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Westmeath Football thread - 5 Like(s)
Absolute shambles.
After a vote this evening, where the county board delegate held the majority our championship format has been changed. I genuinely can't believe it.
Under the new structure, the 9th-ranked team overall will qualify for the quarter-finals by coming through a group while the 4th-ranked team in the championship will be knocked out. You could easily see a situation where Lomans finish 4th in Group A after facing top sides like The Downs, Shamrocks, Kinnegad and Garrycastle, while Kilcucan finish 3rd in Group B after playing teams like Moate, Tang, Athlone and Tubberclair.
How is that fair?
Not a single player I've spoken to wants this change. Can someone explain why this was pushed through and what the reasoning is? It's a real kick in the teeth for players and clubs.
If you believe I'm wrong please let me know and your reasons to why change was needed ????
I'm just fed up! County board finally had something right and then decided actually no we should change it as it's running too well.
Temple56 (National) - 12/02/2026 22:42:56
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Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To nadunta2025: "I think my point still very valid after the weekends game, how we have been so bad at minor grade the last few years and the schools getting it right. I know the Marist have maybe 4-5 lads from Roscommon but still combine these schools teams with Rochfortbridge, Moate,Kilbeggab and then theres probably 1-2 lads going to school in Other schools like Ballymahon or Edenderry perhaps, How have we only won a handful of games at minor in the last 5 years is beyond belief.
Marist have Mchugh a great Talent as long as he stays fit, Whittaker which i seen last year although wasnt as close to goal foe the marist will be a county player, a few another 5-6 county Minors, where Mullingar were probably stacked all over maybe 1 forward shy of the full package. Midfield are giants and the way kickouts have gone suits them but they can also play football. Maloney, Masterson, sheerin, Weir,Mcwade, Higgins are all solid performers and then Scahill has the brilliance.
County Board need to be held accountable!!!" There are many people who would argue that a thriving, well coached and competitive schools scene is far more important than anything that is happening on the county development side which has been in a state of malfunction for years with inadequate infrastructure (County managers having to beg Clubs for use of pitches). It's an absolute disgrace that a Centre of Excellence has not been built by now, generations of players failed by the County Board.
iarmhiabu (National) - 13/02/2026 08:36:30
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Westmeath Hurling thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To westmeathgaa11: "I think the likes of Dan Higgins, Michael & Eoin Daly, Jack Gallagher, Jack Murphy, Darragh Qamar, Eoghan Ahearn would have made far greater impacts on the panel than some of those included. 3-4 hurlers on the 26 panel wouldn't start for the top 3 clubs in the county which is a sad indictment of our county panel" I dont know if all of those players were asked in but from what i heard heard most were. What are management supposed to do.
Inter county hurling is hugely demanding on players and its not for everyone so let us support the lads who have committed.
jobber (National) - 12/02/2026 16:52:41
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Donegal GAA thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To S1234: "Lol are you the expert are ya? . We came up against the best team ever Dubs 6 in a row. Where the only ones whoever came close to them . Would hardly call that blowing chances. Yes we for sure blew one or two no doubt about it . But to say we will never wim sam is just a load of rubbish from an outsider and from a rival county . A draw wouldn't surprise you hilarious your ahead of us but we have had your number last few in years in league anyways. Another ridiculous post from you." I don't normally reply to trolls but I'll make an exception because you made me laugh with this reply, it reminds me of a discussion I heard on 'off the ball' one time, could have been David Brady that was on not sure but anyway they maintained that if the Dublin 6 in a row team where the best team of all time then Mayo were the second best!
you'd just have to laugh at their logic,
of course Donegal actually beat that great Dublin team in 2014, otherwise it possibly could have been 8 in a row but you don't hear us saying we were the second best team of all time lol.
Poor Mayo, I really do feel sorry for them, at least most of the team from that era got a national league winners medal and a good few Connacht medals having beaten the likes of Leitrim, Sligo, London and New York along the way, 2nd best team of all time indeed.
Tirchonaill1 (National) - 12/02/2026 22:16:29
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To anon: "I see the county board have come back with another proposal since the previous ones gained no traction.
They now want to put 3 teams from each section through, but keep the A and B sections as they are. Top 2 in section A go through to semis and the other 4 teams in an open draw for the quarters
This is more nonsense. You have the 6 strongest teams on one side and the weaker side gets as many teams through to the knockouts.
You end up better off if you finish 3rd in section B than 4th in section A, where you would be playing much stronger teams.
It's also the same number of games as currently take place, thus not helping the dual player, which was apparently a key reason for wanting change in the first place.
They tried to change things, were clearly told that clubs are happy with the structure overall but have decided that they still want to change it for some reason." The structure is rewarding mediocrity, having a so called stronger group and a weaker group. There's no real championship cut and trust to it for want of a better word. As you said if you're in group B it's an easier path to the knockout stages.
It should be the 12 teams open draw 2 groups of 6. League format.
Winners of A play runner up B. Winners of B play runner up A. There's your semi finals and finals.
To add bite and reduce as many dead rubbers have a promotion/relegation semi final and final. Both bottom teams in each group, Team 5 from A play team 6 from B and vise versa. Losers of semi finals play relegation final with the loser going down.
All teams get a minimum of 5 games and a max of seven barring replays. Standard goes up as it becomes more dog eat dog to qualify for semis or avoid relegation playoffs. For example you'd have situations/games where the downs would need to win on the last day to make the semifinal and their opponents eg shamrocks would need the win to avoid relegation playoffs and if shamrocks won stop the downs from reaching the semifinal stage. It would add a bit of spice to every game.
2maroonjerseys (National) - 13/02/2026 08:47:54
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Dublin GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To BarneyGrant: "Yerra!
You will not sway me from my pessemism!
It is Dublin's chance to put out full team and Croke Park should favour us for once but i certainly won't be putting money on." Ah Dublin are favourites and rightly so. The most settled team in Leinster I would say and you're going about your business pretty well at this stage.
ITs a good occasion and opportunity for our lads to test themselves.
It's not impossible for us to get a result but I think we'd having to have a little bit of luck as well as bring a near perfect performance
Doylerwex (National) - 12/02/2026 18:02:05
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Leitrim GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To S1234: "Lol yeah London for the win ." That's a terrible approach to have on the Leitrim GAA thread. I believe that Leitrim will shade it, with some players coming back. London are in a phase of transition. There is never more than a kick of the ball between them anyway. May the best team win, which is usually what happens. However, I'm going for Leitrim by one score.
foreveryoung (National) - 12/02/2026 20:06:19
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Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
I actually can't believe the new Championship format that the county board have pushed through for this year. The one thing they had got right for the last few years and was the envy of other counties they have now gone and messed up! Who in their right mind would think it's a fair system that 3 teams qualify from each group for the knockouts when 1 group has all the stronger teams. This is now only going to weaken the knockout phase of the championships too. You could get a situation where team 2 in group B gets drawn against team 3 in group B in the quarter final with team 3 in group B then reaching the semi finals if they win.
Westmeath fan (National) - 13/02/2026 00:14:40
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Roscommon GAA thread - 1 Like(s)
Any word on McCormick? Is he fit for the weekend. We really need him for Sunday
dave1988 (National) - 13/02/2026 07:50:46
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