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Westmeath Football thread

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I'm hearing quite a few county players heading stateside for the rest of the summer which is obviously a blow to their clubs. Nothing new and I wouldn't begrudge them but tough on the club players left behind. Maybe they will be back for business end of championship. BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1148 - 17/06/2024 23:45:25 2552558 Link
Replying To Bruno@1: "11pts v Armagh-11 pts v Galway -9 pts v Derry never going to win a game with these scores-no championship games won in 2 years.Fair play to the players they always put in an honest effort but somethings need to change if Westmeath are to survive div.2 next year." What changes do you suggest? midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 577 - 18/06/2024 10:03:28 2552609 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "Eight players unavailable from last Saturday plus Kieran Martin? What's your source on this? Why would Ray Connellan and Ronan Wallace and David Lynch not be playing? Jonathan Lynam? Those guys are all young enough. Wallace and Connellan are in brilliant form, Jason Daly has had a great year, can understand doubts about James Dolan, Kevin Maguire, John Heslin and Jamie Gonoud based on longevity and signs of wear and tear injury wise but others? I'd be surprised if Dessie commits to another year, he will get one if he wants it but he was much more animated than usual last Saturday on line, normally he's very calm, he's five years involved including selector, the next manager will need to rebuild significantly." Wallace and Lynch going traveling. Jason Daly the oldest player on the panel. Martin, Dolan, Maguire and Gonoud all hanging up the boots. Not sure about Connellan but talking to people from his club they think he's the type of lad that would walk if he thinks we will struggle next year. Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 457 - 18/06/2024 11:08:19 2552651 Link
A big worry if all these players step aside, great servants some of them. The big question is what happens next. Who will the manager be? Minor and U20s set ups have been below par last 5 years, under resourced and no plan put in place to merge underage with adult level, Minors were very disappointing considering the team they had and watching what Longford did, 20s salvage there season and probably only 3-4 players able to make the jump over the next 18 months. I See Westmeath slipping to Div 4 in the next 2 years, if those 6- 11 players go, i dont think we can replace those over the next 2-3 years. Only way to keep all these players is if we get Rory Gallagher or Jim gavin next year. Whos at risk of leaving ? Kevin Maguire 34 Kieran Martin 34 James Dolan 34 Jason Daly 35? Jamie Gonoud 32 John Heslin 32 Jack Smith 33 David Lynch 31 Travelling Wallace Travelling Ray Conellan 30 Could jump ship as suggested Lorcan Dolan 30 - never got a look in will he hang around either PowellJohn3 (Westmeath) - Posts: 45 - 18/06/2024 14:11:05 2552734 Link
Replying To PowellJohn3: "A big worry if all these players step aside, great servants some of them. The big question is what happens next. Who will the manager be? Minor and U20s set ups have been below par last 5 years, under resourced and no plan put in place to merge underage with adult level, Minors were very disappointing considering the team they had and watching what Longford did, 20s salvage there season and probably only 3-4 players able to make the jump over the next 18 months. I See Westmeath slipping to Div 4 in the next 2 years, if those 6- 11 players go, i dont think we can replace those over the next 2-3 years. Only way to keep all these players is if we get Rory Gallagher or Jim gavin next year. Whos at risk of leaving ? Kevin Maguire 34 Kieran Martin 34 James Dolan 34 Jason Daly 35? Jamie Gonoud 32 John Heslin 32 Jack Smith 33 David Lynch 31 Travelling Wallace Travelling Ray Conellan 30 Could jump ship as suggested Lorcan Dolan 30 - never got a look in will he hang around either" Well their not at risk they are leaving and well overdue in some instances. They have been taking away game time from the younger lads. ear2ground (Westmeath) - Posts: 116 - 18/06/2024 14:48:30 2552744 Link
Taking game time from younger lads? Bullying them on the training ground will be next accusation. Taking sweets out of their kit bags!!!! Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1789 - 18/06/2024 15:07:48 2552749 Link
Replying To ear2ground: "Well their not at risk they are leaving and well overdue in some instances. They have been taking away game time from the younger lads." Ridiculous statement. Ageism has no place in the selection. Unless you've been at every training session and every challenge game you must trust that the management team are picking players on performance & ability. fizzygravy (USA) - Posts: 160 - 18/06/2024 15:46:26 2552765 Link
Replying To ear2ground: "Well their not at risk they are leaving and well overdue in some instances. They have been taking away game time from the younger lads." Maguire, Dolan, gonoud and heslin among others have had injuries over the past 2 league campaigns and featured very little, that's more than enough game time for younger lads to take that jersey and earn their spot ahead of the 4 mentioned, maybe the younger lads are the problem here and aren't as good as some think… and not the old reliables Tailteannchamps (Westmeath) - Posts: 29 - 18/06/2024 15:56:23 2552770 Link
Replying To PowellJohn3: "A big worry if all these players step aside, great servants some of them. The big question is what happens next. Who will the manager be? Minor and U20s set ups have been below par last 5 years, under resourced and no plan put in place to merge underage with adult level, Minors were very disappointing considering the team they had and watching what Longford did, 20s salvage there season and probably only 3-4 players able to make the jump over the next 18 months. I See Westmeath slipping to Div 4 in the next 2 years, if those 6- 11 players go, i dont think we can replace those over the next 2-3 years. Only way to keep all these players is if we get Rory Gallagher or Jim gavin next year. Whos at risk of leaving ? Kevin Maguire 34 Kieran Martin 34 James Dolan 34 Jason Daly 35? Jamie Gonoud 32 John Heslin 32 Jack Smith 33 David Lynch 31 Travelling Wallace Travelling Ray Conellan 30 Could jump ship as suggested Lorcan Dolan 30 - never got a look in will he hang around either" I don't get where lads have the idea Jason Daly is headed for retirement. I stand corrected but I don't think the lad is even 30 yet. Plenty of years left in him and especially in his position. A lot of speculation about other names mentioned without any real substance behind it. Very little respect for lads who have given many years of service only days within getting knocked out of the championship. I wouldn't be surprised to see at least half of those mentioned back next year mintyfresh (Westmeath) - Posts: 233 - 18/06/2024 16:03:00 2552773 Link
