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Westmeath Hurling thread

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Replying To Dheen:  "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."
Great post. What's the point in lads here basically sledging the current panel by saying they wouldn't make the Ctg team? The likes of Aonghus, Liam V, Niall O' Brien and others are quality hurlers who have given great service and no longer wish to commit. A bit of respect towards the lads who have given commitment wouldn't go astray

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2518 - 04/01/2026 11:27:45    2649675

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Great post. What's the point in lads here basically sledging the current panel by saying they wouldn't make the Ctg team? The likes of Aonghus, Liam V, Niall O' Brien and others are quality hurlers who have given great service and no longer wish to commit. A bit of respect towards the lads who have given commitment wouldn't go astray"
Absolutely agree both excellent posts.The lads who are committing deserve our total support and a lot of patience will be needed.I agree completely stay in Mcdonagh and get promotion would be a huge success. Aonghus Clarke as you say gave great service and owes Westmeath nothing.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1861 - 04/01/2026 12:21:53    2649684

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starting to see a pattern why they haven't won Liam in over a decade

Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 108 - 04/01/2026 15:12:06    2649703

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Disappointing turn of events today to say the least. Second day in a row to be at a venue and match called off. Very poor on behalf of the organisers

CleanShoulder (Westmeath) - Posts: 401 - 04/01/2026 17:35:31    2649737

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Replying To Fighting-Cocks69:  "starting to see a pattern why they haven't won Liam in over a decade"
Anyone that's stepped foot on Lomans 3G pitch in the last 5 years would know that's it not at the standard to hold a game. It's not fit to hold a club league game don't mind an inter county game. The Astro is near 20 years old and has never been re done. Astros have had massive technology improves over the last 20 years. The surface on the current pitch is more like a hockey pitch. Lomans senior team won't even train on it.

Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 599 - 04/01/2026 18:24:23    2649754

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Some fiasco today in Lomans, I presume Lomans didn't want their grass pitch torn up??, separately Id agree with Kilkenny, that Astro would be like concrete today, and id imagine dangerously slippery.

Bigjoe1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 84 - 04/01/2026 18:38:21    2649756

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Replying To Temple56:  "Anyone that's stepped foot on Lomans 3G pitch in the last 5 years would know that's it not at the standard to hold a game. It's not fit to hold a club league game don't mind an inter county game. The Astro is near 20 years old and has never been re done. Astros have had massive technology improves over the last 20 years. The surface on the current pitch is more like a hockey pitch. Lomans senior team won't even train on it."
That's why the Martins lads didnt want to play on it the week before their game against Naas. They didnt want to get injured.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17916 - 04/01/2026 19:04:06    2649765

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Replying To Temple56:  "Anyone that's stepped foot on Lomans 3G pitch in the last 5 years would know that's it not at the standard to hold a game. It's not fit to hold a club league game don't mind an inter county game. The Astro is near 20 years old and has never been re done. Astros have had massive technology improves over the last 20 years. The surface on the current pitch is more like a hockey pitch. Lomans senior team won't even train on it."
COE shouldn't be too long anyway...

Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 108 - 04/01/2026 19:04:33    2649766

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Following the cancellation of today's Round 1 Dioralyte Walsh Cup games between;

- Offaly v Antrim
- Kildare v Galway
- Westmeath v Kilkenny

And as per competition regulation, with re-fixtures not possible coin tosses were held and determined that Offaly, Galway and Westmeath will advance in the Walsh Cup.

While Antrim, Kildare and Kilkenny will now enter the Walsh Shield competition.

Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1060 - 04/01/2026 19:27:29    2649775

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Replying To Jack_Sparrow:  "Following the cancellation of today's Round 1 Dioralyte Walsh Cup games between;

- Offaly v Antrim
- Kildare v Galway
- Westmeath v Kilkenny

And as per competition regulation, with re-fixtures not possible coin tosses were held and determined that Offaly, Galway and Westmeath will advance in the Walsh Cup.

While Antrim, Kildare and Kilkenny will now enter the Walsh Shield competition."
So we play the winners of Wexford v Dublín away. Is that right?

