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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To westmeathfan25: "Is this true? Were younger members part of Leinster winning team? How many CB members are going" I'd reckon very few CB members. If any do, then they'd have to pay their own way imo Greengrass1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 115 - 10/11/2026 12:03:17 2699951 Link
Replying To BadgerDog: "Not true in the slightest in fairness. Anyone that trained and was part of the panel ALL YEAR is going or was invited to go on the trip." This is not true. And it's wrong your saying it Upforthegame23 (Westmeath) - Posts: 190 - 10/11/2026 13:11:23 2699956 Link
Replying To Upforthegame23: "This is not true. And it's wrong your saying it" I presume the posters are referring to the likes of Ty Masterson, Will Scahill and Matthew Thornton and Kealan Connell who joined the panel in March or April after the under 20s and schools finished. They were not part of the squad for November to March but trained from April onwards. They all seemed prominent in the local papers for their clubs doing the 5k fundraising run so presume they're travelling, McHugh I'm sure keen to get them involved and the holiday is a great opportunity for team bonding. Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2871 - 11/11/2026 12:29:55 2700061 Link
Replying To Upforthegame23: "This is not true. And it's wrong your saying it" Name the lads who are being left out so? BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 175 - 11/11/2026 14:26:20 2700082 Link
Replying To BadgerDog: "Name the lads who are being left out so?" See above post; those young lads were on the panel longer than John Heslin was. DelaneyCup2026 (Westmeath) - Posts: 95 - 11/11/2026 14:55:26 2700091 Link
Replying To DelaneyCup2026: "See above post; those young lads were on the panel longer than John Heslin was." I get your point but in fairness there is a big difference. Heslin played a very important role and was specifically asked to come back to the panel. The younger guys who came up from the u20s were brought in to increase numbers for training sessions to allow for training matches to take place, while giving them exposure to the set up. None of them were ever going to get picked for a match day squad. McHugh didn't have to call any u20s up in fairness to him. Having said that it doesnt make sense that there are lads who have been partaking in the fundraising of the holiday if they aren't actually getting to go themselves? BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 175 - 11/11/2026 15:53:58 2700100 Link
Replying To DelaneyCup2026: "See above post; those young lads were on the panel longer than John Heslin was." How many years GCCABU (Westmeath) - Posts: 36 - 11/11/2026 16:13:51 2700101 Link
Replying To BadgerDog: "I get your point but in fairness there is a big difference. Heslin played a very important role and was specifically asked to come back to the panel. The younger guys who came up from the u20s were brought in to increase numbers for training sessions to allow for training matches to take place, while giving them exposure to the set up. None of them were ever going to get picked for a match day squad. McHugh didn't have to call any u20s up in fairness to him. Having said that it doesnt make sense that there are lads who have been partaking in the fundraising of the holiday if they aren't actually getting to go themselves?" I think panel role is irrelevant. If they aren't to be on the holiday no problem, but people are donating money to four lads who won't be on the holiday which again for me is poor form from the organisers. Make no mistake it's the county board saving money by leaving four easy targets behind but using them to generate income; they should have been removed from the campaign when the decision was made. But you can't say oh sorry ye weren't there long enough when in fact they were there potentially longer than John Heslin and possibly one or two more. I'm not arguing the validity of John Heslin on a team holiday to which he's absolutely more than entitled and earned it by the way but he's the comparison here. I'd say James Mitchell was brought in for a similar short period of time. DelaneyCup2026 (Westmeath) - Posts: 95 - 11/11/2026 17:14:23 2700110 Link
All those U20 lads are listed on the fundraiser so must be travelling incl Will Scahill. Best of luck to them and thanks for the memories. BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1287 - 11/11/2026 18:03:50 2700115 Link
Replying To BigSur: "All those U20 lads are listed on the fundraiser so must be travelling incl Will Scahill. Best of luck to them and thanks for the memories." I would be of the same opinion BigSur, surely they are going if they are listed on the fundraiser. If they aren't then it's an absolute disgrace and the county board should be ashamed of themselves putting lads on the fundraiser and letting their names be used to raise money on a holiday they aren't going on. BadgerDog (Westmeath) - Posts: 175 - 11/11/2026 22:34:41 2700148 Link
