National Forum

Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To martyW:  "He just got it delayed by 2 weeks not more spread out, rounds 2+3 are back to back and rounds 4+5+QF are now back to back. The initial format with it starting this week would have meant it was more spread out with rest week before the QF. However our intercounty players were due a break so it made sense but clubs will be complaining at the QF stage that things are too compressed and players cant recover with short turnarounds"
The fixture problem is actually quite simple. We're a dual county with seven rounds of hurling and eight rounds of football. Football has to finish first every year because of the Leinster Club Championship schedule. Yet, year after year, the county board starts the hurling championship first, even though it has fewer rounds. The inevitable result is football clubs being forced into multiple week-on-week fixtures just to get the championship finished. It's a completely avoidable problem with a bit of forward planning.

Loughlenegale (Westmeath) - Posts: 61 - 13/07/2026 11:53:51    2685569

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I think we'll be looking at reduced groups from next year on in the championship & possibly even the leagues.....is 9 rounds of football league too much?
We are a dual county & some players will could up playing 13-14 weeks in a row if successful & injury free for the championship. Its not a new problem, its been this way for a long time. While I favour the system the way it was last year it looks like it will change again. Non-dual players will argue that the system is fine the way it is.

Left Full (Westmeath) - Posts: 283 - 13/07/2026 13:57:16    2685596

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Is it true our Under 20 Football Management have been relieved of their duties, very harsh
if true

GCCABU (Westmeath) - Posts: 31 - 13/07/2026 14:21:18    2685603

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Replying To Left Full:  "I think we'll be looking at reduced groups from next year on in the championship & possibly even the leagues.....is 9 rounds of football league too much?
We are a dual county & some players will could up playing 13-14 weeks in a row if successful & injury free for the championship. Its not a new problem, its been this way for a long time. While I favour the system the way it was last year it looks like it will change again. Non-dual players will argue that the system is fine the way it is."
The majority of players in the county are sole Gaelic Footballers so to reduce their number of games for a minority is unfair. Could the hurling championship or leagues be reduced to reduce the number of games on the hurling side? Or start the hurling club championship in June as Westmeath tend to be eliminated in May? They'd have three rounds nearly played then and free up the weekends later in the summer.

DelaneyCup2026 (Westmeath) - Posts: 7 - 13/07/2026 14:22:00    2685604

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Replying To Loughlenegale:  "The cost of land in and around Mullingar is the real issue. Most county boards that have planned ahead bought land in rural areas where they got far better value and much more acreage for the same money. It may not have been as central, but from a long-term facilities perspective it was the logical approach and gave them far more bang for their buck. It's not about having a wealthy benefactor-it's about making smart decisions."
Westmeath GAA has been largely Mullingar orientated for a long time, maybe to their detriment. So the idea of the county board putting a COE anywhere but Mullingar just won't happen.

Every man on the street knows the location should be out towards Loughnavalley or Killbeggan but then we are told it has to be Mullingar

DelaneyCup2026 (Westmeath) - Posts: 7 - 13/07/2026 14:25:11    2685606

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Replying To GCCABU:  "Is it true our Under 20 Football Management have been relieved of their duties, very harsh
if true"
It is true yes pushed out from what i hear which is a shame wasnt many jumping at the job when they took over a few years ago had made steady progress doesnt say much for Co Board next time they need a manager for a group nobody willing to take.

Dazzler30 (Westmeath) - Posts: 88 - 13/07/2026 16:13:35    2685628

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