/01/2026 15:25:06    2649525

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Replying To jobber:  "I have just seen our own team and experimental is the Word here as well.Six players from senior B or intermediate.I make at least 4 making their Inter county debuts. I hope we being energy passion and ambition to it it's all we can ask of this young young team."
Very few to add back into that side Jobber.
No expectation on O'Brien this year. Get new blood into the team and give them experience at senior inter county level. Goal should be survival in Joe Mc and developing for the future.

Can't see the game going ahead in the Downs with the weather so most likely be played on Lomans 3G pitch.

dakid (Australia) - Posts: 338 - 03/01/2026 17:33:37    2649559

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Replying To dakid:  "Very few to add back into that side Jobber.
No expectation on O'Brien this year. Get new blood into the team and give them experience at senior inter county level. Goal should be survival in Joe Mc and developing for the future.

Can't see the game going ahead in the Downs with the weather so most likely be played on Lomans 3G pitch."
Dara Egerton,David O Reilly,Shane Williams all would be certain starters.I realize we don't have that a huge squad but what we have is very inexperienced and against any KK team it's a big ask.Hopefully they show plenty of skill and spirit

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1861 - 03/01/2026 18:27:36    2649575

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It may seem experimental on paper but that term would be appropriate in the absence of regular players resting or injured, that's not the case with our hurlers in 2026. What's selected plus subs is what's on the panel. Darragh Egerton and David O' Reilly will be good additions when available but it's doubtful if we will have them in same match until last round if at all during league. Kilkenny's second string will be hungry and well able to hurl.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2518 - 03/01/2026 19:41:17    2649590

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Replying To jobber:  "I have just seen our own team and experimental is the Word here as well.Six players from senior B or intermediate.I make at least 4 making their Inter county debuts. I hope we being energy passion and ambition to it it's all we can ask of this young young team."
I genuinely believe that some on the panel listed this weekend wouldn't start for Castletown, Raharney or the Gaels at the business end of the championship a

westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 345 - 04/01/2026 00:16:41    2649638

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Replying To westmeathgaa11:  "I genuinely believe that some on the panel listed this weekend wouldn't start for Castletown, Raharney or the Gaels at the business end of the championship a"
I tend to agree the best player voted this club championship niall o brien not there is a huge loss you wouldnt see that too many other counties hes only 31/32 the players who retired left a huge gap to fill but theres plenty of young eligible top players also not involved for one reason or another which is a bigger issue.

Dazzler30 (Westmeath) - Posts: 72 - 04/01/2026 10:02:13    2649656

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Kevin O'Brien was over the u20s in 2021 and in 2024 and looking at the panel tomorrow it's basically a combination of those two teams with Killian Doyle, Kevin Regan, Conor Shaw, Johnny Bermingham etc added in. It's a very young squad and there's no expectations so there shouldn't be any pressure especially today vs Kilkenny. It's an opportunity to rebuild, there's quality coming at minor and u20 that can add to this team over the next couple of years or so, patience is key. If we can maintain Joe Mcdonagh status and gain promotion in the league that would be a success and achievable progress for O'Brien. At the moment yes, there is probably a good few on the panel who wouldn't start for CTG or the Gaels etc but they are the one's there committed and putting in the effort, by all accounts the training has been going far better than previous years. We needed a new injection of enthusiasm and youth. We had the same panel pretty much for the last 10 years.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1074 - 04/01/2026 10:50:09    2649666

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Replying To Dazzler30:  "I tend to agree the best player voted this club championship niall o brien not there is a huge loss you wouldnt see that too many other counties hes only 31/32 the players who retired left a huge gap to fill but theres plenty of young eligible top players also not involved for one reason or another which is a bigger issue."
Name the young players who have not committed to the hurling panel.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2518 - 04/01/2026 11:24:48    2649674

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