Replying To mintyfresh: "I don't get where lads have the idea Jason Daly is headed for retirement. I stand corrected but I don't think the lad is even 30 yet. Plenty of years left in him and especially in his position. A lot of speculation about other names mentioned without any real substance behind it. Very little respect for lads who have given many years of service only days within getting knocked out of the championship. I wouldn't be surprised to see at least half of those mentioned back next year" Mintyfresh hes 34/35. What planet are you on!!!! Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 457 - 18/06/2024 16:18:21 2552778 Link
Replying To BigSur: "I'm hearing quite a few county players heading stateside for the rest of the summer which is obviously a blow to their clubs. Nothing new and I wouldn't begrudge them but tough on the club players left behind. Maybe they will be back for business end of championship." You'd wonder about the split season when this goes in. I don't begrudge them either. I think theres a hugh amount asked of lads who play County these days. Hope they enjoy the states Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1461 - 18/06/2024 16:31:55 2552780 Link
Replying To Temple56: "Mintyfresh hes 34/35. What planet are you on!!!!" I'm on the same planet as yourself. Thanks for asking though. He obviously left it very late to make the county panel. This is only his 5th or 6th year on the panel. mintyfresh (Westmeath) - Posts: 233 - 18/06/2024 17:07:46 2552794 Link
Replying To PowellJohn3: "A big worry if all these players step aside, great servants some of them. The big question is what happens next. Who will the manager be? Minor and U20s set ups have been below par last 5 years, under resourced and no plan put in place to merge underage with adult level, Minors were very disappointing considering the team they had and watching what Longford did, 20s salvage there season and probably only 3-4 players able to make the jump over the next 18 months. I See Westmeath slipping to Div 4 in the next 2 years, if those 6- 11 players go, i dont think we can replace those over the next 2-3 years. Only way to keep all these players is if we get Rory Gallagher or Jim gavin next year. Whos at risk of leaving ? Kevin Maguire 34 Kieran Martin 34 James Dolan 34 Jason Daly 35? Jamie Gonoud 32 John Heslin 32 Jack Smith 33 David Lynch 31 Travelling Wallace Travelling Ray Conellan 30 Could jump ship as suggested Lorcan Dolan 30 - never got a look in will he hang around either" I heard from a Rosemount man that Andy McCormack is going too. He said he's heading to Dubai for a year and will probably be gone before club championship this year. anon (None) - Posts: 355 - 18/06/2024 18:49:06 2552817 Link
Jason will be delighted to hear he looks so young, he's definitely the oldest on the panel, it's to his credit fitness wise and performance wise that he's perceived as being 8-9 years younger than he is. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1789 - 18/06/2024 19:17:08 2552828 Link
From the squad id imagine James Dolan and Kevin Maguire might retire from county-huge committment and these 2 have been brilliant-as have all the lads mentioned but maybe the rest might give div.2 a rattle. Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 200 - 18/06/2024 20:00:34 2552835 Link
Hopefully some of the older lads will stay on for another year. Some unbelievable servants to Westmeath through the years. If it's a case that a lot of lads aren't available then this is a team that could be used next year ; 1. Jack Connaughton 2. Daniel scahill 3. Charlie drumm 4. Sam smyth 5. Daragh Lowry 6. Eoin mulvihill/ Nigel Harte 7. Shane Allen 8. Dylan Murtagh 9. Jonathan Lynam 10. Matthew Whitaker 11. Senan baker 12. Sam McCartan 13. Luke Loughlin 14. Robbie forde 15. Danny McCartan Lakecounty94 (Westmeath) - Posts: 62 - 18/06/2024 21:34:42 2552853 Link
Well done to James Dolan on a fantastic contribution to Westmeath football over the past 13 years and almost 140 championship games. A legendary wing back with a great football brain! Hopefully we will continue to see him grace the field with his club Garrycastle for years to come. A particular memory has got to be the day he ruffled up Diarmuid Connolly when playing Dublin in Croker. londoner (UK) - Posts: 108 - 19/06/2024 14:29:06 2553018 Link
Replying To londoner: "Well done to James Dolan on a fantastic contribution to Westmeath football over the past 13 years and almost 140 championship games. A legendary wing back with a great football brain! Hopefully we will continue to see him grace the field with his club Garrycastle for years to come. A particular memory has got to be the day he ruffled up Diarmuid Connolly when playing Dublin in Croker." Great player. Not to mention his goal against Kildare in 2016. If memory serves me right he scored one against Mayo that year too Bluelake (Westmeath) - Posts: 89 - 19/06/2024 14:43:59 2553025 Link
James Dolan had a truly outstanding career with Westmeath, to be sure. Nowadays, the way the game is played, it's not unusual for wing backs, or even corner backs, to score goals, but most of James' 18 goals for Westmeath were scored at a time when very few wing backs were regularly venturing into goal-scoring territory. midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 577 - 19/06/2024 18:32:28 2553076 Link
Replying To midlands: "James Dolan had a truly outstanding career with Westmeath, to be sure. Nowadays, the way the game is played, it's not unusual for wing backs, or even corner backs, to score goals, but most of James' 18 goals for Westmeath were scored at a time when very few wing backs were regularly venturing into goal-scoring territory." A great Westmeath man.Thanks James for great service. jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1544 - 20/06/2024 09:34:04 2553120 Link