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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To Blackjack:  "Lomans since 2013 have been a bit like Kerry where they either win a championship or come very close.

No knockout match in that time frame where Lomans have been comprehensively beaten.

Bookmakers suggest this year be different but I've seen nothing to suggest it will.

Lomans could be value team to back at this stage."
I feel Lomans are short this year, having watched them a few times, though I did not see that Tyrellspass game where they seemed to be back to their pomp. All teams have their era, and I feel they are nearing the end of theirs. SMC excepted, their main players are definitely not better than 3/4 years ago, and if anything are enduring a decline. If Kinnegad solves their goalkeeping issues and it's a big if,- (3 different keepers in the last three games)-I tip them to win. - But it will be close.
On a side note, I don't think anyone has really hyped up Caulry. There may be a few tongue-in-cheek comments on this forum, which seem a bit of craic, but they never looked like winning last Sunday, and most people would feel they are a long way from championship honours.
I think the top 4 teams are definitely the current semi-finalists, which validates the current system, as it has brought the best teams to the final stages. The last day of the group system provided many thrills and spills, so I would not change it. The system also allows a team to make the leap, consolidate and try to compete at the top table over 2/3 years which is a good process. I would not like the 4 groups of 3 option at all. There is some merit to equal groups of 6 and just let a new year be a new year, but overall I think the current system is hard to beat.

Iarmhisamhi (Westmeath) - Posts: 21 - 01/10/2025 10:17:41    2638072

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Lomans played 4 league matches. Got 3 points. Drew with Athlone beat Kinnegad. The one knockout championship match they had against Tyrrellspass they won convincingly.
Group matches are league matches in all but name as you won't be knocked out unless you lose 4 of them in a row..

Blackjack (Westmeath) - Posts: 36 - 01/10/2025 10:58:37    2638089

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A players standing out so for in the championship that could be added to the county panel" they'll probably be a few retirements or lads travelling I'm sure the new county management are watching alot of games

Mooo (Westmeath) - Posts: 64 - 01/10/2025 15:47:39    2638160

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At junior level Darragh Seery and Brandon Carey are fine players, the Monaghan brothers for Garrycastle, Ross Corroon for Shamrocks, Dillon Matthews, Ciaran Nolan, The Downs, the Kelleher brothers from Tubberclair

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2374 - 01/10/2025 15:51:57    2638163

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Replying To Gaawestmeath:  "The bottom four in group B would ship heavy beatings from the group A.

Group B needs more wins to get out of it but the teams gain momentum. The format is brilliant, teams have meaningful games right to the end. Only one team in each group had nothing to play for by the last round. Tang, Malachys would have shipped horrendous hammerings in straight groups. The players aren't silly, they know they're in an easier group. It really is a great format if you stop looking at wins vs losses in two different groups. I understand where you're coming from but Tubberclair/Shandonagh would come up and get hammering in at least 4 games if there was no A/B. The group B gives the teams a stepping stone and if they are good enough they get a shot at a team from group A."
The format is not brilliant its too easy to stroll through.
Section A is clearly stronger so here is the solution to make every game count.No more quarter finals.3 teams from section A qualify for semi finals along with the winner of section b with the bottom 2 in section
A playing off for relegation to B and likewise in B to intermediate or junior as the case may be.
No more safe games and much more competitive football.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1791 - 01/10/2025 23:28:12    2638207

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Good to see the ladies get their day in Cusack park this Saturday.

1.15pm Intermediate Final, Loughnavalley v Goldsmiths

3.15pm Senior Final, St. Lomans v Milltown

BlastCalyle (Mayo) - Posts: 217 - 02/10/2025 08:51:42    2638215

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "At junior level Darragh Seery and Brandon Carey are fine players, the Monaghan brothers for Garrycastle, Ross Corroon for Shamrocks, Dillon Matthews, Ciaran Nolan, The Downs, the Kelleher brothers from Tubberclair"
Matt Gunning for Milltown has been a real star in the intermediate championship. Putting up some massive scores from wing back.

mintyfresh (Westmeath) - Posts: 275 - 02/10/2025 09:16:00    2638218

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Replying To jobber:  "The format is not brilliant its too easy to stroll through.
Section A is clearly stronger so here is the solution to make every game count.No more quarter finals.3 teams from section A qualify for semi finals along with the winner of section b with the bottom 2 in section
A playing off for relegation to B and likewise in B to intermediate or junior as the case may be.
No more safe games and much more competitive football."
What teams strolled through to quarter finals? The Downs won five matches but under any system they would have such was their dominance. No guarantees they will win Flanagan though. Every other side faced potential relegation to section B at throw in time of their last game. How is that a stroll. Moate won three out of four matches in B and still needed a point to qualify which didn't happen for them. In hurling three teams do qualify out of six but it's three out of four realistically in section A and will be the same next year. Raharney qualified despite two abject performances, no football side qualified in either section with similarly poor displays

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2374 - 02/10/2025 10:15:07    2638227

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Replying To jobber:  "The format is not brilliant its too easy to stroll through.
Section A is clearly stronger so here is the solution to make every game count.No more quarter finals.3 teams from section A qualify for semi finals along with the winner of section b with the bottom 2 in section
A playing off for relegation to B and likewise in B to intermediate or junior as the case may be.
No more safe games and much more competitive football."
Only one to qualify from section B?

