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Westmeath Football thread

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I have said it before & ill say it again. Sign up McHugh for the next 5 years. With the talent we have coming through we have to be aiming for at least 2 Leinster titles in the next 5-6 years. Well done to all involved today. Left Full (Westmeath) - Posts: 281 - 03/05/2026 23:15:11 2670777 Link
Only worrying thing was our game management , why did we shoot that at the end and give them the ball again. Please rectify that area. That aside what a performance from everybody to get us here. How many players has Mark used in league and championship? Every player must feel they have a chance of playing and ready to do a job. Best of the bunch for me was Sam, Allen and the full back line. Our fitness, intensity and turnover rate was phenomenal. Such great to see support like that. Let's get everyone to the final now and what a win it could be over the Leisnter kingpins. We got some huge scores at crucial points, Allen's score was such a good one. Gaawestmeath (Westmeath) - Posts: 133 - 03/05/2026 23:47:31 2670782 Link
great credit to mchugh and his team getting the best out of the lads probably the better team today kildare kicked some awful wides but we showed serious grit too despite at times trying to throw it away serious performances all over the park and fantastic scenes at the end i think the support was there today roll on 3 more games minimum d7h (Westmeath) - Posts: 34 - 04/05/2026 02:33:19 2670785 Link
Looking forward to welcoming home Dermot, this week just gets better and better. We have missed you man. Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 173 - 04/05/2026 13:42:39 2670848 Link
Well done to each and every player and backroom staff. To back up the Meath performance with such another tenacious and hardened display was phenomenal. Danny Scahill and Charlie Drumm were brilliant again. The amount of in the face tackling and on the edge defending hasn't been seen like that for years in Westmeath. McHugh has finally brought his brand of football to life with thus team. Great credit to Sam McCartan Brandon Kelly Ray Connellan and Brian Cooney for all stepping up in the absence of Luke Loughlin. Great leadership. Every man played for the man beside him. Pride has been well and truly restored in the county. 3 more games guaranteed and some more hair raising heart stopping moments to come. Looking forward to the coming weeks with underage improving and seniors on the crest of a wave. Hopefully Whittaker and Sam McCartan can get themselves right for the tests ahead. Chops (Westmeath) - Posts: 882 - 04/05/2026 17:44:43 2670949 Link
No one ever died of exhaustion'. Love this quote from Mark McHugh after the game yesterday. It perfectly sums up the mindset, belief and culture instilled by him. He has those boys playing the football of their lives, with an insatiable appetite to work for each other. There are fellas who have very little Championship cut in them but they are playing as if they have been around the block. It is a phenomenal achievement to get to a Leinster final considering the position we were in after a huge turnover of players. McHugh should be given a new contract already, timing is everything for the County Board. Momentum like this doesn't last long, so they need to act now and actually turn the feel good factor into real money and long term impact. iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 338 - 04/05/2026 18:37:30 2670962 Link
just a reflection on yesterday in o connor park . first and foremost its a fantastic venue . the fact its only 25 minutes from my home makes it even better , great westmeath support which was great to see. a heroic performance from every player who took part in the game . jason daly proved his worth in goals . danny scahill and charlie drumm ver efficent and charlies point was a bonus . listed at number 4 tadgh baker was very busy during the whole game . our captain had his usual steady game while shane allens point was crucial . the heroic mattie whittker was clearly struggling but to return back onto the field shows the sheer commitment of the tubberclair youngster. ray connellan had a towering day while breen cooneys goal was a thing of beauty brandon kelly was a deserved recipient of man of the m atch while all the other players made meaningful contributions . in my humble opinion sam mcartin is the hearbeat of the team . these lads deserve a day out in croke park in 2 weeks . good luck to them and their management mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1975 - 04/05/2026 21:12:51 2670994 Link
Great performance from westmeath they stuck at it when times where looking bad after the wexford results ."a shout to Brandon kelly who has stepped up to a very good county player after some lads on this forum taught he wasn't up to county standard fair play to him delighted for him Mooo (Westmeath) - Posts: 95 - 04/05/2026 22:44:26 2671010 Link
Replying To mickcunningham: "just a reflection on yesterday in o connor park . first and foremost its a fantastic venue . the fact its only 25 minutes from my home makes it even better , great westmeath support which was great to see. a heroic performance from every player who took part in the game . jason daly proved his worth in goals . danny scahill and charlie drumm ver efficent and charlies point was a bonus . listed at number 4 tadgh baker was very busy during the whole game . our captain had his usual steady game while shane allens point was crucial . the heroic mattie whittker was clearly struggling but to return back onto the field shows the sheer commitment of the tubberclair youngster. ray connellan had a towering day while breen cooneys goal was a thing of beauty brandon kelly was a deserved recipient of man of the m atch while all the other players made meaningful contributions . in my humble opinion sam mcartin is the hearbeat of the team . these lads deserve a day out in croke park in 2 weeks . good luck to them and their management" Agreed Tullamore is a credit to Offaly County board. We are miles behind rest of Leinster with Cusack Park. Very outdated. The seating position in Tullamore is brilliant even if a tall person is sitting in front of you they are well below being in your line of sight. A miracle happened in Tullamore also, the game wasn't delayed by 10 minutes due to traffic like it usually is. Chops (Westmeath) - Posts: 882 - 05/05/2026 16:41:06 2671166 Link
