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National Forum

Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To BadgerDog:  "Intermediate Predictions:
Milltown v Rosemount: I think the gap between Section A and B in intermediate is huge. Milltown in fairness have been flying and have been the most impressive team in Intermediate so far and for me are the deserved favorites. Their average winning margin has been 12.5 points per game (based on the 4 games they won) which is very impressive in Section A. Rosemount are definitely not as strong as they once were and they haven't met anyone near the quality of Milltown in the championship so I think will be coming into this one undercooked,. I think Milltown will win by at least 9 points, can't see it being close.
Shandonagh v St Malachys: These sides played out a very tight group game where Malachys won by a point. From what I remember Malachys scored a lot of frees that day and Shandonagh will need to be more disciplined as Gavigan will kick them all day. Shandonagh I feel will play a lot better than they did that day and I'm not sure if Malachys will match the Shandonagh scoring power if they aren't getting frees. Going to go for Shandonagh by 3+."
Attended Shandonagh v Malachys today, could've went either way really but I think overall Shandonagh were slightly more deserving to be in the final. Malachys had a great goal chance that would've put them ahead near the end but it went over rather than under the crossbar. That and the breach near the end were two massive blows to Malachys. Shandonagh will be concerned at how easily they conceded 3 goals in the first half and it's definitely something they need to figure out fast. Kavanagh will be a big loss to Shandonagh for the final, didn't actually see what happened but it was supposedly a striking offence.
Milltown Shandonagh I think is the final everyone would've wanted after last year.

BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 85 - 27/09/2026 18:51:27    2695211

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Replying To BadgerDog:  "Senior Predicitions
Senior
The Downs v Moate: Moate have had a very good year, going from not being able to get out of the group to getting to a semi final. It will be important for them to build on this next year and try and bridge the gap between themselves and The Downs, Lomans and Tubberclair, their age profile suggests they are in a good position to do that. They are probably a little bit behind Garrycastle and Shamrocks as well but will know more in relation to that after this weekend. The Downs have had a few weeks off to try and get a few injuries sorted and they will be primed for this. Lynam being back is a huge addition and I'd expect The Downs to win this one by at least 7 or 8.
Kinnegad v St Lomans: Finding this game so hard to call and will probably change my mind a couple of more times before the weekend. I think that quarter final game will have benefitted Lomans greatly, a tough tight battle that they came out the right side of. O'Toole back is another boost for Lomans to come back in this weekend and they are well familiar with this stage of the championship. Kinnegad have had a great year so far, they have taken a different approach to previous years and are playing a more attacking brand of football which suits the players they have, can't understand why they played that negative boring defensive football for so long given the talent they have. They have been scoring an average of 20 points a game and will need to hit at least that to win this weekend you would feel. The sides played out a draw in the group stages and it could well be a draw again with extra time needed. No result would be a surprise but I'm going to give a tentative nod to Lomans to find a way to get over the line."
Lomans back in another county final and done it in convincing fashion in the end. Fully deserving of their win and the second half was a devastating display of attacking football, scoring 1-17 compared to Kinnegads 4 points. Kinnegad really lost shape in the second half and that got worse when they went down to 14. Lomans were extremely clever in letting Kinnegad go short with the kickout and then putting in a massive press, they must've got 3 or 4 points from it. The mccartans really stood up and Heslin proved his importance with some massive 2 point scores from dead balls. Kinnegad will be kicking themselves and Lomans impressive record in knockout games continues. Should be a great final.

BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 85 - 27/09/2026 18:56:01    2695212

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Crazy game between St Loman's and Kinnegad, have to hand it to St Loman's. I really didn't think they would beat Kinnegad, based on the evidence of the Championship going into this weekend. Kinnegad were poor and their discipline was atrocious, giving away frees for John Heslin to kick for fun. They were not easy frees either, I was sat beside the free he kicked off the left under the stand and it was a phenomenal kick. Aside from Brian Cooney, none of their best players stood out. St Loman's probably got maximum output from their marquee men, Heslin, Dempsey and the 2 McCartans must have combined got 1-18? Had to laugh at Mickey Dan shouting into his mic at ref to get the Kinnegad man sent off, doing his bit for The Downs. It should be a great Final.

iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 409 - 27/09/2026 19:09:00    2695214

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Lomans showed today just how good they are when it comes to knockout football and what it takes to win.On the other hand Kinnegad showed their lack of experience or what it takes to win.I feel this group of players wont be winning a senior championship any year soon.Their lack of discipline when the game is tight is costing them.Should be a good final and will be very close to call

Bruno@1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 349 - 27/09/2026 20:03:15    2695226

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Replying To iarmhiabu:  "In the words of Michael Scott, Moate were 'there' on merit and deservedly so."
With 10 point plus gaps in both semi finals it will be interesting to see what champ format people think best for next year? A group of 2 straight to the final or maybe include tubberclair and have 2 qualify out of that group and everyone else play to make quarter finals but nobody go any further

CasKD (Westmeath) - Posts: 59 - 27/09/2026 20:06:13    2695229

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Replying To iarmhiabu:  "Crazy game between St Loman's and Kinnegad, have to hand it to St Loman's. I really didn't think they would beat Kinnegad, based on the evidence of the Championship going into this weekend. Kinnegad were poor and their discipline was atrocious, giving away frees for John Heslin to kick for fun. They were not easy frees either, I was sat beside the free he kicked off the left under the stand and it was a phenomenal kick. Aside from Brian Cooney, none of their best players stood out. St Loman's probably got maximum output from their marquee men, Heslin, Dempsey and the 2 McCartans must have combined got 1-18? Had to laugh at Mickey Dan shouting into his mic at ref to get the Kinnegad man sent off, doing his bit for The Downs. It should be a great Final."
Bit of an unfair comment, it was a clear red card all day long. It was actually the umpires that the ref consulted with more so than the linesman.

BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 85 - 27/09/2026 20:12:55    2695231

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Replying To CasKD:  "With 10 point plus gaps in both semi finals it will be interesting to see what champ format people think best for next year? A group of 2 straight to the final or maybe include tubberclair and have 2 qualify out of that group and everyone else play to make quarter finals but nobody go any further"
Right.

iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 409 - 27/09/2026 20:37:10    2695235

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Replying To CasKD:  "With 10 point plus gaps in both semi finals it will be interesting to see what champ format people think best for next year? A group of 2 straight to the final or maybe include tubberclair and have 2 qualify out of that group and everyone else play to make quarter finals but nobody go any further"
You don't know much if that's your summary

BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 85 - 27/09/2026 20:49:27    2695236

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Lomans were deserved winners, but I thought ref did C/Kinnegad no favors. Some real poor shutting from established C/Kinnegad players, who would have knocked some of those misses in their sleep last year and indeed before today.

Lomans all told, ground out a win, playing smart football gained from experience and patience. Going by both matches this weekend, The Downs will win easy.

Maroon Heaven (Westmeath) - Posts: 68 - 27/09/2026 21:25:58    2695239

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Replying To RamblingHen:  "Totally agree. As a neutral, The Downs were light years ahead of moate today. The county board do really need to have a good look at the format for next year. It was a sad spectacle for a County semi final. That game wouldn't have helped the Downs at all today. The Downs probably need to improve too. I know they were missing a few players too,which if they get those players back will help. But that game today was no contest. Like someone else said on here,moate only played intermediate standard teams in this championship apart from Tubberclair and i would fear for them next year.Hopefully tomorrows game will be better value for money."
Same comments apply to second semi final surely??

