Very defensive display last night plenty of new faces scahill Molly baker good not so sure about Brandon Kelly playing a very defensive roll with his pace should be more of an attacking option

Mooo (Westmeath) - Posts: 48 - 05/01/2023 14:38:27    2451254

Westmeath's next O'Byrne Cup tie is at home to Wexford next Saturday in The Downs (2pm).

Scorers - Louth: J Hughes 0-6 (5f), C Grimes 1-0, C Keenan 0-2 (2f). Westmeath: T Molloy (1m), S Smith (1m), R Forde (2f) and TJ Cox (2f) 0-2 each, S Baker 0-1.

Westmeath: Trevor Martin; Boidu Sayeh, Andy McCormack, Danny Scahill; Anthony McGivney, Eoin Mulvihill, Conor Dillon; Conor McCormack, Jonathan Lynam; Tom Molloy, Senan Baker, Brandon Kelly; TJ Cox, Robbie Forde, Steve Smith. Subs used: Kevin O'Sullivan for Kelly (h-t), Jack Smith for Lynam (h-t), Stephen McGonagle for Sayeh (53), Sam Smyth for A McCormack (53), Adam Treanor for Cox (53).

Courtesy of Gerry Buckley in Westmeath Examiner

BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1182 - 05/01/2023 15:48:20    2451269

Thought myself it was a pretty good performance for first time out with a mostly new inter county team.Restricted Louth to only 1 pt in second half despite Louth playing with a pretty strong wind.Westmeath had plenty of possession overall and maybe in second half too many balls were played into the corner but they were playing against a totally blanket defence-literally 13 players behind the ball-shocking but expected tactics from Mickey Harte coached team.Referee gave Louth 4 scoring frees for off the ball stuff yet for most of the second half Steve Smith was being literally pulled and dragged off the ball with nothing given from ref or worse still from the linesman who was only metres away from it.Ref very poor

Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 257 - 05/01/2023 17:26:07    2451281

That was a shocking performance by Westmeath, owned the ball but had no cutting edge.
A lot of lads playing out of position compared to where they play with there clubs.
I think dessie and co got it all wrong.
I feel they should have blood all these lads along side some experience in all 3 games.
But basically they have went with a B team and an A Team.
Scahill, McCormack did well and molloy. Playing an extra man back in o Byrne cup is just out right silly. Go and have a lash.

PowellJohn (Westmeath) - Posts: 95 - 05/01/2023 21:33:42    2451301

Looks like there will be substantial changes for next day, Dessie suggesting Matthew Whittaker and Sean Leech could start. Are both these U20 as well along with Scahill and Baker ? I hope Damien Gavin will get to use them when he needs them. I heard the 20's were poor during the week in a challenge v Moate CS but must have been missing a lot so won't read too much into it. Kinnegad lads rightly given time off to mourn their team mate.
Who else are key members of U20 squad - presume Lomans have a few in maybe Danny McCartan and Jack Geoghegan.
No doubt Killucan and Kinnegad will also have a few. The Downs defeated T'Pass in the div 2 decider so maybe a few from those teams too. Earley, Harte, Clarke and the Piersons looked decent for TPass. Anyone know the U20 fixtures ?

BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1182 - 06/01/2023 14:06:19    2451346

Complete new team/squad for Wexford game id say and maybe a mixture of both for Kildare game-everyone getting a chance

Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 257 - 06/01/2023 18:33:21    2451387

Westmeath must have one of the poorest intercounty social medias out there! No team list for today , the first score updates was after 17 mins when the score was 8-1, and no names of who scored. It's incredibly frustrating for anyone who wants to keep up to date!

Wmeath2 (Westmeath) - Posts: 182 - 07/01/2023 15:30:50    2451436

Westmeath fan (Westmeath) - Posts: 61 - 07/01/2023 15:53:04    2451441

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1898 - 07/01/2023 16:11:56    2451446

Edman78 (Westmeath) - Posts: 100 - 07/01/2023 16:52:56    2451449

We had a full strength team out bar Luke L. Not sure did management misjudge the two games as clearly we fielded a B team on Wednesday and our full team today. Wind made conditions difficult but we were decent albeit Wexford were atrocious, they failed to score with the gale for 31 mins in second half. Clearly they're a division 4 side, good few Leinster sides at that level, Carlow, Wicklow, Wexford, Laois.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2139 - 07/01/2023 17:57:17    2451462

Matthew (None) - Posts: 1077 - 07/01/2023 19:04:26    2451467

Shane Dempsey was excellent this afternoon, scored at least 2 fine points, was fouled for 2 converted frees, he's in fantastic shape and a definite addition to the panel. If we drop players for misses then we'll have no team.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2139 - 07/01/2023 20:38:18    2451474

Westmeath213 (Westmeath) - Posts: 338 - 08/01/2023 13:14:33    2451509

Strange to see Kieran Martin part of this squad, a great servant to the county but dessie has to cut 12 players for the league or so. Do you keep someone who can only give 5 minutes or potentially a player who can give you 10 years.
Would be great to see Westmeath play without O'Toole for 3 or 4 games in the league he is the playmaker. If he is tied up by the better teams we are in trouble the 2 half forwards the last day offered very little because was all through the lomans centered approach. Now they did fine but you could see McCarton, o toole, heslin and Shane Dempsey all play together.
Also hope jack smith isn't too bad he would be a big loss.

PowellJohn (Westmeath) - Posts: 95 - 08/01/2023 21:09:13    2451628

Thechick (Westmeath) - Posts: 268 - 09/01/2023 11:20:08    2451670

A_Chairde (Westmeath) - Posts: 294 - 09/01/2023 13:49:43    2451710

BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1182 - 09/01/2023 14:18:23    2451717

Thechick (Westmeath) - Posts: 268 - 09/01/2023 15:27:08    2451729

TigerWoods90 (Westmeath) - Posts: 156 - 09/01/2023 15:45:18    2451738