The minors were unfortunately beaten by a better team last night, the strength and conditioning was evident with the power running all over the pitch from kikdare. Is the dual player working in westmeath. Its ongoing now for a few years without any success at either sport. My own view is that both teams, hurling/football are losing out on progression due to dual players. Upforthegame23 (Westmeath) - Posts: 180 - 06/05/2026 07:08:06 2671225 Link
With the condensed season going against us like many teams, we have about 6/7 potential starting players now injured? We are now in bonus territory with at least 3 more games and over another month of football which is great. The squad with those injuries has become very light. I wonder is it time to call in lads playing well in the league or former players who have done it before to freshen things up, there are plenty of good footballers scattered through the clubs who could help in the squad. If i was McHugh i would be making some calls, even for training it is needed. You can't lose Johnny Lynam, Sam Smyth, Guerin, Luke, CMcC, and Boidu and not replenish the squad. Lakeman93 (Westmeath) - Posts: 9 - 06/05/2026 10:59:38 2671244 Link
Replying To Lakeman93: "With the condensed season going against us like many teams, we have about 6/7 potential starting players now injured? We are now in bonus territory with at least 3 more games and over another month of football which is great. The squad with those injuries has become very light. I wonder is it time to call in lads playing well in the league or former players who have done it before to freshen things up, there are plenty of good footballers scattered through the clubs who could help in the squad. If i was McHugh i would be making some calls, even for training it is needed. You can't lose Johnny Lynam, Sam Smyth, Guerin, Luke, CMcC, and Boidu and not replenish the squad." Heslin back training with them since last week martyW (Westmeath) - Posts: 345 - 06/05/2026 11:27:27 2671251 Link
There is extra lads at training Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1078 - 06/05/2026 12:00:52 2671260 Link
Replying To Upforthegame23: "The minors were unfortunately beaten by a better team last night, the strength and conditioning was evident with the power running all over the pitch from kikdare. Is the dual player working in westmeath. Its ongoing now for a few years without any success at either sport. My own view is that both teams, hurling/football are losing out on progression due to dual players." It's a numbers game. Kildare have triple the pick Westmeath have, so will automatically lean towards the guys who are already more physically developed. The Kildare senior team have the pick of 4 Leinster winning minor teams, and 3 Leinster winning u20/21 teams. Yet most of their players struggled kicking the ball over the bar from 35 metres on Sunday. If the setup is good , and lads are being coached well , we will bring players through. That's not a given of course ; but from what I hear , this minor setup has been good. And they clearly have some talented players who have the potential to develop further. jamsie (Westmeath) - Posts: 516 - 06/05/2026 12:06:37 2671263 Link
Replying To Lakeman93: "With the condensed season going against us like many teams, we have about 6/7 potential starting players now injured? We are now in bonus territory with at least 3 more games and over another month of football which is great. The squad with those injuries has become very light. I wonder is it time to call in lads playing well in the league or former players who have done it before to freshen things up, there are plenty of good footballers scattered through the clubs who could help in the squad. If i was McHugh i would be making some calls, even for training it is needed. You can't lose Johnny Lynam, Sam Smyth, Guerin, Luke, CMcC, and Boidu and not replenish the squad." Some u20's have been training with them to make up the numbers. Obviously O'Toole and Duncan are not options with being in Oz. I'd do everything to try to get Heslin in the squad but that's probably not realistic unfortunately. He would be some asset even just for 20 minutes of the bench. Matthew (None) - Posts: 1121 - 06/05/2026 12:12:15 2671264 Link
Replying To Lakeman93: "With the condensed season going against us like many teams, we have about 6/7 potential starting players now injured? We are now in bonus territory with at least 3 more games and over another month of football which is great. The squad with those injuries has become very light. I wonder is it time to call in lads playing well in the league or former players who have done it before to freshen things up, there are plenty of good footballers scattered through the clubs who could help in the squad. If i was McHugh i would be making some calls, even for training it is needed. You can't lose Johnny Lynam, Sam Smyth, Guerin, Luke, CMcC, and Boidu and not replenish the squad." I heard he rang one player before the Kildare game. The player has been flying for his club even scoring 1-12 in division 1 league game 2 weeks ago. The player declined the invite into the panel Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 644 - 06/05/2026 12:14:10 2671265 Link
Replying To Temple56: "I heard he rang one player before the Kildare game. The player has been flying for his club even scoring 1-12 in division 1 league game 2 weeks ago. The player declined the invite into the panel" Who is this? I'm not sure how any player wouldn't want to be involved with the final and with Cavan in the all Ireland series. I've been to nearly every game in the last 15 years and this is the best supported and momentum building I've seen Westmeath football! Westmeath25 (Westmeath) - Posts: 16 - 06/05/2026 13:56:04 2671296 Link
Replying To Westmeath25: "Who is this? I'm not sure how any player wouldn't want to be involved with the final and with Cavan in the all Ireland series. I've been to nearly every game in the last 15 years and this is the best supported and momentum building I've seen Westmeath football!" Agree, you are talking a month or month and a half commitment, where we might see a chance like this for another number of years. Should do all we can to bolster the squad. Lakeman93 (Westmeath) - Posts: 9 - 06/05/2026 14:07:54 2671300 Link
Heslin in TUS last night with squad very exciting seeing him kick around with team. Very brave by mchugh but with Luke gone correct call. ear2ground (Westmeath) - Posts: 124 - 06/05/2026 15:01:46 2671316 Link
Replying To martyW: "Heslin back training with them since last week" Any truth to this? Be some boost if it's true crispsandwich99 (Westmeath) - Posts: 11 - 06/05/2026 15:09:00 2671318 Link