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Westmeath Football thread

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Replying To OverTheHill85:  "Multyfarnham lights, Castledaly lights, TUS lights, Tubberclair lights, Athlone lights, Garrycastle lights. And surely to God it is up to the management to decide where the game should be played. Why would the county board overrule that? Athlone is certainly getting outdated but a great venue for a game and always has been. Most of those grounds do or have held championship double headers and could certainly cater for an U20/U17 B game."
And the clubs you named all have the required standard floodlights for inter county matches to start with? How would it be up the U20 manager and his selectors to decide where such a game is played? They can request all they like but at the end of the day Kenny McKinley doesn't make these calls. I would say the county board have to nominate a home ground to Leinster Council from the beginning of the year and there's a arrangement put in place then for Kinnegad to host the midweek U20/minor games. The county board sees Kinnegad as the best viable alternative to Cusack Park.

iarmhiabu (Westmeath) - Posts: 149 - 20/04/2025 19:07:18    2603162

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Replying To iarmhiabu:  "And the clubs you named all have the required standard floodlights for inter county matches to start with? How would it be up the U20 manager and his selectors to decide where such a game is played? They can request all they like but at the end of the day Kenny McKinley doesn't make these calls. I would say the county board have to nominate a home ground to Leinster Council from the beginning of the year and there's a arrangement put in place then for Kinnegad to host the midweek U20/minor games. The county board sees Kinnegad as the best viable alternative to Cusack Park."
Yes as far as I'm aware they have the required floodlights; Kinnegad is a fantastic venue nobody on here is doubting that. There just seems to be a feeling that the county board could share the load with some of the clubs down towards the south in a bid to improve support for the county team from those areas. I do find it curious that the manager of a team wouldn't have a say in the venue in which his team is playing as it may suit style of play etc. Maybe this is common practice amongst all counties, if so then I am happy to be wrong. It just seems on here that people have to attack at every opportunity when an opinion is put out that they don't agree with.

OverTheHill85 (Westmeath) - Posts: 64 - 20/04/2025 20:18:54    2603207

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Replying To OverTheHill85:  "Yes as far as I'm aware they have the required floodlights; Kinnegad is a fantastic venue nobody on here is doubting that. There just seems to be a feeling that the county board could share the load with some of the clubs down towards the south in a bid to improve support for the county team from those areas. I do find it curious that the manager of a team wouldn't have a say in the venue in which his team is playing as it may suit style of play etc. Maybe this is common practice amongst all counties, if so then I am happy to be wrong. It just seems on here that people have to attack at every opportunity when an opinion is put out that they don't agree with."
Athlones lights are woeful. Kinnegad not bad Lomans probably best in the county.

Chops (Westmeath) - Posts: 797 - 21/04/2025 21:08:54    2603496

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Replying To coffey:  "Has anyone copped onto the biggest flaw in Westmesth gaa at the moment ?
The biggest one I see is westmeath age groups are 14/16/18, so when this year's county minors finish this year unless they are playing in div1 with their club they will be left to rot in div3 4 minor club games.
If we change our age groups to 13/15/17 at least the strong county player can play ul with his adult team and no I am not trying to open the argument on the bases of small clubs not having numbers etc.
Another option bring back the combined teams and improve the standard that all club players play at ."
Totally agree I think Westmeath is only one of 2 counties do not let their minors play up these lads need the games cannot understand the reasoning at all

Grey1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 2 - 22/04/2025 10:09:50    2603571

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Replying To iarmhiabu:  "The marketing campaign has been a total disaster as far as I can see. The Tipperary draw last week was for a 4 bed house in Cashel or €300,000 cash alternative, more appealing for the average Joe than an apartment in Spain. It will be the fault of all the clubs of course, the clubs are being blamed already."
Totally agree has been a disaster and to be honest really badly thought out clubs are constantly under pressure €100 is a lot for any individual and this is only stage one of the development.

Grey1 (Westmeath) - Posts: 2 - 22/04/2025 10:24:27    2603579

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Replying To Grey1:  "Totally agree has been a disaster and to be honest really badly thought out clubs are constantly under pressure €100 is a lot for any individual and this is only stage one of the development."
Yes but we are all on here complaining that we do not have facilities yet when an opportunity is presented to help get this initiative off the ground we do not support it. You may not like the campaign but it is a campaign nonetheless. Get behind it or go support soccer or rugby. I have my ticket, yes it is a lot of money but its what we have to do as GAA Supporters. I am proud to say I have done my bit for my County.