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2818 - 27/09/2026 22:56:42    2695248

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Same comments apply to second semi final surely??"
First of all it was actually unfair on coralstown Kinnegad to play Lomans today as they won the group so should get "easier" semi-final. Kinnegad however are there on merit. Stop going cheerleading for the county board. Everybody knows the format is rubbish . Luckily for Westmeath, The Downs are the best team by a distance so it won't matter

Bluelake (Westmeath) - Posts: 374 - 27/09/2026 23:47:26    2695250

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Same comments apply to second semi final surely??"
Is this what the County Board will cling on to when they keep the same format next year? In fairness to Kinnegad, as bad as they were today, they finished the best team and should have had Moate in the Semi Final. They would have beaten Moate by the same margin. Now we have a situation where our County Players (the only County Players in the Country, the Leinster Champions) are personally raising their own funds to go towards their own team holiday. What do you think of that?

iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 409 - 28/09/2026 00:37:49    2695251

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Same comments apply to second semi final surely??"
Absolutely, kinnegad well beaten here too. They never looked liked they were going win. Lomans surprised me today to be honest. I honestly though this would be a closer contest. But lomans had kinnegad well sussed out

In my opinion, It was a better semi-final than Saturday's game, but not by a whole lot. John Heslin showed again today what a class act he is. He seems to be able to produce when it matters, and St. Lomans would certainly be in a lot of trouble without him.

Hopefully it'll be a good final. It should be interesting to see how it goes.

RamblingHen (Westmeath) - Posts: 6 - 28/09/2026 07:47:29    2695255

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Same comments apply to second semi final surely??"
By all accounts the issue was raised at the football review meetings around the county last week and it was openly admitted the structure isn't good enough and there was options for going forward, the favoured one appears to be a return to the previous structure or a similar structure where there could be a preliminary QF between Section A team 4 and Section B team 3 which I think is fair as it provides more incentive and jeopardy and a team finishing fourth can't have any complaints playing the ninth ranked team.

DelaneyCup2026 (Westmeath) - Posts: 67 - 28/09/2026 08:19:34    2695260

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Kinnegad very blunt in attack looked decent in first half ger leech moving well but completely went out of it second half Same with dan leech and giles hit many wides whereas lomans had heslin deadly accurate keeping the scoreboard moving himself and danny mc were excellent. Demo disappointing again only came for few scores when lomans back on top never seems to get them going when its tough age catching up on him. Will need more forwards if they're to topple the downs

Dazzler30 (Westmeath) - Posts: 96 - 28/09/2026 08:24:17    2695261

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Replying To Dazzler30:  "Kinnegad very blunt in attack looked decent in first half ger leech moving well but completely went out of it second half Same with dan leech and giles hit many wides whereas lomans had heslin deadly accurate keeping the scoreboard moving himself and danny mc were excellent. Demo disappointing again only came for few scores when lomans back on top never seems to get them going when its tough age catching up on him. Will need more forwards if they're to topple the downs"
Agree Heslin and D McCartan were excellent, but disagree on Dempsey, he won 2/3 frees that Heslin converted and won countless balls that were kicked in to him, as well as scoring 4 from play including when game was in melting pot. Strange comment about when it's tough, he was their best player vs Kinnegad in the group stage, scored 1-1 in first half when they were 9 points down including a solo goal.

NeilH (Westmeath) - Posts: 14 - 28/09/2026 08:47:38    2695264

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Replying To RamblingHen:  "Absolutely, kinnegad well beaten here too. They never looked liked they were going win. Lomans surprised me today to be honest. I honestly though this would be a closer contest. But lomans had kinnegad well sussed out

In my opinion, It was a better semi-final than Saturday's game, but not by a whole lot. John Heslin showed again today what a class act he is. He seems to be able to produce when it matters, and St. Lomans would certainly be in a lot of trouble without him.

