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My logic is over the last 20 years we have over performed in inter county hurling and we have under performed in inter county football!! Just off the numbers of players playing both codes. We don't have enough playing numbers in hurling to be competitive at the top table in hurling. It's actually not that hard to be in the top 12 teams in hurling. Look at how quick Kildare came up thought the ranks. In football we have underperformed we are a small county and it's near impossible to have both county teams doing well at the same time. Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 648 - 08/05/2026 12:37:45 2671601 Link 0 |
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Why is it nearly impossible? You dont have any dual players. If hurling continues to develop the level of players that is currently coming through in Westmeath you have every chance of doing an Offaly and staying/ competing in Leinster. The talent is there. Not all of it will transfer to senior so you need to continue the work. Tadhg2020 (Limerick) - Posts: 380 - 08/05/2026 14:10:42 2671630 Link 2 |
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so you want hurling to die off and go away is that what your point sums up??
preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 832 - 08/05/2026 17:57:13 2671683 Link 1 |
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Posters who talk about us competing in Leinster in the next few years would have had a reality check in Cusack Park this afternoon. An 18 points defeat to Laois and they had at least 15 wides also. We are a lot closer to Christy Ring status than Liam McCarthy and our win in London is the only reason we won't be relegated. We just don't have the players to compete with Laois, Carlow and probably Antrim and Down. Two tough away fixtures left. Difficult to see Westmeath winning McDonagh Cup in next 4-5 years. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2633 - 09/05/2026 19:12:42 2671841 Link 0 |
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Looking at the minors thats what people are talking about in the next few years as they have the quality to compete with the top teams, if they can be kept together. For the next few years we will be in where we are at unfortunately as we dont have near enough quality at senior level currently. The last couple of years we've been producing good minor teams its important we keep this going and keep the focus there.
Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 1127 - 09/05/2026 19:50:07 2671844 Link 0 |
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Definitely sobering today. Laois were very good. First touch, pace and power several steps higher than us. Some players seem not to be near that level though we kept trying in fairness. Hopefully some new players come through from underage. Not great support either but then that always improves with success. Hard to see us challenging for a while. Iarmhisamhi (Westmeath) - Posts: 55 - 09/05/2026 21:46:19 2671871 Link 0 |
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The step up from county minors who are all 16-17 to inter county senior takes at least 6-7 years and there's so many pitfalls along the way. Any minor side that produces 3-4 inter county players is way beyond average, today was a surprise to me, Laois were 6-8 points better than us in the league 7 weeks ago but today it was a gulf in standard. At one stage a 25 points drubbing was on the cards. Sean Jackson made two decent saves and Laois shot 20 wides according to newspaper online reports. The rebuilding process is going to take a long time
Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2633 - 10/05/2026 00:05:48 2671904 Link 0 |
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We all knew from early on with the huge number of retirements over a 2 year period that we were heading to a period of rebuilding. Looking at it, scoring 2-19 wasnt particularly poor but defensively we were blown away by Laois's movement,skill,speed and above all physique. People talking about the minors are deluding themselves,these lads are 16 and 17, years away from senior county hurling. Our under 20's have been a big disappointment and i dont see a lot coming through there.No doubt Conor Shaw,Peter Clarke and above all David O Reilly returning from injury can help but injuries are inevitable and the panel is very weak. Management need to find big physical athletic backs from the 2026 championship, and have an ongoing S&C programme for promising players or fighting to stay in Mcdonagh will be our lot not challenging to win it for years to come. jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1945 - 10/05/2026 08:48:50 2671927 Link 0 |
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I think management could do worse than find a few dog spoilers for the back line rather than nice fancy hurlers
westmeathgaa11 (Westmeath) - Posts: 352 - 11/05/2026 06:20:27 2672203 Link 0 |
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Last Saturday was one of the poorest displays i have seen in Cusack since the the u20 a few years ago v Dublin. We could have lost by 30points if Laois weren't so wasteful. The performances are on a continual downward spiral. If you chat the players there is a lot of discontent with the setup. Christy Rings looms large for 2028. Loughlenegale (Westmeath) - Posts: 36 - 11/05/2026 13:52:53 2672332 Link 1 |
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That's some collapse in 2 years and there is a lot more to it than you articulate. we are now punching well bellow our weight
Loughlenegale (Westmeath) - Posts: 36 - 11/05/2026 14:09:03 2672344 Link 0 |
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By That logic we can look forward to the arrival of Williams, Mc Cormack, Reilly, Clarke , Murphy, Jackson in the next few years. All of the above under 23. Even in your beloved football this stat is totally incorrect.
Loughlenegale (Westmeath) - Posts: 36 - 11/05/2026 14:16:53 2672348 Link 0 |
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I'd like to know where you think the nice fancy hurlers are as well
CleanShoulder (Westmeath) - Posts: 420 - 11/05/2026 14:50:02 2672362 Link 0 |
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We've a very light team and teams that run at us with power and aggression will cause us huge problems. There aren't too many big lads to come through over the next few years and so what we must do is get our s&c with this panel to the next level.
midfield9 (Westmeath) - Posts: 108 - 11/05/2026 14:53:45 2672364 Link 0 |
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You think that the above named players have graduated to proven inter county standard yet?? I said it would be 22-23 before any minor of recent vintage is able to compete at inter county level. Nothing I've seen in 2026 contradicts that.
Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2633 - 11/05/2026 16:42:46 2672404 Link 0 |
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Some of them absolutely. 2026 is the issue as lads like you commend the current management for getting rid of our senior players. 30 is too old. 21 is too young. Don't see criticism re Shane Orsmby Tadhg Baker Shane Corcoran Jack Duncan as these are young footballers and well fit to be regarded as quality intercounty players IMO. The real difference is the top quality management availably to the Footballers.
Loughlenegale (Westmeath) - Posts: 36 - 11/05/2026 17:20:49 2672428 Link 0 |
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Reilly or clarke around that age put injuted most this year def would be am asset no even last 2 years they were decent Are you say they would have not been an asset so that. So twll me wgo are 6 forwards better than clarke and reilly or othrrs better than william may not mean westmeath but they are top 3 players defo in top 10 players in westmeath injuries aside Reilly vlatke have gonr out minor few Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 1298 - 11/05/2026 18:57:48 2672447 Link 0 |