Westmeath v Derry. Round Two Qualifier. July 10th/11th

[Overthebar!]

anyone heading down for the match?should be a close one. crowd of us heading down. looking for a hostel tho tempted to just stay in dublin. these weekends away aren't cheap!

[wherefromreferee?]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/8797831.stm

Massive loss for Derry.  Fergal not fit.

[cavanmaniac]

Oscars is savage for the bit of grub. Now.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Keane starts for Westmeath


John Keane has been handed his first start of the season by Pat Flanagan for tomorrow's crunch All-Ireland SFC qualifier against Derry.

Keane, who only returned to the panel this summer after sitting out the league, is one of three changes to the team which lost out to Louth in the Leinster SFC semi-final last month and starts at centre-back.

The other two see John Gaffney starting in the place of Donal O'Donoghue at full-back and Kieran Martin taking Derek Heavin's role at right half-forward as the latter has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after picking up a serious knee injury in the Lake men's last outing.

Westmeath (All-Ireland SFC v Derry): G Connaughton; F Boyle, J Gaffney, K Maguire; M Ennis, J Keane, D Harte; D Duffy, P Bannon; K Martin, C Lynam, G Egan; P Greville, D Dolan, D Glennon.

Can't for the life of me figure out how Bannon is still starting midfield. I'd give O'Donoghue a run out there, can't be any worse than what's there at present and he did well there in 08. Also can't see how JK is fit to start center back now and couldn't play full back 2 weeks ago, Flanagan is all over the shop here. If it was me I'd move JK back to full back to mark Eoin Bradley, put Gaffney into the corner, move Boyle up to wing back, move Harte up to wing forward where he's much more effective & let Martin stay in the position where he's being playing all year.

Pity Flan isn't fit to start, hopefully we don't need him to pull us out of the fire again. Don't want to see Flanagan take off the young guns if the likes of Glennon are going through the motions like they were the last day. We haven't won a home game in the championship since 07, time to put that right tomorrow evening.

p.s. word of comfort to Heavin who is still laid up in hospital I believe, terrific servant to Westmeath down through the years, get well soon Derek!!!

[AN other]

Don't think Pat Flanagan has the head for inter-county management. Some bad decisions.

At the end of the day though, we just don't have a midfield at the moment. Defence and forwards are decent while obviously not the best in the country. We're not a hundred miles off though, find a midfielder somewhere, possibly Heslin, and if some of the younger players step up to replace some of the older guys we could compete for leinster again soon enough. We weren't exactly bet out the gate against Louth.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Disappointing end to a season to forget. What was Flanagan doing starting JK center back when he couldn't even run?  As for playing Glennon in midfield, Jaysus give me a break. He might be able to do a job there for Tyrrellspass but inter country is a completely different kettle of fish. No work rate & all he wanted to do when he got the ball was solo it when quick ball was needed inside. Jaysus, Dessie was on fire earlier & we never got any ball to him. Ref was brutal, you'd know that himself and Marty fell off the same tree.

Where to now is key for Westmeath. I hope the Co. Board don't make a bollox of it this time. I don't think Flanagan can be considered for next year (if he's interested) as he was found wanting this year as well as being involved with last years farce. I'd put the same person in charge of the minors & U21s (not Heavin) to concentrate on youth development & let the senior manager concentrate on that job. I think there's still a year or two left in the U21's of 99/00, they're not finished yet...

[lynchbhoy]

they are def playing below what they are capable of Croi - and if they had not been so wasteful against louth - there was another leinster final for the taking yesterday !!
Enjoyable game, some great skill apart from being very wet , played in a hard championship fashion but no malice or dirt ! Hard luck
Were you in the main stand ?

[Croí na hÉireann]

they are def playing below what they are capable of Croi - and if they had not been so wasteful against louth - there was another leinster final for the taking yesterday !!
Enjoyable game, some great skill apart from being very wet , played in a hard championship fashion but no malice or dirt ! Hard luck
Were you in the main stand ?

The problem with the Louth game was the fact that Eastmeath winning the preceeding semi final threw us completely off kilter. For some reason the lads didn't want to get through to a Leinster Final against the aul enemy. Even Flanagan commented post match about how nervous we were with the ball. Apart from the Wickla game we haven't played with belief or conviction, it seems we're stepping back to the bad old days where teams beat us on tradition rather than by being better than us. We're actually well served in most areas now apart from midfield & that could have been sorted by taking a leaf out of Tyrone's book, very disappointing in that regard.

Was in the main stand alright, had to forfeit Danny's to ensure we got cover, I'll put that pint back on ice. I got fecking drowned in similar conditions this time last year so was well warned. Did yous have a good night after? Paddy Bradley had a great fecking night in the Greville apparently...

[lynchbhoy]

denis glennon at mf was a bit of a surprise imo
only way flanagan should have tried that was using him as a third mf.
despite what some people say regarding westmeaths lack of talent, i think the opposite - even yer much maligned big midfielder is worth his place if you get a flanagan back fit beside him.
Was Smith from the downs unfit? Expected to see him on. No kinnegad men on the panel ?
I have heard that 'they are sihte' right now - to quote the brother !