Hopefully it'll be a good final. It should be interesting to see how it goes."
2 below par Semi Finals. St Loman's were far more inventive when playing with the wind than Kinnegad were, have better 2 Point shooters than Kinnegad, and ultimately that was the winning of the game. The kickout battle has become absolutely pivotal, get on top there and you go a long way towards controlling the game. St Loman's were kicking over the press and had a man waiting to run onto the ball, worked a treat for them with the wind whereas Kinnegad keeper was looking for shorts all day and St Loman's let them have it and pinned them in. It was very unlike Kinnegad who have been the best team on kickouts all Championship. Kinnegad probably had enough chances to be 16 points clear at half time, but no John Heslins out there.

iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 409 - 28/09/2026 08:50:38    2695266

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Replying To DelaneyCup2026:  "By all accounts the issue was raised at the football review meetings around the county last week and it was openly admitted the structure isn't good enough and there was options for going forward, the favoured one appears to be a return to the previous structure or a similar structure where there could be a preliminary QF between Section A team 4 and Section B team 3 which I think is fair as it provides more incentive and jeopardy and a team finishing fourth can't have any complaints playing the ninth ranked team."
I can see the logic in bringing back a preliminary quarter-final, but personally I'm not sure the Section A 4th vs Section B 3rd option would be as competitive as it sounds.

In my opinion, the gap between Section A and Section B was massive this year, with Tubberclair probably the obvious exception. Section B was, for the most part, closer to intermediate standard, whereas Section A is effectively the senior championship.

I'd expect the 4th-placed team in Section A to beat the 3rd-placed team in Section B fairly comfortably most of the time. You only have to look at some of the teams in and around the top of the intermediate championship , I'd say Shandonagh or Milltown, for example, would have beaten most of the Section B teams this year.

So while I agree there needs to be more jeopardy and incentive, I'm not convinced putting Section A 4th against Section B 3rd is the fairest solution. You could end up with a fairly one-sided game simply because the two sections weren't really comparable in standard this year.

RamblingHen (Westmeath) - Posts: 6 - 28/09/2026 09:05:59    2695272

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Replying To RamblingHen:  "I can see the logic in bringing back a preliminary quarter-final, but personally I'm not sure the Section A 4th vs Section B 3rd option would be as competitive as it sounds.

In my opinion, the gap between Section A and Section B was massive this year, with Tubberclair probably the obvious exception. Section B was, for the most part, closer to intermediate standard, whereas Section A is effectively the senior championship.

I'd expect the 4th-placed team in Section A to beat the 3rd-placed team in Section B fairly comfortably most of the time. You only have to look at some of the teams in and around the top of the intermediate championship , I'd say Shandonagh or Milltown, for example, would have beaten most of the Section B teams this year.

So while I agree there needs to be more jeopardy and incentive, I'm not convinced putting Section A 4th against Section B 3rd is the fairest solution. You could end up with a fairly one-sided game simply because the two sections weren't really comparable in standard this year."
I can see what you're saying about the gap overall but it's maybe not a bad solution to give the group B teams a bit more incentive. This year it would have been Garrycastle v Athlone, which would have been interesting, although I would have had Garrycastle as favourites alright.

The bigger issue might be the scheduling of a preliminary QF. With football and hurling, every weekend is already taken up by championship games. It might work if you ended up with two clubs that had no dual players and you could play it on a hurling weekend. Otherwise it would be a midweek game and you could have players having to play 3 important games in a week.

anon (None) - Posts: 372 - 28/09/2026 09:19:25    2695275

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Replying To anon:  "I can see what you're saying about the gap overall but it's maybe not a bad solution to give the group B teams a bit more incentive. This year it would have been Garrycastle v Athlone, which would have been interesting, although I would have had Garrycastle as favourites alright.

The bigger issue might be the scheduling of a preliminary QF. With football and hurling, every weekend is already taken up by championship games. It might work if you ended up with two clubs that had no dual players and you could play it on a hurling weekend. Otherwise it would be a midweek game and you could have players having to play 3 important games in a week."
I dont think the B teams can get much more of an incentive with the current format

BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 85 - 28/09/2026 09:21:39    2695278

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