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Westmeath V Kildare

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Hard to believe Westmeath lost that game. They had some shocking wides! That game really summed up their year where they threw away leads in every game.

Matthew (None) - Posts: 1005 - 18/07/2021 15:55:28    2361080

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Thought Westmeath left that one behind them. Some terrible shot selection and wides last 10-15 mins when they really were on top.

dawals (Dublin) - Posts: 63 - 18/07/2021 16:00:50    2361086

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Westmeath should have won that. Their finishing was terrible at the end and Mark Donellan made a great save to bail Kildare out.

You'd have to wonder what the point is in turning up to the Leinster final though.

Daith (Kildare) - Posts: 1171 - 18/07/2021 17:10:19    2361125

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A win's a win, goals win games, Jekyll and Hyde performance or some cliché along those lines.

Could have gone either way really. Westmeath controlled the middle third a lot more after Feely went off, created more than enough chances to win that towards the end.

At the same time though we could and probably should have been further in front ourselves, couple of goal chances in the first half that came to nothing - passed to a defender when through on 2 separate occasions.

Feely and Doyle going off injured are massive concerns heading into the final though - neither looked comfortable heading off.

Still, it's always good to grind out a win, especially without playing too well. Promotion to Division 1 and a Leinster final is the best we could have hoped for at the start of the year so can't be unhappy with how things have gone I suppose.

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3685 - 18/07/2021 17:50:34    2361159

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Replying To Daith:  "Kildare defence looks like it has tightened up and they had a game v Offaly. Westmeath havent really had a game yet but it's good to see them going well.

Should be a good game but if I am honest I don't care who wins as the massacre that awaits the winner in the final won't be pretty."
What's your definition of a massacre.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2907 - 18/07/2021 17:59:28    2361165

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Not so sure about a massacre, did you see Meath today?

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8591 - 18/07/2021 18:24:55    2361200

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Replying To realdub:  "Not so sure about a massacre, did you see Meath today?"
A winner yes, but no massacre. Very negative to even think that way.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2907 - 18/07/2021 18:40:07    2361227

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Westmeath need to learn how to shoot

greysoil (Monaghan) - Posts: 965 - 18/07/2021 18:41:53    2361232

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Replying To realdub:  "Not so sure about a massacre, did you see Meath today?"
I'm not saying Meath would have won but it could have been a lot closer, tenacious yes, but too economical with their smart play, that's the Dubs plan B should they ever need it.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2907 - 18/07/2021 18:57:43    2361256

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Replying To Sweetspot:  "Feely that is, we have two Kevin F's.
Ref is absolutely shocking here"
Deciding to throw the ball up after Fergal Conway broke a kickout down for himself and had clear possession was a personal highlight.

Linesman on the Cusack Stand side flagging for a Kildare line ball only for Westmeath to take the ball and work a point out of it was up there too.

Both sides benefitted for a liberal interpretation of the advantage rule anyway along with some high tackles and pull downs not resulting in bookings either.

if_in_doubt (Kildare) - Posts: 3685 - 18/07/2021 19:45:35    2361299

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Westmeath kicked that one away, but on the other hand, if we had taken our goal chances 1st half we would have been more comfortable. We didn't play well today and won, so plenty of room for improvement, Westmeath will be kicking themselves though. Dubs went asleep for 20 minutes today and Meath nearly caught them, I think that will only sharpen them up for the final, and without Feely and Doyle it is going to be a tough day for us, Luke Flynn will be available which is a plus, not sure what kept Kirwan out of squad today but we need him the next day

NorthKildare (Kildare) - Posts: 197 - 18/07/2021 20:32:23    2361339

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Replying To if_in_doubt:  "Deciding to throw the ball up after Fergal Conway broke a kickout down for himself and had clear possession was a personal highlight.

Linesman on the Cusack Stand side flagging for a Kildare line ball only for Westmeath to take the ball and work a point out of it was up there too.

