NFL Division 4 2017

[Croí na hÉireann]

Lonely aul division in here. Good win for Westmeath down in Ardmore yesterday. Jaysus, I'll never give out about Salthill again, was nearly swept out to sea by the gale force winds, must have been worth at least 10 points. Looked like it was going to be a tight finish at half time with Westmeath only 1-9 to a point up but in fairness to the lads they drove into the wind in the second half. We created some amount of goal chances and missed about 90% of them, serious work on goal conversation to be done. Waterford did a Joe Sheridan and carried one over the line for us and Darren Quinn returned the favour in the last minute by getting the legs stuck underneath him and letting in one over his head that a Junior B keeper would be livid with. The Bear was like a bull in a china shop, bizarrely Waterford didn't provide full time protection in front of him and anytime he got on the ball he ran through his man. He got two goals but could've had at least another 2. Ger Egan well cleared the crossbar with a penalty and the rest were either put narrowly wide or some last ditch Waterford defending saw them keep it respectable.

Tom Cribbin was rightfully critical afterwards about having to play in Ardmore with other far more suitable pitches in Waterford, the GAA will have to be stronger on this. Apart from the Carlow game it has been a professional job for Westmeath so far, almost Dublin like. Should never have been relegated last year, that performance in Longford has really cost us this year in terms of a competitive league. We have the bottom 2 at home to come so should start those with little game time so far in those games. Wexford should give us two good games so we should get our championship team out for that. Paddy Holloway will be centre back on that, provided the injury he came off with yesterday isn't serious. He was really driving Westmeath on before he had to come off. Mark McCallon was another one driving Westmeath on from the back, has really discovered his appetite for the inter county game. Team starting to take shape but there's still a couple of spots for people to put their hands up for, especially in goals. I'd like to see Fagan given a shot at it for the next couple of games to see if he can cut it at this level, looked good last Wednesday.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Another professional job done by Westmeath in Mullingar yesterday, were comfortable enough all day without really putting daylight between the teams. Wicklow looked like a team who were coming up to put in a performance that they could reference before their championship outing. Westmeath will be disappointed with the last 5 minutes and giving Wicklow the last 4 points. Heslin was to the fore as he has been all league but he was joined yesterday by Stone and Egan who got 6 points from midfield. They have savage energy and after 3 games playing together are starting to look like a real good partnership. Kieran Martin was taking off and can have no complaints after a brilliant performance down in Waterford, needs to find consistency in the full forward line. One area that Wicklow did cause us problems was the long ball into Seanie Furlong. He was able to repeatedly catch dropping ball in his chest which should never happen.

That's promotion more or less in the bag. Away to Wexford, who are also promoted, next weekend. You'd imagine Banty will stoke the fires for that one so we should put out as close to a top team as we have. No sign of Holloway on the teamsheet yesterday, hopefully his injury isn't too bad. Luke Loughlin did his hamstring and is out for 2 months. Dennis Glennon went off with suspected concussion yesterday, can't afford many more injuries.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Standards were kept high down in Wexford Park yesterday against a second string Wexford team. They had some big men around the field but they had little mobility and we simply breezed past them. They couldn't stay with our powerful running and we were able to create chance after chance to go in 1-18 to 4 points at half time after playing with a strong wind. What was most encouraging though was we managed to outscore Wexford by 2-6 to 5 points in the second half as well even though we made a raft of changes after scoring two early goals. This team seems to have found some much needed consistency and as a result the likes of Noel Mulligan can step into the team and acquit themselves quite well. Good to see John Connellan getting back on to the pitch again, hopefully his cheese strings hold for the rest of the year now.

That's promotion guaranteed so gives us the opportunity to give some lads a rest and others a run out against London. I'd expect a completely different Wexford for the league final and nice to be getting a run out in Croker before the summer. If we could get the few lads back from injury it would really set us up for championship.

[yellowcard]

I think the Banty effectively threw that game yesterday knowing that they will likely meet each other in the league final. Wexford got some beating all the same.

[AZOffaly]

See Westmeath came in from evens to 2/9 in advance of the game. I wonder did someone make a killing?

[yellowcard]

See Westmeath came in from evens to 2/9 in advance of the game. I wonder did someone make a killing?

I'd have little doubt that somebody made a few pound somewhere before the teams were announced. Thats a massive price change.

[thejuice]

How long ago were Westmeath in Division 1? Laois were in Division 1 five years ago and now they've dropped into Division 4. It's strange to see teams go into free fall like that. Armagh could be next but it's unlikely.

[shark]

How long ago were Westmeath in Division 1? Laois were in Division 1 five years ago and now they've dropped into Division 4. It's strange to see teams go into free fall like that. Armagh could be next but it's unlikely.

Westmeath were in Division 1 in 2014. 3 successive relegations. Would not be surprised to see another promotion next year. They just don't sit still.

[seafoid]

How long ago were Westmeath in Division 1? Laois were in Division 1 five years ago and now they've dropped into Division 4. It's strange to see teams go into free fall like that. Armagh could be next but it's unlikely.