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1861 - 04/01/2026 20:48:12    2649791

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I see the board put out a notice that Kilkenny refused to play while we played an inhouse challenge and trained on the 3G.Lyng trying to deflect the criticism wanted to play on Lomans grass pitch which wasn't ready.
Kilkenny were informed as were Leinster that the back up pitch was the 3G.They had no concerns on Saturday so what happened on Sunday. I was there the pitch was not frozen Lyng is not correct.Westmeath management would not have trained or played on it if they had concerns.
Leinster is in charge of the competition and it is their responsibility to compensate Westmeath for all the effort and cost attached to this.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1861 - 05/01/2026 09:10:16    2649826

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Everyone knows that the 3G surface in Lomans is not great, I've heard players hate to play/train in it. Compared to the newer surfaces that out out there now on training pitches around the county it is fairly poor in fairness. That said though, the final word on this should have been with the referee. If the ref deemed the pitch playable and therefore safe (which I presume he did) then KK should have played the match. If not then it should have been a W/O for Westmeath and KK to face the repercussions (if any!) of failing to field.

Boarder_boy (Westmeath) - Posts: 3 - 05/01/2026 09:54:45    2649835

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Replying To Boarder_boy:  "Everyone knows that the 3G surface in Lomans is not great, I've heard players hate to play/train in it. Compared to the newer surfaces that out out there now on training pitches around the county it is fairly poor in fairness. That said though, the final word on this should have been with the referee. If the ref deemed the pitch playable and therefore safe (which I presume he did) then KK should have played the match. If not then it should have been a W/O for Westmeath and KK to face the repercussions (if any!) of failing to field."
I could not disagree with any of that. But it's January it's wet and cold and few grass pitches are available.KK knew on Saturday the possibilities.No objection then Why?

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1861 - 05/01/2026 10:17:13    2649840

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Replying To CleanShoulder:  "Disappointing turn of events today to say the least. Second day in a row to be at a venue and match called off. Very poor on behalf of the organisers"
What more could Westmeath have done?

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2518 - 05/01/2026 11:06:10    2649846

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Replying To jobber:  "I could not disagree with any of that. But it's January it's wet and cold and few grass pitches are available.KK knew on Saturday the possibilities.No objection then Why?"
Perhaps KK thought the Lomans 3G would be top standard, don't think they would have been on it before. Once they arrived and saw it clearly isn't they decided to pull pin.

Boarder_boy (Westmeath) - Posts: 3 - 05/01/2026 11:19:48    2649849

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Replying To jobber:  "I see the board put out a notice that Kilkenny refused to play while we played an inhouse challenge and trained on the 3G.Lyng trying to deflect the criticism wanted to play on Lomans grass pitch which wasn't ready.
Kilkenny were informed as were Leinster that the back up pitch was the 3G.They had no concerns on Saturday so what happened on Sunday. I was there the pitch was not frozen Lyng is not correct.Westmeath management would not have trained or played on it if they had concerns.
Leinster is in charge of the competition and it is their responsibility to compensate Westmeath for all the effort and cost attached to this."
True but I'm fairness maybe he was told other club wouldn't use on best days can cause injuries can see both sides here.

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1138 - 05/01/2026 12:30:08    2649862

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "What more could Westmeath have done?"
Think at this time of year you need to pick a venue with an open enough pitch which has sunshine from first thing in the morning. Rathdowneys pitch was pretty good when we played Laois there yesterday, think it had sunshine most of the day up until that point. There was bad frost/ice in sheltered areas around the ground though .

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17916 - 05/01/2026 12:50:55    2649868

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That 3g pitch is not fit for purpose

coffey (Westmeath) - Posts: 35 - 05/01/2026 13:17:33    2649874

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Media circus over an absolutely nothing game. According to KK they took advice from their medical team not to play on that surface. Badly handled by them as they were aware the alternative venue was a 3G surface but in fairness, that surface needs upgrading. Westmeath statement quite strong and unnecessary IMO.

dakid (Australia) - Posts: 338 - 05/01/2026 16:40:29    2649924

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Replying To dakid:  "Media circus over an absolutely nothing game. According to KK they took advice from their medical team not to play on that surface. Badly handled by them as they were aware the alternative venue was a 3G surface but in fairness, that surface needs upgrading. Westmeath statement quite strong and unnecessary IMO."
What was unnecessary about it.Lyng couldn't wait to get to the media to justify his refusal to play a game on a venue he knew about for 2 days.I was there, there was no frost on the pitch.He tried to bring the referee into it and it will be interesting to see what's in the official report. The 3 G pitch is far from perfect but it's far better than most grass pitches at this time of year.Weatmeath went to a lot of bother to get the game played and our players played an internal match after and our panel is a lot smaller than the single code county

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1861 - 05/01/2026 19:26:49    2649961

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