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Has the square ball rule not been this way for last 6-7 years? Or more?
Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2129 - 13/04/2025 02:11:28 2601658 Link 0 |
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Wouldn't say we were unlucky yesterday, we were competitive and probably reflective of where this group of players are, always felt Kildare might just have an extra bit of improvement in them going in to the game as we were really stretched in the league and emptying the tank each week. Not sure what the Tailteann holds but I assume we'd be one of the favourites for it, seeing it doesn't start for up to four weeks I would imagine players will be back with the clubs for potentially the next two rounds of the league, this might actually provide some freshness for the group, they've been going pretty hard since November to their credit. OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 67 - 13/04/2025 11:50:22 2601676 Link 0 |
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Hard luck to Westmeath. Ray Connellan's injury was definitely the turning point of the game. Up to that point Westmeath had dominated midfield winning many of our kickouts. It was the first time in four games that we managed to hold onto a lead coming into the latter stages of the game. The extra game we had in the league final was certainly a benefit to the team. lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3024 - 13/04/2025 13:53:50 2601687 Link 1 |
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One puzzling substitution last night was taking off Danny McCartan who had three points by half time, he was harshly subbed off, likes of Harte, Guerin and Lynam need game time with clubs, Players should go back to their clubs for a fortnight, it's less intense, play a couple of league matches, Tailteann starts in four weeks, it's definitely worth winning, it's a guaranteed way to the Sam Maguire next year, a lot of the 2022 team are no longer on the panel, Lynch, McCormack, Daly, O' Toole, Heslin, Maguire, Drumm, Martin, others too, Offaly will be keen to win it and the losers of Louth vs Kildare, Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2129 - 13/04/2025 14:06:08 2601690 Link 0 |
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Puzzling is right, he was the second best forward.
Bluelake (Westmeath) - Posts: 243 - 13/04/2025 16:30:33 2601708 Link 0 |
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A strange year, a new team built with plenty of heart and and a great attitude, they keep battling, realistically we could have won every game bar Monaghan, the loss of Ray Connellan was enormous he was cleaning up at midfield, kildare only competed in midfield after he went off, 2 high balls into our small full back line resulted in goals, some poor wides, overall I believe we would have won with Ray for the 70mins, he surely would also have kicked a couple of 2 pointers, hopefully we regroup and go for the Tailteann Cup and the management team stay together for the next few years. dec (None) - Posts: 295 - 13/04/2025 18:50:58 2601720 Link 2 |
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Goalie was good kickouts but was at fault for one goals not the full back line OK maybe some small but they weren't blame definitely not for one of them goals from watching the game . This attiude blaming that solely instead looking all round the field. Outside Luke loughlin westmeath not enough ruthless finishers that and midfield after Ray went off Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 679 - 13/04/2025 22:26:36 2601755 Link 0 |
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1st goal great catch by Berine, the shot was straight at mccormick should done better,with that said not a keeper and lot pace on shot. 2nd goal ball dropped short and kildare 6 Hyland was matched up with Brian Guerin who plays in the middle park. So I wouldnt really say full back line majorly involved in either goal? Taught C.Dillon did well on kirwan and hopefully his injury isnt to bad stretcher at the end of game. Giles held his own. Gonoud always very consistent in what you'll get. Half back line for me is now becoming an issue great going forward doesnt provide any real defensive cover. ear2ground (Westmeath) - Posts: 123 - 13/04/2025 22:50:09 2601756 Link 1 |
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I watched the match back and i would say the Goalie was at fault for both goals, i am not getting at him as he is not a goalkeeper, but he let the first shot straight through his hands and he should have cleaned ball and man for the second goal similar to what Gary Connaughton used to do, again i would not blame him its more an error by management to not switch back to a natural goalkeeper after the rules were changed in March, we also missed Charlie Drumm around the square for his size and physicality
dec (None) - Posts: 295 - 14/04/2025 10:59:49 2601799 Link 1 |
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Fair enough point . I was kuat saying bit harsh blame the whole full back line they are not bad. Issue was in midfield
Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 679 - 14/04/2025 11:41:36 2601815 Link 0 |
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It's true what you said about the half back line. Where was Wallace and Harte for the first goal?
iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 150 - 14/04/2025 12:12:02 2601824 Link 0 |
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I think we need a proper goalie, heart wasn't fit. He was off the pace pull the man down 10 minutes to go what did he expect? Only a black card very silly mistake he didn't have to foul him. He would have been pulled for Over carrying,Ray was a big loss in second half Luke was man of the match, some of our subs who came on were not fit some of them had very little game time management will have to take more responsibility some of our players are not good enough for county football, I hope if there is a podcast tonight I hope they will be honest and stress in what they say instead of waffling and say it as it is . and I think we could have won that game with 15 players on the field
Mick1234 (Westmeath) - Posts: 27 - 14/04/2025 12:54:26 2601838 Link 0 |
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Who should replace the players who you deem not good enough for this level? The likes of Shane Allen, Ciaran Nolan and Eoin Mulvihill would all improve our squad but those lads turned down manager's invite, that's their right, all three were on panel in recent years but saw little game time and the commitment is huge to be seeing no action, those lads hopefully will commit in the future as the new rules suit them, mobile, athletic, versatile and able to kick well, Andrew Kilmartin was not togged last Saturday and he's worth introducing as a sub, Charlie Drumm was a loss but he's abroad, I agree re keeper, since the rule change of 4 back there's no call for a footballing keeper, Jason Daly is a loss but there's not many standout keepers at club level, under 20s changed keeper during championship, management unlikely to change tactic on Conor McC at this stage and he has improved on kickouts but he's not good under a high ball, Jonathan Lynam would be an option if they're looking for a keeper, great kicker, fields well, imposing, is there a keeper at intermediate or junior level capable of making the grade? Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2129 - 14/04/2025 15:44:10 2601880 Link 0 |
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Poor performance from 1-4. Goalkeeper poor, could have been 3-4 points behind at half time had kildare taken the goal chance immediately after the first was scored and popped over the ones that dropped short. Twice in the first half Conor Dillon was caught in possession and ushered out over the line. Gonoud not up to the pace. Kildares first 2 pointers there wasn't a Westmeath man within 10 yards of either, all in a heap in the middle. The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different result. This has been the case with the goalkeeper. It's not his fault, it's managements fault for thinking it was going to improve. We had the worst score against at 181 points out of the 4 divisions of the league. I know we scored a lot and it left us at -19 which wasn't the worst but purely on scores against we were the worst which suggests defensively we are way off where we need to be. Chops (Westmeath) - Posts: 798 - 14/04/2025 17:56:47 2601901 Link 0 |
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Were all good lads behind a keyboard, Nigel bursted his ____ to get back on the pitch for Westmeath. And we could talk until the cows come home about where the game was won and lost. Id rather have fellas that want to play for the county as well. Very proud of the effort of the players, they just come up short. Its been a difficult year but theyve never backed down. A few weeks off now with the clubs and come back fresh for the Tailteann Cup
A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 293 - 14/04/2025 18:00:13 2601902 Link 0 |
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Mick1234 I don't think you know what is going on did you not realise Harte was playing half forward first half and got on alot of ball nearly got a goal he was bursting forward then management decide to put him full back in the second half about 17 min to go … which is beyond me no way his position don't know why Gonoud won't stay back I think he afraid of been one and one and as regards the black card he actually didn't pull him down he had his arm around but the Kildare player was milking it a harsh black card Wallace was pulled down a few minutes after and definately was a black but no he didn't get it !!!! Grandcanal (Westmeath) - Posts: 15 - 14/04/2025 20:05:56 2601934 Link 0 |
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I have to agree with you. Management is playing a lot of players out of their positions. Why I do not know Kevin O'Sullivan in the half back lane his best position is centre forward or on the wing. when the game was before the new rules most halfbacks were attacking can't understand why he cannot leave them in that position and let them run at the defence. I see management shouting at players moveing them here and there when you have a game plan let the players do their work at least they will know what's happening
Mick1234 (Westmeath) - Posts: 27 - 14/04/2025 21:34:13 2601948 Link 0 |
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You've missed his point here again. At no point was Kevin o Sullivan playing wing back against Kildare. Numbers on the back are largely irrelevant
Iakecounty90 (Westmeath) - Posts: 10 - 14/04/2025 22:20:36 2601950 Link 0 |
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Harte was half back. Cooney was played too deep to be a scoring threat.
iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 150 - 14/04/2025 23:15:49 2601957 Link 0 |
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I sometimes wonder are people realistic where Westmeath football is concerned . The last time Westmeath won a Leinster senior football championship game was in April 2022 when we beat Longford . Since then we have lost to Kildare ( twice ) , Louth and Wicklow . Our under 20's have been competitive but our minors win over Longford recently was the first since 2022 . We have been competitive in the All Ireland qualifier series but our record shows five defeats and one draw from six games . We lost twice to Galway and Armagh once to Derry and drew with Tyrone. The team which played Kildare last Saturday had eleven changes from the team that lost to Armagh two years ago. Westmeath are not competing with Dublin , Kildare and Meath consistently at under age . They don't have the depth of talent of talent required to compete. The current team and management are doing well in the circumstances . Westmeath supporters need a bit more realism and patience. loughree (Westmeath) - Posts: 74 - 15/04/2025 11:19:41 2602014 Link 0 |