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Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Monaghan Exile: "WM people have to be proud of what their team achieved, & also brilliant supporters. Ye just ran outta steam in the last Qtr. But, onwards & upwards for ye, & a memorable Leinster title in the " back pocket"!" And the very best wishes to you v Louth and hopefully beyond.
A wonderful atmosphere in Clones one of the best grounds in Ireland.
These players have have given Westmeath a wonderful year and I hope they start the hurling on July 18 and the football a week later which would give these lads a well deserved break and still give the 90% plus club players as someone said all of August,September and October to play in decent conditions.
jobber (National) - 23/06/2026 13:26:53
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David Clifford The Goat - 3 Like(s)
Replying To hlynch12: "The greatest of all time ?another POTY on the way? You expect him to score 3-6 at least Saturday." not even the best forward to come out of Kerry........yet
tirawleybaron (National) - 23/06/2026 15:10:16
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Kerry GAA Thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To hlynch12: "Kerry back as All Ireland favourites at 5/2. Have put 1200 on them to win it out. Investing all my winning from Arsenal winning Premier League.." How much have you lost on other bets in the meantime?
Viking66 (National) - 23/06/2026 21:15:32
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Donegal GAA thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To peiledoir20: "Both huge loses and both turned Ulster finals in our favour in recent years coming off the bench." Both then played little to no part in the all Ireland series then. McGuinness continues to only trust 17/18 players and it's costing us.
Beolive92 (National) - 23/06/2026 16:04:20
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David Clifford The Goat - 2 Like(s)
Impossible to say again bur yes IMO he is the best in his era.
David was asked after last years All Ireland and i think It was Damien Lawlor asked how do you feel when you hear people say you re the greatest.David s reply was brilliant.He said something like "I dont take much notice as I think people are coming out with those comments and not coming from the right place.They are trying to build you up so they can knock you down"
I kind of agree and posters who start a thread like this would probably love David to be knocked down.
CiarraiMick (National) - 23/06/2026 17:47:25
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Kerry 2022-Current Team Better Than 04-09 Team? - 2 Like(s)
Its impossible to judge teams in different eras because of opposition and many factors.Maybe the Kerry team in the 00s played weaker teams or maybe rhey played stronger teams.
There have been super teams always like Galway and Down in the 60s and Kerry and Dublin 70s 80s Tyrone Galway Kerry late 90d and 00s and the Dubs 6 in a row team.
However would the Dubs team in theie pomp beat a Tyrone team.in their pomp.
Would The Kerru team under Micko have beaten Galway 60s team.
We will never know .All a team can be is the bezt in theie era! One cant say with certainty that one team is better than a team from another era.
CiarraiMick (National) - 23/06/2026 17:12:50
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Kerry 2022-Current Team Better Than 04-09 Team? - 2 Like(s)
I thought Kerrys best and most underated player of that era was Declan O Sullivan. That man was constantly in the trenches for Kerry and a man for all seasons. He could defend, carry the ball, hold it up to wait for backup, score and was a brilliant support player. Its difficult to compare players then to now as so much has changed for e.g. the Gooch would not feature on a Kerry team from about 2017 when he retired until the rules changed last year as blanket defenses would have choked him but he would blossom in the new rules now. There was a Tom o Sullivan back then and theres another now also, both very reliable but the one today is an absolute lynchpin for Kerry and his performances for Dingles AI campaign were as good as Ive ever seen. There seemed to be more individual characters back then on every team who took on the game because of the way it was back then where it was less of a system. When David Moran retired a gaping hole was left at midfield for a few years and I felt that really cost Kerry and he was a trojan for Kerry. The new rules have allowed good footballers to blossom and Kerry are miles ahead on that front but nobody can begrudge good football. There are many characters now on the current team who take the game by the scruff of the neck Gavin White, Tom O Sullivan, Paudie, O Connor if they keep themselves injury free a 3 in a row is very possible. I forgot to mention D Clifford as nobody is close to thus man in terms of what he can do.