Meridian (Westmeath) - Posts: 675 - 23/04/2025 09:34:03    2603802

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Replying To Grey1:  "Totally agree I think Westmeath is only one of 2 counties do not let their minors play up these lads need the games cannot understand the reasoning at all"
Don't let a simple thing such as facts get in the way of your argument

Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 2128 - 23/04/2025 11:29:35    2603831

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Replying To Meridian:  "Yes but we are all on here complaining that we do not have facilities yet when an opportunity is presented to help get this initiative off the ground we do not support it. You may not like the campaign but it is a campaign nonetheless. Get behind it or go support soccer or rugby. I have my ticket, yes it is a lot of money but its what we have to do as GAA Supporters. I am proud to say I have done my bit for my County."
Good on you. But regardless, shifting blame to clubs for underselling is simply a deflection from the failure of the marketing team. Why bother putting money into marketing at all if the onus was going to be on the clubs. We all need to get behind the fundraiser where we can but it doesn't detract from the failure to promote the fundraiser to a wider audience

Iakecounty90 (Westmeath) - Posts: 10 - 23/04/2025 12:12:22    2603839

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Replying To Grey1:  "Totally agree has been a disaster and to be honest really badly thought out clubs are constantly under pressure €100 is a lot for any individual and this is only stage one of the development."
Listen we have 47 male clubs most of us with 100 members.If we are GAA supporters let's stop moaning and if we can afford it buy a ticket.If we can't let's buy a share in one.We need the center for the youth and whatever about the ins and outs of the draw we the clubs and members can make it work for the good of all in Westmeath and especially the generations to come.

jobber (Westmeath) - Posts: 1686 - 23/04/2025 13:40:52    2603865

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I think the big issue with the fundraiser is that the county board went and purchased some of the most expensive land available to them putting them on the back foot immediately. As many posters suggested the location alienates the Athlone direction and surrounding clubs. They should of looked at better areas.

Dazzler30 (Westmeath) - Posts: 41 - 23/04/2025 15:28:59    2603880

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Replying To Meridian:  "Yes but we are all on here complaining that we do not have facilities yet when an opportunity is presented to help get this initiative off the ground we do not support it. You may not like the campaign but it is a campaign nonetheless. Get behind it or go support soccer or rugby. I have my ticket, yes it is a lot of money but its what we have to do as GAA Supporters. I am proud to say I have done my bit for my County."
We've had plenty of opportunities to do it better and cheaper. It should have been done 20 years ago when Westmeath GAA was on the crest of a wave and support was in a better place. It also could have been done 5 or 6 years ago before property and materials costs went through the roof. Westmeath county board have sat on their hands and hoped the golden goose would come to them for too long.

Just like Cusack park in the early 90's it's a shambles.

Chops (Westmeath) - Posts: 797 - 23/04/2025 16:37:55    2603899

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Replying To Dazzler30:  "I think the big issue with the fundraiser is that the county board went and purchased some of the most expensive land available to them putting them on the back foot immediately. As many posters suggested the location alienates the Athlone direction and surrounding clubs. They should of looked at better areas."
How does it alienate Athlone? Mullingar is as close to the center of the county as you can get. If a player gets seriously injured they are close to Mullingar and Tullamore hospitals. It caters to all clubs hurling and football clubs to have it there. Where do you propose to put it?? If you put it say at Loughnavalley you isolate Finea, Ballycomoyle, Clonmellon etc. Where is better?? Put it somewher like Rathconrath the road infrastructure from any side is not great.

Chops (Westmeath) - Posts: 797 - 23/04/2025 19:35:40    2603917

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I really believe the county board have got this fundraiser very very wrong! Who in truth really wants to win the home in Spain? If the prize was a home in one of our towns in mullingar or athlone they would have no problem selling tickets. Young people in this country cannot afford homes so they would bite your hand off at a chance to win one in a town like mullingar or athlone, not Spain!

Tailteannchamps (Westmeath) - Posts: 38 - 23/04/2025 19:51:01    2603918

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