NFL Div 2 2013

[Croí na hÉireann]

Very encouraging start.  The main plusses being:
1/ A definite gameplan that the team has bought in to.
2/ The unearthing of a couple of new players at this level, especially Ciaran Curley whose ball winning abilities are second to none.
3/ The continuing development of John Heslin in to one of the top footballers in the country.

The last point though comes with a hint of caution in that I don't think Westmeath would have a point on the board without him.  Could do without the over reliance.

League final a realistic target now, which would be above initial expectations. Would also be welcome to push back the club championship from it's insanely early start.

The gameplan is key alright and one that should work more to our favour once the pitches harden up. I'm not sure we're over reliant on Heslin though. We got 3 from 4 points out of the Galway and Laois games without Sharry and Dessie (for the most part) so I definitely think we'd have gotten points from the Louth or Longford games without Heslin. He is a serious plus though, especially his long range frees although Sharry is well able to hit them as well. Is getting better with every game and if he continues to develop he will surely be the best midfielder in the country.

Regarding promotion to Div 1 it will be tough for whoever gets there. If we are one of the lucky teams we will be in a much better position than 2009 where the team of the noughties was coming to a shuddering halt. If we keep progressing at the rate we have from this time last year I'd give us every chance of staying up. Not getting ahead of ourselves of course.

[Dangleberrys]

When Galway lost out to promotion last year, I said it was the best thing for them in the end.  As with the likes of Westmeath, Wexford, Laois...gaining promotion is only an advantage if the squad is capable of competing.  Having a good team of 15 or 16 players can win Div 2.  A strong squad of 25 is needed to compete in Div 1.  Its catch 22, you need to play the best to learn yet you will not learn too much from getting battered week in week out...

[Jinxy]

When did Westmeath get good?

[Croí na hÉireann]

When did Westmeath get good?

Remember our U21s in 2010? Well that team have improved every year since and are continuing in that vein. 8 of them are mainstays now.

[seafoid]

When did Westmeath get good?

I think it started when they turned the sod on that motorway that goes past Tara.
The Slua Sidhe are not to be bollixed around with, especially when it comes to fuball. 

[Jinxy]

I still use the old road in an attempt to appease them.

[shark]

When did Westmeath get good?

Remember our U21s in 2010? Well that team have improved every year since and are continuing in that vein. 8 of them are mainstays now.

That team really should have won the All-Ireland. Walking out of the Leinster final nobody could quite put their finger on how Dublin got out with the win. 12 of that team have now played senior championship, although 2 of them are now abroad.

[Croí na hÉireann]

When did Westmeath get good?

Remember our U21s in 2010? Well that team have improved every year since and are continuing in that vein. 8 of them are mainstays now.

That team really should have won the All-Ireland. Walking out of the Leinster final nobody could quite put their finger on how Dublin got out with the win. 12 of that team have now played senior championship, although 2 of them are now abroad.

We underperformed in the first half, we were 4 or 5 points down if memory serves at half time. Might have snuck it at the end if Dublin hadn't got that killer goal, completely dominated them. Sheridan, Moran and Coffey the 3. Shocking that John Egan got his place in front of Smyth and that Lynam was on the wing. Pity Lynam, Moran and Coffey aren't involved this year but we haven't done too bad out of that team all the same. That was an AI, never mind a Leinster that got away alright. Nerves and a poor start cost us that game IMO, something that has undone us in the subsequent years at that level.

[shark]

When did Westmeath get good?

Remember our U21s in 2010? Well that team have improved every year since and are continuing in that vein. 8 of them are mainstays now.

That team really should have won the All-Ireland. Walking out of the Leinster final nobody could quite put their finger on how Dublin got out with the win. 12 of that team have now played senior championship, although 2 of them are now abroad.

We underperformed in the first half, we were 4 or 5 points down if memory serves at half time. Might have snuck it at the end if Dublin hadn't got that killer goal, completely dominated them. Sheridan, Moran and Coffey the 3. Shocking that John Egan got his place in front of Smyth and that Lynam was on the wing. Pity Lynam, Moran and Coffey aren't involved this year but we haven't done too bad out of that team all the same. That was an AI, never mind a Leinster that got away alright. Nerves and a poor start cost us that game IMO, something that has undone us in the subsequent years at that level.

Moran played against Kerry last year. Was thinking the corner back from Kinnegad whose name escapes me. Lynam will be back in time, he's still only 22/23. Coffey will never have the desire for it. Smyth came on board late and never broke in to the team, hopefully he gets his ankle sorted and can play a part before the league concludes. Gives a different type of option up front.

[Throw ball]

Looking forward to the trip to see Heslin play in a couple of weeks. We may be missing Jamie, and Westmeath may well win, but they will know they have been in a match when they play Armagh.

[Croí na hÉireann]

When did Westmeath get good?

Remember our U21s in 2010? Well that team have improved every year since and are continuing in that vein. 8 of them are mainstays now.

That team really should have won the All-Ireland. Walking out of the Leinster final nobody could quite put their finger on how Dublin got out with the win. 12 of that team have now played senior championship, although 2 of them are now abroad.

We underperformed in the first half, we were 4 or 5 points down if memory serves at half time. Might have snuck it at the end if Dublin hadn't got that killer goal, completely dominated them. Sheridan, Moran and Coffey the 3. Shocking that John Egan got his place in front of Smyth and that Lynam was on the wing. Pity Lynam, Moran and Coffey aren't involved this year but we haven't done too bad out of that team all the same. That was an AI, never mind a Leinster that got away alright. Nerves and a poor start cost us that game IMO, something that has undone us in the subsequent years at that level.

Moran played against Kerry last year. Was thinking the corner back from Kinnegad whose name escapes me. Lynam will be back in time, he's still only 22/23. Coffey will never have the desire for it. Smyth came on board late and never broke in to the team, hopefully he gets his ankle sorted and can play a part before the league concludes. Gives a different type of option up front.

So he did, must have buried that somewhere deep. Ronan Doyle was the other corner back. I had Sheridan down for full back and Maguire in the other corner but that was the full back line in 2011.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Westmeath unchanged:

G Connaughton;
M McCallon, K Gavin, K Maguire;
M Curley, J Gaffey, J Dolan;
D Duffy, J Heslin;
G Egan, C McCormack, K Martin;
D Corroon, C Curley, D Glennon.

Looking forward to a trip down to Wexford Park, should be slightly more competitive than our last visit there.

[Walter Cronc]

Any idea what way the table sits tonight??

[GalwayBayBoy]

Any idea what way the table sits tonight??

1   Westmeath   4  7
2   Derry   5  7
3   Galway   5  5
4   Wexford   4  5
5   Laois   5  5
6   Louth   5  5
7   Armagh   5  4
8   Longford   5  0

[Walter Cronc]

Any idea what way the table sits tonight??

1   Westmeath   4  7
2   Derry   5  7
3   Galway   5  5
4   Wexford   4  5
5   Laois   5  5
6   Louth   5  5
7   Armagh   5  4
8   Longford   5  0

Cheers GBB. It's tight. Any 2 from 7 could go up really!