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Westmeath Hurling thread

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Replying To pollard123:  "Last year you were all praising David williams on his free taking and being top scorer of the league just because he missed 3 frees yesterday it's like o jesus quick put Niall O'brien on them or Killian Doyle seems like you have little faith in him ye are all talk about getting the other lads back I think some people don't trust these young lads it's been the young lads that have been killing themselves the last two games and working hard while the players you expect to stand out looked like they didn't want to be there yesterday. Over all I still feel some lads are still out of position shane williams is a wing back when are management going to realise that, put Robbie greville back in centre back that's his natural position. Just my opinion."
Id agree with Robbie Greville back at 6.I didnt say a Word against David Williams a fantastic talent.But facts are facts we lost by 7 missed from 7 scorable placed balls not all from one player.In tight games free taking is crucial.I believe David can get that right and imagine management will keep him on the frees.But the scoring percentages have to be higher.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1637 - 10/02/2025 22:41:29    2590513

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Unlikely Williams would miss those shots again. Fancy us to bounce back and beat Laois. There is lots of talent in that squad.

johnnyh (Westmeath) - Posts: 11 - 14/02/2025 21:18:03    2591068

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Replying To johnnyh:  "Unlikely Williams would miss those shots again. Fancy us to bounce back and beat Laois. There is lots of talent in that squad."
Lots of talent without a doubt now 2 points needed.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1637 - 14/02/2025 22:55:36    2591083

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Many westmeath on dcu team I know Peter Clarke is

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 586 - 15/02/2025 15:06:21    2591144

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That's it then 2A hurling for Westmeath

DanGer966 (Westmeath) - Posts: 30 - 16/02/2025 16:19:47    2591371

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Very disappointing performance and result. Laois seemed in disarray with no Enda Rowland starting and according to Laois supporters he's left the panel. Early on we seemed on top but the goals kept coming and each one at the right time for Laois. Impossible to win matches conceding four goals, our fitness levels don't look good enough for this standard, that's not acceptable, relegation odds on now with Waterford still to play apart from Offaly and Carlow but even four points might not be enough to avoid drop. Carlow have three already. We may be stronger by the championship with more players back but heading into McDonagh cup after relegation to division 3 would be extremely disheartening.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2021 - 16/02/2025 16:22:38    2591373

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Let's be honest, calling it 2A is nonsense, it's the third division, likes of Kildare, Wicklow, Mayo, Donegal, Meath, imagine the attendance in CP for those matches.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2021 - 16/02/2025 16:28:01    2591377

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That was a hard watch. I'm usually quiet the optimist as ye know but with 3 games played I can honestly say I don't think Bulfin is up to it. We looked unfit and very lethargic in everything we did. We even had a spare man for 20 minutes of the second half but you'd be forgiven if you thought Laois had the numerical advantage. Its on the management to have the team prepared and they definitely do not. It had been mentioned that they hadn't even done a block of fitness work prior to Christmas. We clearly have a free taking issue and now today we can see a goalkeeping issue. A lot of problems and Joe Fortune had us moving quiet well and always very prepared, it feels a total contrast now. Very few positives apart from good Individual performances by Shane Williams, Peter Clarke and Conor Gaffney but we are as good as relegated now. Very disappointing.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 993 - 16/02/2025 16:30:59    2591378

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Very poor defeat nit all on manager bit by sounds what I was listening to sideline was very late to try anything or make changes in second half.
Is it now possible see why meath didn't want him that's saying stuff maybe not on him but definitely part of it.

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 586 - 16/02/2025 17:17:45    2591382

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Replying To stonemadbeany:  "Elaborate please"
I don't need to really expand on an answer...today's result is the answer..this was never going to work from the outset..the players are there to comfortably stay in this division,the application is totally wrong

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 776 - 16/02/2025 17:48:56    2591389

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Replying To preddan:  "I don't need to really expand on an answer...today's result is the answer..this was never going to work from the outset..the players are there to comfortably stay in this division,the application is totally wrong"
I have to agree. Starting to see why some delegates didn't want this management appointed.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 993 - 16/02/2025 18:07:21    2591391

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It's very obvious how unfit the hurlers are in comparison to the footballers. Has been a similar theme last year with the hurlers. Blame for that surely rests with the management? That defeat today is massive set back for hurling in the county.