Dothesimplethingswell (National) - 23/06/2026 23:40:59
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
was having a discussion with a friend about the best westmeath team from 2001/2004/2006/2022/2026 squads
My team would be
1. Gary Connaughton
2. John Keane
3. Kevin Maguire
4.Fergal Murray
5. Ronan Wallace
6.Damian Healy
7. Matthew Whittaker
8. Rory O'Connell
9. Ray Connellan
10.Paul Conway
11. Martin Flanagan
12.John Heslin
13.Ger Heavin
14.Luke Loughlin
15.Dessie Dolan
Dessie15 (National) - 23/06/2026 15:35:48
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Hurling Championship 2026 - 1 Like(s)
Replying To tirawleybaron: "I hate comparing Football and Hurling.
One is the top sport in the country - the other is of interest to 50% of the country (I'm being generous here).
Taking pot shots at football wont save the hurling championship nor make the sports more appealing to half the country.
League of Ireland has now overtaken Hurling in attendances and rugby is closing fast.
Hurling badly needs another period like the 1990's.
Football was in decline 2 years ago and they fixed it. 90% of games are not close, competitive and good to watch.
If you switched channels between the football, world cup and hurling at the weekend - you would go back to the football pretty quick." Its as if you think we dont read what you post on other threads!
Football people dont care about hurling. They have a saying here in Roscommon " that they would start a bonfire and burn every Hurl in the parish". Ive been on holiday in football country and they wouldnt have the hurling on the TV in bars and restaurants. Come to think of it you had to ask them to put it on in Dublin when I lived there in the naughties. We are used to it and are probably stronger for it.
League of Ireland has taken over from Hurling. By what measurement? Please do tell. The Munster Championship averaged over 27k again this season so it cant be that. Division 1 of the NHL was well up on LOI attendance figures too.
TV viewing numbers? Id doubt it. The hurling championship hold up well against football, soccer and rugby so it cant be that either so what metric are you using?
Unlike football two years ago, the game of hurling doesnt need root and branch re writing or the rules. Football was in dire straits as a spectacle. The coaches had effectively killed the game. Hurling is nowhere near there. The problem we are facing is similar to the one football had when Dublin did their 6 in a row or whatever it was. The top teams are all in the one province atm and that creates the illusion that something needs to be fixed. You pick any sporting competition out there and this happens. Man City in PL, RM and Barca, Bayern, PSG, Leinster etc etc. Its how team sports work unfortunately. Its the same in Gaa. Kerry and Dublin in football, Tipp, KK and Cork in hurling. The club game the same. Ballina and Castlebar in GF, Tooreen in hurling.
Tipp and KK will come back. Cork are already there One of Galway,, Clare, waterford and limerick will rise up when its their time to challenge and they will win what they are good enough to win during that time. Limerick are up there now but its not our first coming in my lifetime. We came in the 80s and won 2 munstrs and 2 leagues. We did the same in the 90s. We won 3 u21s in the naughties but didnt push on. Thecpoint is that not everything is a crisis. In Sports teams rise and fall all the time and the game continues and evolves.
Tadhg2020 (National) - 23/06/2026 18:21:02
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Kerry GAA Thread - 1 Like(s)
Shane Ryan and Sean Shea starting Sunday. Michael Byrnes back on bench. Tom Sullivan back. for semi final. Tom Leo and Liam Smith left panel. Smith go to states for summer.
hlynch12 (National) - 23/06/2026 19:55:50
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Hurling Championship 2026 - 1 Like(s)
The one sided games in hurling seem to only matter based on who lost. Cork have lost by 16, 16 and 18 points across 5 seasons in this championship decade. If that was any other team there would be talk of dropping down to the Joe McDonagh cup to compete.
When we won the all Ireland in 2018, Clare beat us by 11 points in the last Munster round robin game. We lost to Tipperary in 2009 by 24 and while we made strides between then and 2012, we still lost to Kilkenny by 9 that year.
For teams like Offaly, a few years of this type of defeat is what will help them peogress. I would like to see the 6 McDonagh cup teams in the MacCarthy cup. One sided ganes should not necessarily mean alarm bells. Cork didn't and don't shy away from heavy defeats. They lost to us by 16 in the 2025 round robin then beat us in the Munster Final.
More of that willingness to bounce back and make the effort to compete, will help hurling. Creating extra divisions just to give teams games with a narrow margin of victory hasn't helped because of the yo yo effect between Leinster and the Joe McDonagh.
