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Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
To be honest it's really a massive disappointment that the structures have changed; it seems utterly unnecessary. At the least a playoff between A4 and B3 for a QF.
I think at Intermediate it's a bigger issue than Senior as the gap is broader; Miltown/Miltownpass/Shandonagh/Malachys won't come out of the group but a Maryland/Ballymore/CFCW/Ballinagore will, there's a massive gap between those teams; at least at Senior there's not as much difference between a Caulry for example and a Tang/Moate/Athlone but the point still stands as the general quality of team is much higher. They wanted structural change which was voted against but I'm not sure what this new structure offers.
Also, our league presumably starts in 7 days and there are no fixtures out, year after year this happens. So many young lads will need to book time off work and can't do so as they don't have a fixture.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 13/02/2026 15:01:31
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Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
A rough stab at the u20s, have only seen them in Abbottstown and from talking to a few but the lineup seems to be shaping up something like the following:
1. Luke Nicholson (Athlone)
2. Seanai Bracken (St. Loman's)
3. Adam Keane (Rosemount)
4. Sean Dillon (Milltown)
5. Taylor Slevin (Tubberclair)
6. Peter Murphy (St. Malachys)
7. Aodhan Curran (Moate)
8. Tadgh Baker (Caulry)
9. Shane Ormsby (Mullingar)
10. Kealen Connell (Tubberclair)
11. Jack Duncan (Milltown)
12. Ronan Murray (Moate)
13. Shane Corcoran (St. Malachys)
14. Tom Bourke (Tubberclair)
15. Matthew Thornton (Multyfarnham)
I could be excluding someone very obvious, I haven't spotted Rory Cole who was involved last year, and I think Bracken and Daire o Connor are currently unavailable. Certainly seems a talented team on paper.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 18/02/2025 19:57:33
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Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Claretandblue: "€10m to develop a COE seems steep to you? How much should we spend? Have you any idea of inflationary costs re projects like this? Newbridge stand which is a top job cost €26m. The rest of the ground wasn't touched, if we don't show ambition and develop 4-5 pitches then more criticism will follow. The whingers on this forum are impossible to please, that's their nature, no matter what's done or planned it's wrong or a waste. Buy a ticket, in fact sell a few tickets, show your support for the county if it's genuine, maybe do something" I've bought two tickets as a matter of fact but still feel reality is very detached from where the whole project is at. Do you have any criticism whatsoever or do you think everything is just perfect that is been done in the county? People are entitled to criticise if they feel strongly on something; you on the other hand seem to think if everyone just buys a ticket everything will work out and all is rosey. Yes I do think €10m is steep considering they cannot raise the initial €1m to buy the land. Land could have been bought in parts of the county that would have worked just fine for 250-400k. It's easy to vent criticism on this forum as if you speak up at a meeting you'll be shot down.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 25/04/2025 12:25:58
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Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Claretandblue: "What are structures?" I would assume they are short - long term plans for developing players starting at U14 and ending at senior level where the player has access to S&C and nutrition guidance, a pathway for players who may be late developers, a database of players at each club who can be graded on their potential from those within the clubs. An incentive for the best possible coaches to get involved with said teams. Players on county panels getting gear, discounted prices to our senior county games.
