Messages

Yeah it was too yellows for Wilson, and quite harsh I might add, nothing cynical in either foul.
Glennon seems to have no problem burying the goals in the club championship but playing for Westmeath he seems to want to rip the net out of it, other than that it was his best display for Westmeath since 2004.
Longford really were terrible, slower to every ball and aside from Kavanagh never looked like getting the scores.
Weatmeath will be fairly confident of repeating last years run.

Would Barry Foley make any other county team? Ditto Shaughs, who has never come close to his potential in a senior inter-county shirt.

Rarely post myself, just prefer to sit back and read, but had to here. Of course O'Shaughnessy whould make other inter county sides. The only full-forward line in the country that he wouldnt be guarenteed a start is Cork, but he probably would still start. Like you said he plays in a poor Limerick side who play with no game plan.  When do Limericks midfielders or half backs ever deliver low ball into the corners? The only time the ball comes near him is when a speculative effort at a point has dropped short (he is about 5 foot 9) or if an opposing defender loses possession.  Your correct in saying he hasnt come close to his potential, but im convinced that in a good side he would have all-stars by now.  Being of a similar age myself and having played with or against plenty of top players (which I myself certainly am not   ) he is the most skillful hurler I have been lucky enough to share a field with.
Otherwise though I'd agree with you, Waterford by 5.

20 mins each way, the score was 0-5 0-4 at half time, castletowngeoghagan are a great team, their no 11 Angus Clarke?? would make King Henry look bad.

Well done to Castletown, it been 12 years since a Westmeath club won at this level so long overdue.  Aonghus Clarke is indeed an extraordinary talent, his dad died only a few weeks ago and was involved in the county board. His older brother Joe is on the Westmeath senior team.

Well in Westmeath the two biggest would probably be Athlone v Garrycastle and Mullingar Shamrocks v The Downs in football, Lough Lene Gaels v Castlepollard in hurling.

Until the early 80's Athlone was the only club in the town until a fight over holiday money led to the formation of Garrycastle and a long drawn out court case.  Alot of the current Garrycastle team would be sons of those who led the breakaway.  Back in 2000 Des Dolan temporarily left the county panel after the on field treatment he got off Athlone defender Ollie Keating who was a Westmeath selector at the time.  Last year Garrycastle won their first ever championship game against Athlone.

The Downs - Shamrocks rivalry was also born in the 80's.  The Downs along with Athlone were the kingpins of Westmeath and in 86 Shamrocks finally beat them, starting a winning run which lasted till 2003.  In that game there was a massive sideline brawl, instigated by the Downs manager who has since led Shamrocks to two u-21 titles.  Earlier this year members of both teams brawled outside a Mullingar niteclub and Shamrocks won a championship encounter last month. To add spice, there were two sets of brothers in opposition and whats even more bizzare, one of the Shamrocks players father has a child with one of The Downs players wife.    No love lost there.

The Gaels and 'Pollard played in about 7/8 county finals against each other in recent years and generally hammer the crap out of each other.  Both teams are backboned by a group of brothers, and of course the brothers playing for Pollard are first cousins of those playing for the The Gaels. Lovely stuff.

I agree Billy its our ability to defend v a FF line of Dolan and Two Glennons

David Glennon hasn't been on the Westmeath panel for quite a while.  Alan Mangan will be one of the corner forwards I would imagine.  I see it is being reported that Derek Heavins place at wing-back is under threat as he disobeyed managements orders by playing a club game on Sunday.  O'Fleartherta is ruthless when it comes to indicipline so I wouldn't be suprised if Heavin is left out.

There was not even a neutral referee. Barry Kelly was in charge.  He basically told Billy Morgan to substitute the offender.  This is what is generally accepted in challenge matches as it is seen as beneficial to both sides if neither team goes down to 14.

sigerson cup has lost all real meaning
dr sigerson would turn in his grave at the stuff the likes of dcu and uuj play at
trench cup is where real university gaelic football still happens

Is that the same Trench Cup that Letterkenny IT won in 2005 when Kevin Cassidy, Colm McFadden and Damien Diver all appeared for one year? The previous year they had lost in the first round by about 15 points.

He's not related to any of the (many) Gavins from Rochfortbridge, AZ. Son of Davy Gavin who I think used to be a selector with Westmeath many years ago. Was very impressive for Shamrocks seniors last year while still a minor and was asked to join panel last summer around the same time as Connellon but had the leaving cert so wisely said no.

Two changes to the Dublin team, the vice captain replaces the captain and McConnell takes O'Mahoney's place at midfield:

S Cluxton

P Griffin, N O'Shea, D Henry
P Casey, B Cullen, G Brennan

D Magee, R McConnell

D Murray, A Brogan, D Connolly
D O'Callaghan, K Bonner, C Keaney

Subs: J Leonard, B Cahill, S Ryan, C Goggins, J Magee, C Moran, D O'Mahony, T Quinn, S O'Shaughnessy, D Lally, B Brogan, C Prendeville, P Burke.

....looking forward to my first visit to the Gaelic Grounds

Where has Donnacha Reilly gone to? Was starting a few games in the O'Byrne Cup.