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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Hard to know what reaction to have to that under 20 match, trailed 0-10 to 0-0, never looked like winning it but missed three more than decent goal opportunities, had four different free takers, at least 7-8 wides and five or six more shots dropped short, indiscipline in second half cost us too. Meath a bigger side but we definitely could have scored 2-17 while they never created a goal chance. Our kicking for points was markedly inferior as even a Meath wide was kicked with force and conviction, ours in first half lacked confidence. Shane Ormsby, Shane Corcoran and Jack Duncan in second half, Ronan Murray and Sean Dillon our most prominent tonight. Tough task to travel to Parnell Park next Wednesday needing to beat Dubs to qualify. Credit to Kinnegad club tonight, outstanding stewarding, car park organisation, facilities, pitch was immaculate, lots of club members in club jackets to assist. They certainly showed their club in the best possible light."
I have to echo what you said there on Kinnegad, they have fantastic facilities and always great hospitality. Also a bonus when you meet the legend himself Larry Giles, a pure gentleman and always makes time for a chat

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 284 - 03/04/2025 17:55:27    2600411

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Replying To iarmhiabu:  "The U20's will do well again in the B competition against teams of a similar standard. Meath were virtually home and hosed with two thirds of the game still to play. Our half back line was virtually non existent and allowed the Meath forwards time and space like it was a shooting practice. We're light years behind Meath at underage level. In the last 2 years at U20 they've whipped us by an easy 7 points. In the last two 2 years at U17 they've beaten us by 7 and 12 points."
Being more accurate. The Minors in 2023 lost to meath by kicks of a ball in 2 goals 2.10 to 0.10 in Kinnegad.
In 2024 lost by 7 points 2.11 to 1.7. Missed 4 absolute sitter goal opportunities and to be fair were very competitive in both games and not far off it.

Tboy (Westmeath) - Posts: 1 - 03/04/2025 21:40:14    2600436

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Interesting to see junior 1 section A only has second teams what does this say about the sole junior clubs of the county?

Midlandsman (Westmeath) - Posts: 39 - 03/04/2025 22:22:13    2600442

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Replying To OverTheHill85:  "I see there are league games this evening at 7pm. How is that a good idea for teams with players who work. And clubs with no lights."
Lights not needed for matches starting at 7.00, it was playable in Milltown tonight until 8.30, fantastic match too, Tubberclair moving really well, forwards were making great runs, hard team to stop scoring. Milltown looked decent too.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2093 - 03/04/2025 23:59:47    2600454

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Lights not needed for matches starting at 7.00, it was playable in Milltown tonight until 8.30, fantastic match too, Tubberclair moving really well, forwards were making great runs, hard team to stop scoring. Milltown looked decent too."
It must have been tight enough for light all the same, had it been a dark wet evening it could have been different. I'd imagine lads coming from Dublin and Galway would have had to finish work early. Just seemed an odd time for a game of a Thursday. League tables starting to take shape after this weekends games.

OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 48 - 04/04/2025 08:34:04    2600466

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Replying To Midlandsman:  "Interesting to see junior 1 section A only has second teams what does this say about the sole junior clubs of the county?"
It's the same format as the last few years since Junior 2 was introduced. Junior 1 has had two groups, one for second teams and one for sole Junior clubs. The main thing this format says about sole Junior clubs is that they are as (or less it could be argued) important to Westmeath GAA as a senior or intermediate second team. Funny though that when it comes to buying tickets for a house in Spain the Junior clubs are treated the same

Darragh (Westmeath) - Posts: 314 - 04/04/2025 09:25:31    2600472

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Replying To Midlandsman:  "Interesting to see junior 1 section A only has second teams what does this say about the sole junior clubs of the county?"
This isn't a new thing. When they restructured the competition they intended to separate second teams and sole junior clubs. It's still very difficult for a second side to win a junior championship although Lomans have been close the last few years. Ballynacargy should really be winning the junior this year

Bluelake (Westmeath) - Posts: 233 - 04/04/2025 09:33:15    2600474

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Replying To Bluelake:  "This isn't a new thing. When they restructured the competition they intended to separate second teams and sole junior clubs. It's still very difficult for a second side to win a junior championship although Lomans have been close the last few years. Ballynacargy should really be winning the junior this year"
It's a very difficult to win for all clubs involved. The structure of the championships as it stands is very tough on the smallest clubs and has seen Ballinagore, Loughnavalley, St Paul's and Delvin drop to Junior 2 with only Ballinagore getting back up. Last years Junior 2 championship was a farce with teams pulling out and shows how important it is to Westmeath GAA. The second teams are treated very well in Westmeath, it's just a shame that the 30th best player in a big club is treated the exact same as the best player from a small club. Looking at Go Games and underage numbers and you would have to fear for a lot of small clubs

Darragh (Westmeath) - Posts: 314 - 04/04/2025 10:26:19    2600484

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So the county board organises a junior b competition at the start of the year and 7-8 clubs decide to enter, then after first round of matches two of the clubs announce that they're no longer participating and this shows the county board in a bad light? How exactly? What were they supposed to do? There were countless discussions involving the remaining clubs as to how to best remedy the situation. It was a challenge to do so but surely your dissatisfaction should be aimed at the two clubs who downed tools after the competition began? I'd say no county board in any county is perfect but blaming ours for matters totally outside their control is a bit much.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2093 - 04/04/2025 13:50:01    2600540

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Replying To Darragh:  "It's a very difficult to win for all clubs involved. The structure of the championships as it stands is very tough on the smallest clubs and has seen Ballinagore, Loughnavalley, St Paul's and Delvin drop to Junior 2 with only Ballinagore getting back up. Last years Junior 2 championship was a farce with teams pulling out and shows how important it is to Westmeath GAA. The second teams are treated very well in Westmeath, it's just a shame that the 30th best player in a big club is treated the exact same as the best player from a small club. Looking at Go Games and underage numbers and you would have to fear for a lot of small clubs"
I know it's difficult for every team, I'm just saying that 9 times out of 10 a junior team will win that it's the be all and end all. For other clubs you want to win it but at the end of the day it's a bonus. I can see the argument but how are you ever going to progress football at that level if you don't bring in second teams to lift the standard. The junior 2 championship was a disaster but I'd be more inclined to blame the two clubs that pulled out- think it was the downs and Killucan from memory but I might be wrong correct me if I am

Bluelake (Westmeath) - Posts: 233 - 04/04/2025 14:46:07    2600549

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