Laois hammered Galway by 1-20 to 0-08 in D2 in 2014.
Next year Laois will be in D4 and Galway in D1.
It's a funny old world

[laoislad]

Hello.

[Kuwabatake Sanjuro]

Carlow had a great league campaign and you would imagine will be capable of challenging Wexford in the championship. Banty wouldn't have had Wexford at anywhere near full tilt today but it was a fair hammering they took.
If they beat Wexford in the Championship then they play the Dubs in Laois.

[twohands!!!]

Carlow had a great league campaign and you would imagine will be capable of challenging Wexford in the championship. Banty wouldn't have had Wexford at anywhere near full tilt today but it was a fair hammering they took.
If they beat Wexford in the Championship then they play the Dubs in Laois.

Wexford's result since they got promotion stand in stark contrast to prior to that, as do their team sheets.

Carlow   2-14 - 1-7   Wexford
Wexford   0-9 - 3-24   Westmeath

Now Westmeath finished 1st and Carlow finished 3rd but still there was a massive difference in Wexford's performance in their last 2 league games versus their first 5 league games.

First 5 Games Scored 2-69(75) Average of 15 Conceded 1-54 (57) Average of 11.4
Last 2 Games Scored 1-16(19) Average of 9.5 Conceded 5-38 (53) Average of 26.5

Wexford are available at 6/5 for the Division 4 Final.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Some start and indeed first half yesterday, we were 2-8 to no score up after 12 minutes and at half time it was 3-19 to 3 points. 4 changes at the break disrupted our flow and somehow we managed to lose the second half. Disappointing that when the certain starters went off at half time that no one really put their hands up. It was great to see Holloway, Connellan and Glennon back from injury and starting. Also Gallagher did ok in goals and hopefully he gets left there to see how he gets on in the final. Neither Bryan or Quinn have commanded the square or been consistent with their kickouts this year. Killian Daly was probably the best on show but I think McCallon, Maguire and Gonoud are ahead of him for the corner back spots. Callum worked hard even if the handling wasn't what it should be but that will come with match time. Mulligan is doing well in the half back line but is forcing it at times with long range shots rather than taking the better option and laying it off. It was really encouraging to see the goal opportunities being worked and the ball being squared across the box to the man in a better position for the slap in. Shows there is some quality coaching going on.

Division 4 final next Saturday, we should go all out to win this now and play the best 15 we have. Offaly will be boosted after the great escape yesterday so would be nice to send them down a message that would put the doubts back in their minds. It'll be interesting to see if Banty can pick Wexford up and reintegrate the bodies successfully as they've fallen a bit from their early season form. I'd be hoping for a fairly comprehensive win.

[Kuwabatake Sanjuro]

Carlow had a great league campaign and you would imagine will be capable of challenging Wexford in the championship. Banty wouldn't have had Wexford at anywhere near full tilt today but it was a fair hammering they took.
If they beat Wexford in the Championship then they play the Dubs in Laois.

Wexford's result since they got promotion stand in stark contrast to prior to that, as do their team sheets.

Carlow   2-14 - 1-7   Wexford
Wexford   0-9 - 3-24   Westmeath

Now Westmeath finished 1st and Carlow finished 3rd but still there was a massive difference in Wexford's performance in their last 2 league games versus their first 5 league games.

First 5 Games Scored 2-69(75) Average of 15 Conceded 1-54 (57) Average of 11.4
Last 2 Games Scored 1-16(19) Average of 9.5 Conceded 5-38 (53) Average of 26.5

Wexford are available at 6/5 for the Division 4 Final.

Just seen that Carlow rested a lot of key players too though. The championship game might be one of the most intriguing championship games in years involving Carlow. There has always been a good football scene down there and they should have been more competitive than they have been for the last 15 years or so (1 good game against Meath aside). Good to see them make progress anyway.

[twohands!!!]

Carlow had a great league campaign and you would imagine will be capable of challenging Wexford in the championship. Banty wouldn't have had Wexford at anywhere near full tilt today but it was a fair hammering they took.
If they beat Wexford in the Championship then they play the Dubs in Laois.

Wexford's result since they got promotion stand in stark contrast to prior to that, as do their team sheets.

Carlow   2-14 - 1-7   Wexford
Wexford   0-9 - 3-24   Westmeath

Now Westmeath finished 1st and Carlow finished 3rd but still there was a massive difference in Wexford's performance in their last 2 league games versus their first 5 league games.

First 5 Games Scored 2-69(75) Average of 15 Conceded 1-54 (57) Average of 11.4
Last 2 Games Scored 1-16(19) Average of 9.5 Conceded 5-38 (53) Average of 26.5

Wexford are available at 6/5 for the Division 4 Final.

Just seen that Carlow rested a lot of key players too though. The championship game might be one of the most intriguing championship games in years involving Carlow. There has always been a good football scene down there and they should have been more competitive than they have been for the last 15 years or so (1 good game against Meath aside). Good to see them make progress anyway.

Cheers hadn't spotted that.
Yeah looks like overall Carlow had a very decent league - possibly a bit unlucky in that Westmeath and Wexford were two strong contenders at Division 4 level this year.