That's a start and I'm.sure if I thought about it for more than five seconds I could go on.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 24/02/2025 18:36:24
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Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To westmeathfan25: "Confused as to how the pitch last night not being playable in return means "County Players are treated so badly in this county"
You said it yourself - coaching, nutrition, analysis, travel expenses - would you prefer if they did not spend that 1.2M on those things and instead put it towards the cost of building a COE? Or is your expectation that Westmeath should continue spending millions on the "badly treated players" and find another couple million somewhere to build a COE, because let's be honest, the previous fundraising that was meant to raise €1M didn't happen, so what happens next? And it can't be a continuous blame on the County Board - they can put in all the effort to get fundraising events up and running, but if people aren't willing to contribute then what happens - will you continue to solely blame them?" There is such nonsense behind the scenes, and the players and management teams aren't been treated well or fairly at all. This forum probably wouldn't post the list of things we could all spill about whats going on.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 26/03/2026 15:55:55
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Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Jack_Sparrow: "A lot. People going who never go to a game." Great to see.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 10/05/2026 12:02:54
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Westmeath Football thread - 3 Like(s)
Replying To Claretandblue: "Clubs were told a week ago that Div 1 and 3 were on Sunday, Div 2 on Saturday." And what about division 4,5,6 and 7? Many lads will have two games next week and I'm sure any team with lights may play Friday. I didn't see any official correspondence stating the above. I know in my club it's a huge issue that we don't know the date yet, five lads who are rostered on Saturdays for the following weekend so they'll have their hours for next weekend before they can look for a time off. It's a huge issue.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 14/02/2026 18:18:43
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Tough reading these last few weeks; I don't think anyone really believes The Downs are looking beyond Sunday. Can we end it there.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 22/10/2025 16:40:07
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To mickcunningham: "how would there be an update , we have a manager unless i didnt hear something that happened" You must have missed the fact that our manager let his name go forward for another job which he appears to be the strong favorite for. That alone is enough to set plans in motion to seek a replacement.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 05/08/2025 22:30:35
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To lakecounty90: "Haha yous all doubted Caulry.
Those who criticised Flanagan look silly now
Caulry will best Kinnegad trust me.
iarmhi Abu is quiet tonight haha" I wouldn't say anyone doubted Caulrys ability to get out of the group; id say people doubted Caulrys ability to win a senior championship like a few on here were suggesting would happen
OverTheHill85 (National) - 21/09/2025 19:12:29
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To iarmhiabu: "I am not pointing the blame at Kinnegad, they have one of best Club facilities in the County. The pitch in Kinnegad is bound to be cut up, catering for their own teams in addition to hosting County Minor and U20 matches. It is bad enough having to look after your own without baling out the County Board. If it was not for Kinnegad and St Loman's (presumably the only viable floodlit venues to host a Inter County Championship game), the County Minor and U20 teams would have no home games? The referee made the correct call on the night, he did his job. It is not negligence in that moment but over time from the County Board. If a County has no floodlit pitches for the purpose of County teams, relies on Club pitches that are already being used 6 or 7 nights a week and still has no Centre of Excellence or long term facility plan, then the County Board has failed in its duty to provide proper infrastructure for its teams. It is like this, if your only car breaks down, it is not your fault that journey fails. But it is your responsibility if you never invested in another car." Can someone please tell me why other floodlit venues cannot host games? Is it that we choose not too or is there a regulation that is holding back these other grounds?
OverTheHill85 (National) - 18/04/2026 19:24:10
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To daboru: "Should Dessie have dropped Maguire, Heslin, O'Toole?? They won Div 3 and ran the All Ireland finalists close in the All Ireland series. If the 2 late goals against Galway and Derry hadn't gone in, they could've got to the Qtr Final. That's on the back of a really competitive showing the previous year. It's not Dessie's or McCabe's fault, it's just bad timing" Once again someone incapable of having an actual conversation without getting defensive. No he shouldn't have dropped those three; but there were times when they didn't need to play. We fielded a complete B team against Longford in the O Byrne Cup in 2024, players were brought in who wouldn't have made the U20s team, we won, then a week later they were all discarded and we went full strength against Louth in Kinnegad, a Louth team with 5/6 regulars in their team. Surely that was the time to be trying lads out and seeing where they were at, players who didn't perform against Longford weren't seen again. What was the purpose of playing lads who wouldn't make the 20s panel one week and then discarding the whole lot of them and playing a full strength outfit the following week. So the long term planning didn't seem to be in the thinking, which is completely their choice, but a raft of retirements later and we are back in Division 3 and struggling in the Tailteann Cup yet for some reason a lot of supporters are up in arms because we didn't beat a Limerick team who arguably should have beaten us 12 months ago in the league when we had a much stronger panel.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 06/06/2025 13:17:50
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Fighting-Cocks69: "Looking at the 20s team, both midfielders - Baker and Ormsby - have already played senior. In the backs, Keane, Curran, Dillon, and Shortall have all lined out at senior level too. Bracken will be there or thereabouts this year, but Loman's is a tough outfit to break into.
