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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To iarmhiabu:  "Exactly. It stinks of the old boys club. We need to see more people like Shane Donoghue making representations on behalf of the clubs. Too many clubs are afraid to rock the boat in case they "do us a turn". Clubs need to start sending delegates that will take into consideration the views of the club, not the same people attending county board meetings for over 20 or even 30 years."
What did Shane say/do?

Gaawestmeath (Westmeath) - Posts: 108 - 14/07/2025 16:42:00    2625672

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Therefore the onus is on the club to send a delegate to represent their views? It's not an old boys club if clubs change their delegates but that's up to the clubs?"
Do you really think younger members who are involved in their clubs be it playing or coaching have the appetite to go up and be shut down with any progressive views they have; it's a closed shop.

OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 107 - 14/07/2025 18:12:59    2625703

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Replying To Iakecounty90:  "This is all great in theory until you realise how difficult it must be for fixtures committees etc to actually arrange times and dates for all these games. The amount of bs they must have to deal with from clubs, particularly due to all games being neutral venues. If only a handful of clubs around the county are willing to give our senior footballers a place to train ever, I can't imagine what it's like trying to book a pitch months in advance off the same people who've no regard for any fixture secretary or co board rep"
Agreed there is a lot to it and there should be a fixtures committe and not just one person. But lets start at the beginning. Leagues are home and away so they can be fixed. That takes us to July. Championship fixtures can still be put to a day in February without confirming venues and refs. Once you balance out the amount of games per day.

Dote (Westmeath) - Posts: 230 - 15/07/2025 11:03:57    2625803

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Replying To jobber:  "Put your name forward for fixtures secretary for 2026.Its going to be wonderful to have someone in that position who understands the fixtures situation so well and will finally sort out the years old conundrums."
Jobber I would be willing to go on a fixtures committe and put in the work into a fixtures plan but don't have enough time to attend county board meetings or do the weekly logistics. As far as I'm aware there isn't a committe in place to help

Dote (Westmeath) - Posts: 230 - 15/07/2025 11:13:20    2625805

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Therefore the onus is on the club to send a delegate to represent their views? It's not an old boys club if clubs change their delegates but that's up to the clubs?"
My point is we had been sending a delegate who we believed was representing our views and then it transpired he didn't even vote in something that we as a club had a deep rooted interest in and a detailed discussion at club committee level about because he is in an old boys club and didn't want to be seen to upset the Apple cart in the county board. We as a club should obviously look to send someone else up after this year but it's not as straightforward as that. These people are not that easy to remove and especially in the day where getting volunteers involved isn't that easy they take their position for granted and almost seem to be permanent fixtures.

mintyfresh (Westmeath) - Posts: 262 - 15/07/2025 13:00:42    2625822

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Replying To Dote:  "Agreed there is a lot to it and there should be a fixtures committe and not just one person. But lets start at the beginning. Leagues are home and away so they can be fixed. That takes us to July. Championship fixtures can still be put to a day in February without confirming venues and refs. Once you balance out the amount of games per day."
There is a committee. The CCC make the fixtures for championship.

Wmeath2 (Westmeath) - Posts: 187 - 15/07/2025 15:03:08    2625862

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Replying To Dote:  "Jobber I would be willing to go on a fixtures committe and put in the work into a fixtures plan but don't have enough time to attend county board meetings or do the weekly logistics. As far as I'm aware there isn't a committe in place to help"
Fair play.The committee is the CCC nothing to do with county board meetings.I dont know how often they meet but as an ex club delegate i imagine quite a bit when they make the Championship and league fixtures plans in january,then a bit of a lull and probably a lot from june to october. If say they take all the help they can get so chat your club secretary.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1758 - 15/07/2025 16:45:18    2625889

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Replying To OverTheHill85:  "Do you really think younger members who are involved in their clubs be it playing or coaching have the appetite to go up and be shut down with any progressive views they have; it's a closed shop."
Examples of progressive views being shut down please? Otherwise it's just more of your empty rhetoric

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2285 - 15/07/2025 17:12:37    2625900