Novice (National) - 23/06/2026 21:13:01
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Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Dessie15: "was having a discussion with a friend about the best westmeath team from 2001/2004/2006/2022/2026 squads
My team would be
1. Gary Connaughton
2. John Keane
3. Kevin Maguire
4.Fergal Murray
5. Ronan Wallace
6.Damian Healy
7. Matthew Whittaker
8. Rory O'Connell
9. Ray Connellan
10.Paul Conway
11. Martin Flanagan
12.John Heslin
13.Ger Heavin
14.Luke Loughlin
15.Dessie Dolan" Michael Ennis has to be in that team.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 23/06/2026 17:28:40
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Football Championship 2026 - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Saynothing: "Ah sure Tyrone shouldn't turn up then. Tyrone on their day don't fear anyone, they haven't played well yet, emphasis on Yet." Played well yet?
How many times over the past 5 years have they played well?
Look, I really hope I'm proved wrong but I just can't see anything in Tyrone's recent displays to give any confidence in turning over this Kerry team.
The best we can hope for is that Kerry are still tired and we keep it fairly respectable but I doubt we will be within single figures by the end of the 70 mins.
Wally (National) - 23/06/2026 22:47:28
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Hurling Championship 2026 - 1 Like(s)
Gaelic football was ruined by negative tactics with the result that new rules have been introduced - some good some bad.
Hurling has evolved into a possession game where the use of the paw predominates instead of the clash of the ash.
Hurling was my first love but today's game does not have the same appeal that it had in the past.
Too much handpassing - much of it illegal.
Little or no ground hurling never mind overhead striking.
Muscular gym bunnies running riot.
Pinging balls over the bar from half-back line (sliotar too light).
I would expect Limerick Tadgh to weigh in here so I'll poke the bear - money no object in some counties.
saorkick (National) - 23/06/2026 23:42:04
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Kerry GAA Thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Viking66: "How much have you lost on other bets in the meantime?" Kerry for Sam
Down for Tailean
Limerick to hammer Clare
Cork to beat Galway
hlynch12 (National) - 24/06/2026 00:24:27
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Longford GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To fixlongfordgaa: "The Division 2 Fixtures Farce:
Where is the integrity in this competition?
The GAA has a lot of crazy competition structures, but Division 2 this year takes the biscuit. Not all teams play each other because the two Killoe teams have to be separated into different groups in Phase 1 and Phase 2. So some teams have had a much harder schedule than others. The whole league has been designed around Killoe White and Green not playing each other. But ironically, despite all the manipulation to protect them, it looks like both Killoe teams are heading for the relegation playoffs anyway. How is this going to work?
I assume the county board has some plan for this but you won't find it in the 25 page 2026 regulations document on their website, god forbid publishing the rules governing a competition, what if you'd have to change the structure of the competition halfway through and face… accountability.
County Players:
The situation with county players is an absolute joke. They are completely unavailable for certain games, leaving clubs missing up to 6 or 7 key players at a time. So not only are clubs playing entirely different schedules, but some teams are being forced to play at a massive disadvantage against clubs who are at full strength.
To top it off, the rules clearly don't apply equally across the board. When county players were asked not to play by the county manager in the 5th round of Phase 1 for the benefit of the county team, 4 Dromard players completely broke ranks and togged out anyway. That game could end up deciding the outcome of the whole competition. Where is the fairness in that?
Lack of games:
Then you have the complete lack of games for club players while everyone sits around waiting on the county setup. Ironically, the better Longford do in the championship, the worse things become for lads on the ground because Phase 2 of Division 2 just gets delayed further and further. Players not named to play reserve football, who started training back in January played a grand total of five first team games in five months. How is anyone supposed to keep a squad motivated or fit on one game a month?
Fixtures chaos:
On top of that, we have a calendar where all fixtures are constantly changed at short notice based entirely on Killoe's schedule. Just because Killoe has three teams playing on the one weekend, every other club has their games shifted on a whim. A player could make plans based on a set of dates in the master fixture list on the Longford Gaa Website and the County Board and the CCCC can change them at a moment's notice. This didn't only happen with Killoe but with other clubs who can influence the county board. How is a player supposed to manage family, work, or other commitments with that going on?
The split season was supposed to fix the fixtures and provide certainty for club players, but things have actually gotten worse in Longford. It is no wonder the standard of club football is so bad in Longford. The current system is completely unsustainable and any club player in Division 2 with any sense would be asking if it's worth bothering to tog out next year." Great post!!!