Up front, Duncan, Corcoran, Murphy, Duffy, and Murray have all played senior with their clubs' first teams. Kelly and Connell are in their first year at senior level and will probably break in at some stage during the championship.
When it comes to goalkeepers, Doran has been between the posts for Shamrocks for the past two seasons.
So by the looks of it, the majority of our starting 15 have already broken into their clubs' senior teams............" Yes maybe a year but the likes of Connell, Kelly, Bourke, Thornton, Curran should all be in their second year now and with a championship under their belt, not an odd league game. And the lads you mentioned almost all benefitted before the rule change came into effect. Please think logically before coming back with that. Corcoran, Ormsby, Duncan, Duffy, Keane, Doran, Murphy, Baker, O Donovan all finished at U17 and into adult football. So really you have inadvertently proved my point. The lads who look stronger and up to it have all had two years of club championship. That's not going to be the case next year when they'll all have one year max, so Curran for example could potentially have 3 or 4 senior championship games played and be in his second year of U20 intercounty. Will Scahill could absolutely play intermediate/senior for Shandonagh next year and it would develop him, rather than playing against his own age group where with the greatest of respect it'll be men vs boys.
I agree the clubs pushed it through, but they were led by the county board pushing a narrative that burnout and fixtures would be an issue, they said minor games would be on Fridays and clash with adult games and this then wasn't the case when the championship proceeded. U18s should absolutely be playing adult football and I'm not sure I could be convinced otherwise.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 19/04/2025 17:09:31
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To jobber: "We have to protect the dual players The vast majority of players in Westmeath play both codes which gives the possibility of the likes of Luke Loughlin playing 8 hurling championship matches and the same in football 16 championship matches.The ones complaining here seem to have little concern for the best footballer in the county and one of the best hurlers and anyone else like him" Protect them from what? It's their choice to be dual players? We are a football county and should be giving preference to our club players who aren't dual players. If the hurlers want less games then restructure their championship. As per other posters many counties envy our setup. Very disheartening to see suggestions that they may reduce games, players give so much and are entitled to those 5 groups games; the county board are trying to sell the lack of jeopardy in games as the reason but it's absolutely to suit the hurlers. Clubs in Westmeath need to step up to the plate and say no; and not leave it to out of touch delegates who are county board yes men and would happily go against their own players to appease the men on the county executive.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 25/06/2025 09:09:59
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To iarmhiabu: "Why is it that other counties similar to us can run hugely successful fundraisers and we can't deliver on anything noteworthy? Roscommon GAA through Club Rossie made a profit of over €900k from their win a home in London fundraiser that was launched in the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic. It was so successful they gave away another house in Kildare last Christmas. Roscommon would have a similar profile to ourselves, we would have more clubs overall. They're in a strong position financially going forward. You said Westmeath GAA people seem to reserve their financial support to their club teams, maybe instead of county fundraisers. There's a reason behind it, I believe there's a lot of Westmeath GAA people like myself fed up with the lack of leadership for years and years, no deliverance. Hopefully we get the €1mill needed from the Spanish apartment draw but I wouldn't hold my breath." My point exactly earlier in the week; i laid out several reasons why there's a huge disconnect between supporters and the county team and my own feeling is down to the county board not delivering anything to really get behind, I understand it's separate to the team but that's obviously how many feel. I'm not sure we even were outnumbered by Louth it just felt like when we scored no Westmeath supporters bothered applauding in comparison to Louth. I seen many familiar faces from around the county around me and like that they weren't overly invested in getting behind the team but the support was there. Where did the quid games money go? That's a genuine question and not insinuating anything, I don't feel like paying €100 when I'm not even certain what it's been used for.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 28/01/2025 17:36:34