Very clearly a non-runner.
There would be a whole host of meaningless games in the last 2 rounds with nothing left to play for.

ondeball (Westmeath) - Posts: 125 - 02/10/2025 11:01:02    2638231

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Players who have impressed me so far who i believe arent in county set up

Malachys- Morgan Gavigan
Kinnegad trio- Bracken, Obrien and Gahan
Tyrllesspass- Flanagan, Mcnicholas
Lomans- Whelan, Dempsey, Jason Daly
Garrycastle- Michael Monaghan
Tang- Conal Mckiernan, Aidan Burke
The Downs- Dean Egerton and Mullen has done well, all the team flying, could pick the corner backs also.
Caulry- Some younger players played well in the 2 games i see, shorthall to mention 1.
Athlone- Mixed bag really outside of 2 county players first 2 games a few names but since that not really.
Shamrocks: Dillon Mattews, Dean Moore
Killucan- Devin Hill, Sami clarke
Moate- Gormans always good for them, outside of them way to hot and cold
Tubberclair- Kealan Connell, fred Kelleher
Milltown- Jack Duncan, Mattew Gunning
Miltownpass- Finbar Coyne, Liam O'reilly
Shandonagh- Conor Mccrossan, Ryan Donnelly
Rosemount- Baidu Sayeh has come back to a bit of form
Multy- Cian lee
Maryland- Callum Mccormack best player by far for them in the game i seen.
St.Marys- Oisin Carolan
Ballymore- Owen Mccabe
Kilbeggan- Nigel Scally
CFCW- Didnt see any of there games
Junior- Mcdaniels, Mcdonnell, Carey and seery

PowellJohn3 (Westmeath) - Posts: 89 - 02/10/2025 12:18:52    2638239

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I believe the structures for the Westmeath club football championships are very good. Ok it could be argued there needs to be more jeopardy for the football teams in Section A. But look at Round 5 this year in both the Senior and Intermediate football championships, there was real jeopardy there for many of the teams. Both Athlone and Tpass could have made a quarter final and yet were relegated to Section B, thats really competitive. Likewise Castleday pipped Finea for a quarter final place, don't think it gets any better than that.
There may an argument now to re-structure the Junior 1 and 2 championships, I do think that needs a lift. Would the junior 2 clubs be better off in with the Junior 1 clubs. The Laois football championship structure might be worth considering for a revamped Junior championship.

FrMick (Westmeath) - Posts: 17 - 02/10/2025 12:31:11    2638242

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Replying To jobber:  "The format is not brilliant its too easy to stroll through.
Section A is clearly stronger so here is the solution to make every game count.No more quarter finals.3 teams from section A qualify for semi finals along with the winner of section b with the bottom 2 in section
A playing off for relegation to B and likewise in B to intermediate or junior as the case may be.
No more safe games and much more competitive football."
No way should there be a relegation play off unless both teams finished on same points.

Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1055 - 02/10/2025 12:49:34    2638245

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I believe the structures for the Westmeath club football championships are very good. Ok it could be argued there needs to be more jeopardy for the football teams in Section A. But look at Round 5 this year in both the Senior and Intermediate football championships, there was real jeopardy there for many of the teams. Both Athlone and Tpass could have made a quarter final and yet were relegated to Section B, thats really competitive. Likewise Castleday pipped Finea for a quarter final place, don't think it gets any better than that.
There may an argument now to re-structure the Junior 1 and 2 championships, I do think that needs a lift. Would the junior 2 clubs be better off in with the Junior 1 clubs. The Laois football championship structure might be worth considering for a revamped Junior championship.

FrMick (Westmeath) - Posts: 17 - 02/10/2025 13:56:57    2638257

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Replying To FrMick:  "I believe the structures for the Westmeath club football championships are very good. Ok it could be argued there needs to be more jeopardy for the football teams in Section A. But look at Round 5 this year in both the Senior and Intermediate football championships, there was real jeopardy there for many of the teams. Both Athlone and Tpass could have made a quarter final and yet were relegated to Section B, thats really competitive. Likewise Castleday pipped Finea for a quarter final place, don't think it gets any better than that.
There may an argument now to re-structure the Junior 1 and 2 championships, I do think that needs a lift. Would the junior 2 clubs be better off in with the Junior 1 clubs. The Laois football championship structure might be worth considering for a revamped Junior championship."
whats the Laois structure for Junior?

martyW (Westmeath) - Posts: 335 - 02/10/2025 14:38:16    2638266

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J1 2025 12 teams
J2 2025 8 teams

J1 football 2026 proposal
Open draw of 2 sections with 6 teams. Teams play across the sections yet ranked against the teams in their own sections. Top teams each in each section to S/F, teams 2 and 3 in each section in a Q/F. semi finals across the sections. It would mean 6 round robin games as opposed to 5 this year.

J2 football 2026 proposal
Open draw of 2 sections with 4 teams. Same as above. 4 round robin games, Q/F x 2, S/F x 2 and final.

FrMick (Westmeath) - Posts: 17 - 02/10/2025 15:47:39    2638276

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