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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To Laker1500: "Was hoping for Monaghan at home. Away… in Clones, Will take it. I give us a real chance. Monaghan are a great footballing county and play great football. Clones away should be a cracker. Monaghan don't have the inside line Galway has. Monaghan are (in some games) very reliant on dead ball. Mc Carron unreal but 33 and they can't keep relying on him as much as they are. Dessie ward is 32 I think. Conor mc carty is very good tbf. I think our full back line will do a job on their inside line … Mooney also looks to be out inj and he is a real goal threat. Learn from the messy goals v Galway and Monaghan could be under real pressure from play... Monaghan have had 2x extra time games. They were 12 pts down v Derry and looking very average in parts. Tbf, some come back. They lost extra time looking tired in the Ulster final. They lost to mayo. Good against the Rossies... I was hopeful going into galway but thought Galway to shade it ... We will beat Monaghan." We scored 1-19 from play out of 1-20 the last day. 2 x45s and 2 x frees of the 2-20 against Mayo … I'd suggest get your facts right before throwing round loose posts. The rossies did it last week. veterngaa (Monaghan) - Posts: 1063 - 15/06/2026 18:36:03 2680024 Link
My team vs Monaghan: 1. Daly 2. Baker 3. Charlie 4. Scahill 5. Wally 6. Allen 7. Dillon 8. Ray 9. Ormsby 10. Cooney 11. McCartan 12. Whittaker 13. O'Sullivan 14. S. Baker 15. Kelly I felt Shane was huge when he came on. He gave us another option off kick-outs and meant we weren't overly reliant on Connellan, even though he picked up an injury. Hopefully himself and Whittaker are back soon. A few negatives: the goals conceded were disappointing, especially the one just before half-time. I think most would agree Heslin is better as an impact sub at this stage. McCartan was outstanding and, for me, Westmeath's best player on the pitch. The only criticism is that at times he maybe took a little too much out of the ball with an extra solo or two, but overall he was superb and showed great composure for the score at the end. Kick-outs were a huge issue. We were bullied around midfield for periods and when we went short we conceded a goal. I felt that when we ran directly at galway, they opened. At times we overplayed it through the hands and slowed it down, which allowed them to get set defensively. Our game management wasn't great either. Kicking a shot with 30-odd seconds left and then allowing them to go down and get a goal was very similar to the Wexford game. Anyway, a strong performance roll on Clones Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 180 - 15/06/2026 18:36:28 2680025 Link
Monaghan away is a fairly even enough game-they will be slight favourites but if it was in Mullingar we would be favs.Was in Clones in Feb 2025 for the league game and what a game -we scored 2.21 and still lost by 8 pts!!New rules had come in and 2 pointers were all the rage as was the roving keeper-Rory Beggan scored 2 from play (I think) but he spent most of the game out around midfield catching balls for fun.We were very good that day and the score was a bit unfair to Westmeath as Monaghan scored 1-3 or something in the last few mins when we were pressing forward looking for a score.We are a much bettet outfit now and hopefully with everyone fit we will give them a right rattle.Brilliant support again in Galway on sunday so hopefully the lads get the same next sunday--will be a huge improvment on the crowd in Clones last year Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 334 - 15/06/2026 19:34:04 2680029 Link
Nearly another comeback yesterday. Unfortunately not to be. Some bad decisions cost us a better chance of winning. Injuries catching up. Point to make about Brandon Kelly who has been unreal the last 2 months.It was absolute criminal as to why the ball was not been given into to him, when numerous occasions, especially the first half, Was wide open. Goal just before HT pretty much killed the game. 30 seconds left Sam McCartan should never have taken that shot on. He decision making and failing to pass the ball was very noticeable yesterday. The yellow card he got sum up his day,and refusing to pass the ball costing his team any chance of winning. Heslin 70mins head scratcher. Forde should have gotten more time . Roll onto next week. Joeynyc (Westmeath) - Posts: 19 - 15/06/2026 20:50:47 2680041 Link
Replying To mickcunningham: "While Monaghan is not a bad draw allow me a little rant . The only 2 provincial champions left Westmeath and armagh both have tough away fixtures . So while im delighted that the delaney Cup is in westmeath in my opinion and im sure I'll be slated the 2 of westmeath and armagh should have had a home draw as some kind of reward" I agree with you, Mick, but I'd also mention that winning Leinster or Ulster is far more difficult than winning Munster, for instance. Kerry have one meaningful game to win a provincial title and I don't think that should bestow any special privileges on them in the All-Ireland series. midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 636 - 15/06/2026 21:00:58 2680043 Link
Replying To Mooo: "Fine effort from the lads yesterday a couple of mistakes cost us dearly Galway are all Ireland condenters so to lose by 3 points is no great shame taught some of our play was good -but we also need thehe ball to go in quicker to the full forward line Brandon kelly made some fine runs into space without having any joy" taught Robbie ford should have got more playing time " but we move on to monaghan now and give it a good go 50/50 gsme" We need to start Robbie Ford now,was calling out for him from half time onwards.Got 6 mins.Playing with the wind second half would have suited him down to the ground imo. gerry1414 (Dublin) - Posts: 59 - 15/06/2026 21:07:07 2680044 Link