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Examples of progressive views being shut down please? Otherwise it's just more of your empty rhetoric"
Out of about 15 regular posters on this forum I'd say 14 feel the county board have created a big disconnect with the clubs; so much so our chairman has been slated for his recent rant, I've been arguing about 6 months at this stage why I feel there's a disconnect and frankly haven't the energy to go through it all again. You are possibly the only person on this forum who seems to think every decision made at county board level is the correct one; from the running of the ticket sales, to fixtures clashing on All Ireland Final day last year which you categorically got wrong, to the threat to remove home venues from clubs to the fact that fixtures need to be released more than 2 weeks in advance of championship games; you even blamed the clubs for not sending young people with no interest in the administration side to meetings when in fact if people voted responsibly in the first place we wouldn't need to be sending young ones; so my concern is that you are probably one of the exact sort of delegates that would vote in favour of the county board over your club, but probably put your hand up for re-election at your club AGM each year. There can be no other reason for your bias; maybe you hold a position as it is; who knows.

OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 107 - 15/07/2025 23:15:39    2625961

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Replying To OverTheHill85:  "Out of about 15 regular posters on this forum I'd say 14 feel the county board have created a big disconnect with the clubs; so much so our chairman has been slated for his recent rant, I've been arguing about 6 months at this stage why I feel there's a disconnect and frankly haven't the energy to go through it all again. You are possibly the only person on this forum who seems to think every decision made at county board level is the correct one; from the running of the ticket sales, to fixtures clashing on All Ireland Final day last year which you categorically got wrong, to the threat to remove home venues from clubs to the fact that fixtures need to be released more than 2 weeks in advance of championship games; you even blamed the clubs for not sending young people with no interest in the administration side to meetings when in fact if people voted responsibly in the first place we wouldn't need to be sending young ones; so my concern is that you are probably one of the exact sort of delegates that would vote in favour of the county board over your club, but probably put your hand up for re-election at your club AGM each year. There can be no other reason for your bias; maybe you hold a position as it is; who knows."
I agree with you. I was thinking the same thing last week that this person must hold a position on the county board. The Chairperson's term ends this year, and he'll be remembered for his notable decisions, including the purchase of overpriced land for the COE for 1 million.

Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 562 - 16/07/2025 10:14:21    2626004

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Good long post to deflect from your inability to answer the question I asked. I don't think the county board get everything right, in my own club and I'm on our executive thirty years we've got things wrong, but it's always well intentioned and in the absence of people stepping up that's par for the course. Constantly finding fault though is what you do.

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2285 - 16/07/2025 10:34:21    2626011

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Good long post to deflect from your inability to answer the question I asked. I don't think the county board get everything right, in my own club and I'm on our executive thirty years we've got things wrong, but it's always well intentioned and in the absence of people stepping up that's par for the course. Constantly finding fault though is what you do."
No I don't constantly find fault I think our championship structure is excellent now they are proposing changing it. I think our league is fantastic and very well ran from February - June. Minor finals on county final day is super also, the podcast and championship previews/launch is also very good, some really good and honest people behind the scenes. Our website when updated is excellent and informative. But the areas highlighted over the recent months by posters on here are all very real. Our local paper literally had a two page spread where delegates are at odds with the executive over recent events. So I'm not deflecting at all, you still haven't corrected your error regarding fixtures on AI day last year.

OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 107 - 16/07/2025 14:29:10    2626093

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Replying To Temple56:  "I agree with you. I was thinking the same thing last week that this person must hold a position on the county board. The Chairperson's term ends this year, and he'll be remembered for his notable decisions, including the purchase of overpriced land for the COE for 1 million."
100%.

iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 179 - 16/07/2025 16:04:04    2626123

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For what it's worth too, I agree entirely that the disconnect between CBoard and clubs is probably at its widest point. There are some great intentions on the CB with people BUT there are also massive issues with criticism/advice - it is often not taken well and even to the point where, as someone already mentioned, there is a sense of entitlement to a position so how dare you tell me/advise me on what to do.
Anyway I've spent too much of my life the last year or so talking to people about this issue!!

Any thoughts on the upcoming football champ? Senior + Intermediate and also J1 or J2 if anyone interested!