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Westmeath Football thread - 2 Like(s)
Replying To Dazzler30: "Men against boys in the under 20 its a young squad hopefully can bounce back. Louth are really motoring well underage and senior have the house in order long time ago and its showing now." There was a stark difference in how they were moving, they seemed physically so far ahead. We have to beat Dublin now to advance it would seem. Beating just Wexford which will be extremely difficult won't be enough. It must be said there are 7 starters missing from that U20 team from what I was told last night, there are three from Tubberclair in Bourke, Staunton and O'Connor, Curran from Moate, Geary from Athlone, Ryan Kelly from Shamrocks and Conor Callaghan from Kinnegad. All seven of these are in their last year and have played adult championship for their club. The younger Whittaker looked promising when he came on. I think the question again that must be raised is the fact U18s cannot play adult football until they are 19. I think 8 or 9 of the team would not have played for their clubs above underage yet and then the step up is massive.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 28/03/2026 07:38:01
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Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To iarmhiabu: "Are you forgetting the real reason why counties like ourselves, Longford, Meath and Offaly are playing these midweek U20/minor games at alternative venues? It's an issue with floodlights at their main grounds. As someone suggested above Athlone is falling down, stand is not fit for purpose. The county board were right to say no to the U20 management. It's not up to the U20 management to decide where the game should be played." Multyfarnham lights, Castledaly lights, TUS lights, Tubberclair lights, Athlone lights, Garrycastle lights. And surely to God it is up to the management to decide where the game should be played. Why would the county board overrule that? Athlone is certainly getting outdated but a great venue for a game and always has been. Most of those grounds do or have held championship double headers and could certainly cater for an U20/U17 B game.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 20/04/2025 12:47:43
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Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To Gaawestmeath: "They aren't being offered." That is categorically not true. And I would say it's more a case of not been wanted.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 19/04/2026 17:50:33
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Meath Vs Westmeath - Leinster SFC Quarter Final - 1 Like(s)
As a casual observer yesterday I felt Meath had no stomach for being behind; after 10 mins I couldn't believe how sharp Morris looked but then nothing actually came from him and he just drifted out of the game; Flynn in the middle looked your best player followed by Kinsella in spells, Westmeath are known for their midfield issues this year so why ye didn't target them is strange, keeper seemed vulnerable going short on a few occasions. Make no mistake Drumm, Whittaker, Connellan, Wallace, McCartan and Loughlin would make many teams in the country so there's no doubt they had performances like this in them, the biggest surprise is how well the other players raised their game and nullified many Meath players. I think what summed up the game was Drumm beating Frayne to a ball near the dugouts, Westmeath seemed on top almost all over the pitch and it could have been a greater margin as we hit the crossbar also, I genuinely thought the referee was good. I just felt the team didn't have the appetite for the battle and probably weren't ready for it. Westmeath lads were battering each other in the warm up and seemed up for it. The goalkeeper issued probably took some steam out of Meath at a time they were looking dangerous.
OverTheHill85 (Meath) - 20/04/2026 15:12:51
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Westmeath Football thread - 1 Like(s)
Replying To GCCABU: "Had no choice panel very lightweight in terms of quality and experience
plus the numerous injuries to Luke, C Mc, Guerin, Bidou, and other players
like Matthew, Sam, Shane all carrying knocks, Leinster Final V The Dubs in Croke Park
no place to be throwing in younger players" Younger players were thrown in against Meath and Kildare and thrived. It's all down to the result; that's the fickle nature of sport realistically. Win and no one cares, lose and it draws criticism. But to suggest McHugh had no choice is definitely not true. To be fair to Heslin how would you say no after seeing the highs in Tullamore. I don't think Dublin will be too worried about it, it puts a lot of the talk and pressure on Westmeath.
OverTheHill85 (National) - 12/05/2026 18:59:21
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