Replying To mickcunningham: "While Monaghan is not a bad draw allow me a little rant . The only 2 provincial champions left Westmeath and armagh both have tough away fixtures . So while im delighted that the delaney Cup is in westmeath in my opinion and im sure I'll be slated the 2 of westmeath and armagh should have had a home draw as some kind of reward" Not disagreeing with you on this. I would say though i recall last season when we beat Mayo and Ros to win Connacht we then got the group of death (Armagh, Dublin & Derry) as a reward for winning a provincial title. And our boys had been on the road for 4 yrs at the business end of each season. I do agree though there should be some additional incentive to win your province. kiloughter (Galway) - Posts: 1998 - 15/06/2026 21:17:16 2680045 Link
I would have thought the decision to start Heslin was based on kicking frees in to that wind in first half, didn't look like much on Sunday Game, but it swirled all over the pitch. I'd also have said pulling Cooney off was due to the significant height advantage Galway had on us. They were and always have been a big unit. Darcy was outstanding. While u look at Aidan O'Shea and Sam.Mulroy hit weak shots in the last min yesterday, credit to McCartan and Robbie Forde for balloning their 2 pointers over in the last few mins of the match. Still energy in those legs yet Looking forward to a great game in Clones. Im sure the leaving cert and junior cert students who havn't made a match yet with their studies, get a day out. Maroon Heaven (Westmeath) - Posts: 64 - 15/06/2026 21:18:53 2680046 Link
Replying To Joeynyc: "Nearly another comeback yesterday. Unfortunately not to be. Some bad decisions cost us a better chance of winning. Injuries catching up. Point to make about Brandon Kelly who has been unreal the last 2 months.It was absolute criminal as to why the ball was not been given into to him, when numerous occasions, especially the first half, Was wide open. Goal just before HT pretty much killed the game. 30 seconds left Sam McCartan should never have taken that shot on. He decision making and failing to pass the ball was very noticeable yesterday. The yellow card he got sum up his day,and refusing to pass the ball costing his team any chance of winning. Heslin 70mins head scratcher. Forde should have gotten more time . Roll onto next week." That's a borderline nasty post about arguably our best player over the past 3-4 years, a man who leads by example on and off the field, he made a couple of mistakes yesterday as did every player including Shane Walsh but to post such nonsense is unwarranted Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2675 - 15/06/2026 23:41:47 2680058 Link
Replying To Maroon Heaven: "I would have thought the decision to start Heslin was based on kicking frees in to that wind in first half, didn't look like much on Sunday Game, but it swirled all over the pitch. I'd also have said pulling Cooney off was due to the significant height advantage Galway had on us. They were and always have been a big unit. Darcy was outstanding. While u look at Aidan O'Shea and Sam.Mulroy hit weak shots in the last min yesterday, credit to McCartan and Robbie Forde for balloning their 2 pointers over in the last few mins of the match. Still energy in those legs yet Looking forward to a great game in Clones. Im sure the leaving cert and junior cert students who havn't made a match yet with their studies, get a day out." Definitely heslin in from the start for the physical side of it and he's experience. Having conroy 6"4 and Maher 6"3 in midfield gave Galway a major advantage and Darcy played out of his skin at 10. A great performance from us but the the mind was willing the legs just couldn't get there on Sunday. The squad is robust enough to compete even with all the walking wounded so plenty of positives from Sunday to take into the Monaghan match. 2maroonjerseys (Galway) - Posts: 159 - 16/06/2026 08:00:39 2680070 Link
Replying To veterngaa: "We scored 1-19 from play out of 1-20 the last day. 2 x45s and 2 x frees of the 2-20 against Mayo … I'd suggest get your facts right before throwing round loose posts. The rossies did it last week." Must be nothing going on in your own forum if you have to land into ours Lakeman93 (Westmeath) - Posts: 17 - 16/06/2026 09:21:12 2680085 Link
It will be very interesting to see what sort of crowd we bring to Clones. westmeathforham (Westmeath) - Posts: 4 - 16/06/2026 10:00:19 2680095 Link
Replying To westmeathforham: "It will be very interesting to see what sort of crowd we bring to Clones." I'd reckon a rather big crowd. 15k plus to travel. Place will be hopping. Last chance saloon for both sides. Clones relatively near but a bloody nightmare for parking. Go early!! Greengrass1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 70 - 16/06/2026 12:38:02 2680153 Link
Any pub recommendations to watch the Dublin v Dinegalk game in Clones? Fighting-Cocks69 (Westmeath) - Posts: 180 - 16/06/2026 13:26:34 2680163 Link
Replying To Claretandblue: "That's a borderline nasty post about arguably our best player over the past 3-4 years, a man who leads by example on and off the field, he made a couple of mistakes yesterday as did every player including Shane Walsh but to post such nonsense is unwarranted" Totally agree to even say a bad word about Sam McCartan for what he has done for the county on and off the pitch in terms of standards is absurd. Yes he makes mistakes but he makes them because he is the leader of the team and has to be the one to force the play and try make things happen. Easy not make any mistakes recycle the ball if your not trying to make anything happen. Westmeath25 (Westmeath) - Posts: 22 - 16/06/2026 13:45:45 2680169 Link
Replying To Fighting-Cocks69: "Any pub recommendations to watch the Dublin v Dinegalk game in Clones?" round tower on fermanagh street is about 400 meters from the diamond ExiledCuCu (Cavan) - Posts: 296 - 16/06/2026 15:55:57 2680199 Link