HardToKnow135 (Westmeath) - Posts: 1 - 17/07/2025 16:36:14    2626288

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Replying To HardToKnow135:  "For what it's worth too, I agree entirely that the disconnect between CBoard and clubs is probably at its widest point. There are some great intentions on the CB with people BUT there are also massive issues with criticism/advice - it is often not taken well and even to the point where, as someone already mentioned, there is a sense of entitlement to a position so how dare you tell me/advise me on what to do.
Anyway I've spent too much of my life the last year or so talking to people about this issue!!

Any thoughts on the upcoming football champ? Senior + Intermediate and also J1 or J2 if anyone interested!"
Spare a thought for the "vast majority" of our players who will be playing 12 games in the next 12 weeks. Never heard of before in the GAA. Absolute crisis, let's change the championship structures.

iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 179 - 18/07/2025 14:35:00    2626437

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Championship Predictions

Senior 1:
The Downs and Kinnegad will finish in the top two. St. Loman's will place third and return to the quarter-finals for the first time in a long while. Fourth place looks like a battle between Athlone and Shamrocks, while T Pass likely to finish at the bottom.

Senior 2:
Moate are strong favourites to top the group, with plenty of momentum following their U20 success last year. Robbie Forde will be a standout at this level. Second place will likely come down to a battle between Caulry and Killucan. The Tang vs St. Malachy's clash in Round 1 could be crucial in the relegation fight.

Intermediate 1:
Tubberclair go in as favourites it's their championship to lose. Second spot looks to be a tight contest between Milltown and Shandonagh, with Multyfarnham and Rosemount battling for the final quarter-final place.

In Intermediate 2, Milltownpass and Castledaly to be well ahead of the competition. The remaining four sides could all find themselves in danger of relegation.

Junior:
Ballinagore are the team to beat, especially with Tommy McDaniels back in the mix.

Temple56 (Westmeath) - Posts: 562 - 21/07/2025 11:54:32    2626842

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Garrycastle got to league final in division 1, surely favourites to qualify in their section? Shandonagh my tip to win intermediate, missing no one, few players like McCrossan, Cronin, Molloy and Mikey Boyle all back, best panel in championship,

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2285 - 21/07/2025 12:39:37    2626863

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Replying To Temple56:  "Championship Predictions

Senior 1:
The Downs and Kinnegad will finish in the top two. St. Loman's will place third and return to the quarter-finals for the first time in a long while. Fourth place looks like a battle between Athlone and Shamrocks, while T Pass likely to finish at the bottom.

Senior 2:
Moate are strong favourites to top the group, with plenty of momentum following their U20 success last year. Robbie Forde will be a standout at this level. Second place will likely come down to a battle between Caulry and Killucan. The Tang vs St. Malachy's clash in Round 1 could be crucial in the relegation fight.

Intermediate 1:
Tubberclair go in as favourites it's their championship to lose. Second spot looks to be a tight contest between Milltown and Shandonagh, with Multyfarnham and Rosemount battling for the final quarter-final place.

In Intermediate 2, Milltownpass and Castledaly to be well ahead of the competition. The remaining four sides could all find themselves in danger of relegation.

Junior:
Ballinagore are the team to beat, especially with Tommy McDaniels back in the mix."
Do u think streamstown look good too ballynacarrgy too

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 810 - 21/07/2025 13:01:02    2626869

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Replying To Claretandblue:  "Garrycastle got to league final in division 1, surely favourites to qualify in their section? Shandonagh my tip to win intermediate, missing no one, few players like McCrossan, Cronin, Molloy and Mikey Boyle all back, best panel in championship,"
I believe Adam treanor is unavailable, at least for some of the earlier rounds

Iakecounty90 (Westmeath) - Posts: 24 - 21/07/2025 13:41:47    2626887

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Senior: Can't see any other than Lomans, Downs or Kinnegad winning it. Shamrocks will push them but after last years disappointment & the fact that Lomans have some lads away The Downs should be winning it this year.

Intermediate: Similar to senior its between 3 teams, Shandonagh, Tubberclair & Milltown. Milltown without Conor Dillon unlikely to do it. Tubberclair had a great league campaign so I'm tipping them to win it.

Junior: This one is tough to call, there's not much between the teams in section A but I think Lomans or Shamrocks from section B could win it this year.

Left Full (Westmeath) - Posts: 259 - 21/07/2025 15:00:36    2626918

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