Both sides benefitted for a liberal interpretation of the advantage rule anyway along with some high tackles and pull downs not resulting in bookings either."
Couldn't get over hopping that ball. Blown for the mark, dropped it down for himself, in clear possession and it a hop ball (resulting in a Westmeath score) that was in the back of a few other very questionable fouls given/not given

Anyways, a win is a win.. not insignificantly our first in Croke park in 5 years

Sweetspot (Kildare) - Posts: 323 - 18/07/2021 20:37:51    2361342

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I picked Westmeath to win this one. Fair play and congratulations to Kildare. Best of luck in the rest of your matches.

Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2120 - 18/07/2021 21:16:22    2361377

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Replying To Sweetspot:  "Couldn't get over hopping that ball. Blown for the mark, dropped it down for himself, in clear possession and it a hop ball (resulting in a Westmeath score) that was in the back of a few other very questionable fouls given/not given

Anyways, a win is a win.. not insignificantly our first in Croke park in 5 years"
He hopped the ball because he blew for a mark too early and realised his mistake. Watched the game on TV and from what I saw and the commentators saw the Kildare player never completed the catch and fumbled the ball instead. He never had control of it. Don't know why the ref blew early to signal a mark but atleast he realised his error I suppose.

From WM perspective felt it was a result we left behind us. I thought we defended quite well apart from the 2 goals which were incredibly soft to concede, particularly the second where we completely vacated the area in front of our goals. Thought we played very well when we went 6 points down but when we got within 1 or 2 it was like we were pushing too hard and started snatching at shots. Kildare definitely felt the loss of Feely, though I felt we got more joy on the Kildare kickout after he went off because it also coincided with us being 6 points down and pushing up because we were chasing the game.

lady_gaagaa (Westmeath) - Posts: 97 - 19/07/2021 09:38:44    2361517

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Replying To lady_gaagaa:  "He hopped the ball because he blew for a mark too early and realised his mistake. Watched the game on TV and from what I saw and the commentators saw the Kildare player never completed the catch and fumbled the ball instead. He never had control of it. Don't know why the ref blew early to signal a mark but atleast he realised his error I suppose.

From WM perspective felt it was a result we left behind us. I thought we defended quite well apart from the 2 goals which were incredibly soft to concede, particularly the second where we completely vacated the area in front of our goals. Thought we played very well when we went 6 points down but when we got within 1 or 2 it was like we were pushing too hard and started snatching at shots. Kildare definitely felt the loss of Feely, though I felt we got more joy on the Kildare kickout after he went off because it also coincided with us being 6 points down and pushing up because we were chasing the game."
I understand that it wasn't a completed catch. It did look like he was holding onto it as he wasn't under pressure but still, he broke it down to himself and had space to spare. That the ref hopped the ball is ridiculous. Any incorrect mark decisions I've seen before have been let go with an apologetic hand up from the ref, I'm not aware of a rule change around that. Otherwise, the ref was shocking still.

Sweetspot (Kildare) - Posts: 323 - 19/07/2021 11:16:48    2361560

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Replying To Sweetspot:  "I understand that it wasn't a completed catch. It did look like he was holding onto it as he wasn't under pressure but still, he broke it down to himself and had space to spare. That the ref hopped the ball is ridiculous. Any incorrect mark decisions I've seen before have been let go with an apologetic hand up from the ref, I'm not aware of a rule change around that. Otherwise, the ref was shocking still."
He wasn't under pressure which is why I think the ref signalled a mark a little early presuming he was just going to catch it. When I saw it and saw the replay of it the Kildare player barely has it in his hand before fumbling it. I don't think he intentionally dropped it or was in control of it, not how it looked to me. I don't know what the rule is regarding a hopped ball though in such an event.

With regards the ref I think shocking is a little strong, he made a few mistakes like most refs do. He did seem to struggle to keep close to the action though. You probably saw things in the game from a Kildare perspective you thought should have went your way but didn't. Likewise as a Westmeath supporter I recall instances in the game where I thought we should have got a free but didn't or soft frees given to Kildare.

It was a decent open game which could have went either way. Best of luck in the final. I really hope Dublin looking a little off colour gives Kildare some incentive to have a crack in the final and not throw in the towel before a ball is kicked. As for my own county it has been an encouraging albeit short year. Hope we can kick on next year, get back to Div 2 and learn how to come out the right side of close games.

lady_gaagaa (Westmeath) - Posts: 97 - 19/07/2021 12:21:08    2361619

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