Once again the Longford county board seem to out do themselves each year with crazy decisions.
I have no issue what so ever with Killoe having 2 teams in Div 2, great to see a club with so many players playing at a decent level, but just run the league off as normal and make them play against each other!! But once again the whole situation has now turned into a joke with some teams not playing some teams.. how is that even possible?? Well the CB have turned Longford football into a laughing stock.
Even to mention the words Div 2 phase 1, Div 2 phase 2!!!!!!! This is complete madness.
Garmin (National) - 24/06/2026 09:43:41
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Football Format Changes Discussion - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Seanfan: "I believe Jeopardy Jarlath mentioned Round 3 having neutral venues next year.
It should as it's an Eliminator Round and same goes for Round 2B.
Put fairness before €.
Meath must be setting up a new record for distances travelled after 3 away games!" Westmeath played 7 championship games this year. Only 1 from 7 was in Mullingar. That's the only gripe I have about championship. That reflects more on the Leinster championship and teams not having home/away agreements like the other provinces.
Chops (National) - 24/06/2026 10:37:18
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Louth GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Tickets were gone in no time today I could only get the hill sure it's as good as anywhere else to hopefully witness our boys passage into the last 4 bring it on.
francie81 (National) - 23/06/2026 18:10:07
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Longford GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
The Division 2 Fixtures Farce:
Where is the integrity in this competition?
The GAA has a lot of crazy competition structures, but Division 2 this year takes the biscuit. Not all teams play each other because the two Killoe teams have to be separated into different groups in Phase 1 and Phase 2. So some teams have had a much harder schedule than others. The whole league has been designed around Killoe White and Green not playing each other. But ironically, despite all the manipulation to protect them, it looks like both Killoe teams are heading for the relegation playoffs anyway. How is this going to work?
I assume the county board has some plan for this but you won't find it in the 25 page 2026 regulations document on their website, god forbid publishing the rules governing a competition, what if you'd have to change the structure of the competition halfway through and face… accountability.
County Players:
The situation with county players is an absolute joke. They are completely unavailable for certain games, leaving clubs missing up to 6 or 7 key players at a time. So not only are clubs playing entirely different schedules, but some teams are being forced to play at a massive disadvantage against clubs who are at full strength.
To top it off, the rules clearly don't apply equally across the board. When county players were asked not to play by the county manager in the 5th round of Phase 1 for the benefit of the county team, 4 Dromard players completely broke ranks and togged out anyway. That game could end up deciding the outcome of the whole competition. Where is the fairness in that?
Lack of games:
Then you have the complete lack of games for club players while everyone sits around waiting on the county setup. Ironically, the better Longford do in the championship, the worse things become for lads on the ground because Phase 2 of Division 2 just gets delayed further and further. Players not named to play reserve football, who started training back in January played a grand total of five first team games in five months. How is anyone supposed to keep a squad motivated or fit on one game a month?
Fixtures chaos:
On top of that, we have a calendar where all fixtures are constantly changed at short notice based entirely on Killoe's schedule. Just because Killoe has three teams playing on the one weekend, every other club has their games shifted on a whim. A player could make plans based on a set of dates in the master fixture list on the Longford Gaa Website and the County Board and the CCCC can change them at a moment's notice. This didn't only happen with Killoe but with other clubs who can influence the county board. How is a player supposed to manage family, work, or other commitments with that going on?
The split season was supposed to fix the fixtures and provide certainty for club players, but things have actually gotten worse in Longford. It is no wonder the standard of club football is so bad in Longford. The current system is completely unsustainable and any club player in Division 2 with any sense would be asking if it's worth bothering to tog out next year.
fixlongfordgaa (National) - 23/06/2026 18:01:43
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Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Dessie15: "was having a discussion with a friend about the best westmeath team from 2001/2004/2006/2022/2026 squads
My team would be
1. Gary Connaughton
2. John Keane
3. Kevin Maguire
4.Fergal Murray
5. Ronan Wallace
6.Damian Healy
7. Matthew Whittaker
8. Rory O'Connell
9. Ray Connellan
10.Paul Conway
11. Martin Flanagan
12.John Heslin
13.Ger Heavin
14.Luke Loughlin
15.Dessie Dolan" Michael Ennis deserves a mention at corner back surely ?
ExiledCuCu (National) - 23/06/2026 16:56:02
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