Replying To DelaneyCup2026: "I think it's pretty fair; they sacrifice a huge amount in what's almost a 12 month season now; my bigger gripe would be younger panel additions being left behind in place of county board members." Absolutely, they should be going. The commitment they give is just as important and needs respected and noticed. What happened in Armagh is no reflection on other squads. Maroon Heaven (Westmeath) - Posts: 70 - 11/11/2026 23:17:47 2700150 Link
Any idea of the league fixtures. I see Laois have there's out and we play them at home in last match Maroon Heaven (Westmeath) - Posts: 70 - 11/11/2026 23:23:26 2700151 Link
Far too much discussion on the Holiday. Give over for God's sake. It is well deserved by whoever travels, partners included. It is likely that several, due to work or other commitments, will not. Every panel member and member of management worked hard to raise funds. If the younger lads who joined the panel to train in the Summer get to go, good luck to them. Good luck to The Downs, Milltown, and St Josephs flying the flag at the weekend. fogonthetyne (Westmeath) - Posts: 17 - 11/11/2026 23:33:08 2700153 Link
Replying To fogonthetyne: "Far too much discussion on the Holiday. Give over for God's sake. It is well deserved by whoever travels, partners included. It is likely that several, due to work or other commitments, will not. Every panel member and member of management worked hard to raise funds. If the younger lads who joined the panel to train in the Summer get to go, good luck to them. Good luck to The Downs, Milltown, and St Josephs flying the flag at the weekend." Nobody is disputing whether there should be a holiday. People are disputing the fact that players who are receiving financial donations aren't even on the holiday and I think that's a very fair point of contention to discuss. DelaneyCup2026 (Westmeath) - Posts: 95 - 12/11/2026 10:26:10 2700167 Link
Replying To BadgerDog: "I would be of the same opinion BigSur, surely they are going if they are listed on the fundraiser. If they aren't then it's an absolute disgrace and the county board should be ashamed of themselves putting lads on the fundraiser and letting their names be used to raise money on a holiday they aren't going on." I don't think the CB had any role to play in the fundraiser, only that they took part. It was as far as I know player & manager let. Manager would have also decided who was going or not. westmeathfan25 (Westmeath) - Posts: 15 - 12/11/2026 10:58:17 2700174 Link
Replying To Maroon Heaven: "Any idea of the league fixtures. I see Laois have there's out and we play them at home in last match" We've been here every year. Draft league fixtures get issued to county boards and most will share publicly with the caveat that they are draft only. Unfortunately Westmeath do not share until set in stone which is a pity but par for the course. BigSur (Westmeath) - Posts: 1287 - 12/11/2026 12:03:41 2700183 Link
Replying To DanGer966: "He never really fancied daly as his no 1, I'd say that's a big reason for his retirement" I will tell you one thing, we would never have won a Leinster title this year were it not for Jason Daly. There is plenty of debate about the most vital score of the year, but I'd argue the most vital moment was Conor McCormack's injury against Meath. Without that injury, Jason Daly might never have got his chance, as you say McHugh fancied McCormack over him for some bizarre reason. McCormack's kickouts were all over the place up until his injury and Daly came in, steadied the ship with the kickouts and made some absolutely vital saves in the Meath and Kildare games. I would go as far as saying we wouldn't have beaten Meath had McCormack stayed in goals. Jason was badly caught out against Galway, but Westmeath still have an awful lot to thank him for. McHugh has worked miracles with this team, but you would have thought he would have learned his lesson from the goalkeeping experiment by now. Bringing in another forward to play in goal is not the answer, particularly after the failed experiment with McCormack. iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 441 - 12/11/2026 12:29:38 2700186 Link
Replying To westmeathfan25: "I don't think the CB had any role to play in the fundraiser, only that they took part. It was as far as I know player & manager let. Manager would have also decided who was going or not." Exactly, only for the efforts of Mark McHugh and his players, there wouldn't be a trip to go on in the first place. The only people who should really be going are the players, management and their partners. The players and management made the sacrifices throughout the year, while their partners supported them through those commitments. The trip should be a reward for those directly involved in the team's success. iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 441 - 12/11/2026 12:43:28 2700187 Link