Was in main stand on 45 yard halfway up - standing above us was ex westmeath panelist Eddie Gallagher of Shandonagh - if you know him....an old college buddy of mine! is Tom Ormsby still alive?

[Croí na hÉireann]

Glennon at midfield was stupid, wouldn't even have him near the place as a third midfielder. Duffy isn't that bad but he has zero confidence in himself, I've never seen him kick a point like that before & he's been around for years. Trouble is we have no one to partner him with, Shaugho would be the only credible partner but he's crippled with injury these days unfortunately. Think I saw Smith in the programme (was down the other end so didn't see the bench), wouldn't have an issue with not bringing him on as I don't think he'd offer much as regards changing the game, it was goals we needed at that stage. Kinnegad are pretty poor alright, they've a good corner back who isn't interested in the county and that's about it at the moment, looking good underage though, great facilities out there now.

[shark]

Yeah Lynchbhoy, Tom is still alive.  He is only about 45 in fairness.  Gave up soon after winning his 8th Westmeath senior championship medal in 2000.
Midfield is without a doubt Westmeaths major concern, but the 2 u-21 midfielders from this year both look like fantastic prospects.  In fact the 3rd choice midfielder on that panel could turn out to be the best of them all.
Winning a Leinster u-21 next year should be a main priority.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Yeah Lynchbhoy, Tom is still alive.  He is only about 45 in fairness.  Gave up soon after winning his 8th Westmeath senior championship medal in 2000.
Midfield is without a doubt Westmeaths major concern, but the 2 u-21 midfielders from this year both look like fantastic prospects.  In fact the 3rd choice midfielder on that panel could turn out to be the best of them all.
Winning a Leinster u-21 next year should be a main priority.

Not that sold on Carroon shark, he was firmly in Heslins shadow all year I thought, hopefully he can come on though in the next few years. Is Dean McNicholas the 3rd choice midfielder you're referring to? Don't recall him on the panel mind but he was outstanding for the minors, kept us in the game single handily against Longford...

[shark]

Yeah Lynchbhoy, Tom is still alive.  He is only about 45 in fairness.  Gave up soon after winning his 8th Westmeath senior championship medal in 2000.
Midfield is without a doubt Westmeaths major concern, but the 2 u-21 midfielders from this year both look like fantastic prospects.  In fact the 3rd choice midfielder on that panel could turn out to be the best of them all.
Winning a Leinster u-21 next year should be a main priority.

Not that sold on Carroon shark, he was firmly in Heslins shadow all year I thought, hopefully he can come on though in the next few years. Is Dean McNicholas the 3rd choice midfielder you're referring to? Don't recall him on the panel mind but he was outstanding for the minors, kept us in the game single handily against Longford...

I believe Corroon will do just that.  No point in comparing him to Heslin really, and don't forget it was his catches up against Donie Kingston that turned the game around against Laois.
McNicholas wasn't on the u-21 panel, he was u-16 last year.  Looks a very good player  He is playing corner forward for Tyrrellspass and I think his long term future is in the forward line.
Daragh Daly was the other midfielder on the u-21 panel.  Still underage next year.  Is about 6ft 5 and is very comfortable on the ball.  His performance for Shamrocks against Tyrrellspass in the last round of the club championship was breathtaking.  Like Corroon he was unavailable to Flanagan this year as he is in the US.  The one to watch in my opinion.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Yeah Lynchbhoy, Tom is still alive.  He is only about 45 in fairness.  Gave up soon after winning his 8th Westmeath senior championship medal in 2000.
Midfield is without a doubt Westmeaths major concern, but the 2 u-21 midfielders from this year both look like fantastic prospects.  In fact the 3rd choice midfielder on that panel could turn out to be the best of them all.
Winning a Leinster u-21 next year should be a main priority.

Not that sold on Carroon shark, he was firmly in Heslins shadow all year I thought, hopefully he can come on though in the next few years. Is Dean McNicholas the 3rd choice midfielder you're referring to? Don't recall him on the panel mind but he was outstanding for the minors, kept us in the game single handily against Longford...

I believe Corroon will do just that.  No point in comparing him to Heslin really, and don't forget it was his catches up against Donie Kingston that turned the game around against Laois.
McNicholas wasn't on the u-21 panel, he was u-16 last year.  Looks a very good player  He is playing corner forward for Tyrrellspass and I think his long term future is in the forward line.
Daragh Daly was the other midfielder on the u-21 panel.  Still underage next year.  Is about 6ft 5 and is very comfortable on the ball.  His performance for Shamrocks against Tyrrellspass in the last round of the club championship was breathtaking.  Like Corroon he was unavailable to Flanagan this year as he is in the US.  The one to watch in my opinion.

Thanks shark, heard Daly is good alright, good to hear he's underage next year, definitely a Leinster there with the right management. McNicholas played corner forward against Carlow & was a good target man but he was sensational in the middle the next day, it'll be interesting to see him develop...