Matthew (None) - Posts: 1054 - 16/02/2025 18:08:40    2591393

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Majority of posters here seem to be blaming the manager but when do the players become accountable? The spine of the side today was not up to scratch, Noel Conaty's retirement was always going to pose problems, he was very assured and unfortunately there's no keeper experienced and consistent who stands out at club level. Ciaran O' Brien will prob get a chance now, Jack Gillen has potential but lacks experience in the position. Jogger was tried at centre back vs Antrim and then moved back, Aaron Craig is a decent wing back but not centre back material and Niall Mitchell is not at his best yet. Physically we looked lightweight today, tough outings now against a buoyant Offaly and Waterford who can't afford to drop points.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2021 - 16/02/2025 18:13:44    2591394

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Majority of posters here seem to be blaming the manager but when do the players become accountable? The spine of the side today was not up to scratch, Noel Conaty's retirement was always going to pose problems, he was very assured and unfortunately there's no keeper experienced and consistent who stands out at club level. Ciaran O' Brien will prob get a chance now, Jack Gillen has potential but lacks experience in the position. Jogger was tried at centre back vs Antrim and then moved back, Aaron Craig is a decent wing back but not centre back material and Niall Mitchell is not at his best yet. Physically we looked lightweight today, tough outings now against a buoyant Offaly and Waterford who can't afford to drop points."
And lot down to management not all but can't not be questioned. Does buffin know the scale of issues or he avoiding it

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 586 - 16/02/2025 19:53:09    2591419

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Needs to be changed or we'll be in Christy ring territory. Way behind in fitness and players looked disinterested... This was not what 11 of the 13 clubs wanted.. Commiitte members attached to football clubs lined up to vote him in... Still time to be rectified in time for McDonagh. We are now in third tier of league with the likes of wicklow meath etc which is disastrous going forward. As westmeath hurling people was it worth what we lost when this appointment was made.? I'd say no.. Line again did not know what to do when we man up. Laois in disarray with goalie gone new center back and down to 24 and we got out scored again in last 20.. Dow to fitness or lack of. Not all on management but they were put in under a cloud of suspicion and it is clearly not working.

Danup (Westmeath) - Posts: 54 - 17/02/2025 07:01:08    2591484

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Just listened to the Podcast live there and I would like to see say the likes of Christo Murtagh, Darren McCormack one of westmeaths greatest hurlers Andrew Mitchell, joey williams Alan mangan already there Brendan Murtagh lads that has played intercounty level and get their opinions on the last few games. Nothing against Pat O'brien at all but just see to see what them lads think of the whole set up and what they have thought of the games so far.

pollard123 (Westmeath) - Posts: 18 - 17/02/2025 21:58:35    2591681

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It doesn't matter whose opinion is asked, everyone in the Larkin Sunday seemed to agree that the hurlers are far behind other teams fitness wise, players seem to be joining the panel every week since Christmas which might explain the fitness levels but is not the way it should be, there are players on the panel and starting team who had average club seasons last year, the halftime subs last Sunday seemed harsh especially as they were two of the younger players, Peter Clarke playing the full game on top of Fitzgibbon final on Sat was unnecessary, chopping and changing free takers is poor and options in goals and centre back at club level are thin on the ground. Some of this is on management but not all.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2021 - 18/02/2025 01:59:49    2591706

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "It doesn't matter whose opinion is asked, everyone in the Larkin Sunday seemed to agree that the hurlers are far behind other teams fitness wise, players seem to be joining the panel every week since Christmas which might explain the fitness levels but is not the way it should be, there are players on the panel and starting team who had average club seasons last year, the halftime subs last Sunday seemed harsh especially as they were two of the younger players, Peter Clarke playing the full game on top of Fitzgibbon final on Sat was unnecessary, chopping and changing free takers is poor and options in goals and centre back at club level are thin on the ground. Some of this is on management but not all."
Shane Williams and Mark Cunningham both made team of the week and I thought they showed up well in fairness to them. There's a lot of issues, it's disappointing to see how poor the fitness is because it's so glaringly obvious and that's completely down to Management. Players coming back in dribs and drabs certainly doesn't help things either but what can we do we need these players back. We'll need Killian Doyle for free taking alone, you can't be missing the ones we've been missing and expect to stay in the division.
Bulfin was already facing an uphill battle before a ball was even pucked and its hard to see how he will turn that around.

Dheen (Westmeath) - Posts: 993 - 18/02/2025 10:15:29    2591730

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Replying To pollard123:  "Just listened to the Podcast live there and I would like to see say the likes of Christo Murtagh, Darren McCormack one of westmeaths greatest hurlers Andrew Mitchell, joey williams Alan mangan already there Brendan Murtagh lads that has played intercounty level and get their opinions on the last few games. Nothing against Pat O'brien at all but just see to see what them lads think of the whole set up and what they have thought of the games so far."
O brieh knows stuff and has knowledge wouldn't make it up

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 586 - 18/02/2025 16:50:21    2591818

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Totally agree. Great hurling man and still cobtributing to teams in his own club

Danup (Westmeath) - Posts: 54 - 18/02/2025 18:14:12    2591832

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