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Westmeath (SF v Louth): D Quinn; J Gaffey, R English, K Maguire; F Boyle, K Gavin, C Jordan; B Murtagh, D Corroon; C Lynam, Denis Glennon, G Egan; P Greville, David Glennon, D Dolan.

Think this is a slightly risky selection defence wise. Seems to be trying out too many players. Definitely would have stuck Kieran Martin and Doran Harte in there somewhere. I don't think Kevin Maguire even feature in the O'Byrne Cup. Maybe he was cup tied somewhere...
Maybe Flanagan thinks this his strongest team at the moment and maybe he's right but if he's experimenting, as I think he might be, I don't agree with it. Probably our toughest game in the group and I would be going all out for a win here. There'll be much more suitable league games to experiment in.
Forwards look strongish though. Glennon did ok centre forward in a couple of O'Byrne Cup games and delivered some decent ball but I don't think it's the position for him unless Flanagan can get him to do something he has never done before. This being showing a bit of fight and determination when things start going against him a little.
I'd also have Lynam inside and give David Glennon a chance another day.

Does anybody on the board use insoles in their football boots for high arch support? Somebody must...
Where is the best place to get them and how much do they cost?
Have been doing some very quick research and it seems you can get heat moldable insoles off the internet (sole). Are these any use or are the clinics the place to go to? Togs custom insoles seem to be the most popular there.
Anybody able to advise on the best approach?
Thanks.

[Tomas O Flatharta is expected to confirm later today his intention to continue as Westmeath football manager for a fourth successive year.Last Thursday night's meeting of the Westmeath football board gave unanimous support for the West Kerry native to remain at the helm for another season. Westmeath officials were in contact with O Flatharta two weeks ago and are hopeful he will give them confirmation today. The Dublin-based bank official's reappointment would finally end speculation linking him with the vacant football manager's post in the capital. O Flatharta, who was brought to the midlands by then manager Paidi O Se in 2003, has earned a big reputation after guiding the Lake County to a NFL Division 2 title earlier this year. They beat Longford and Offaly in the Leinster championship before narrowly losing to Dublin at the semi-final stage. Westmeath's season ended in controversy when they had two players sent off in another narrow defeat to All-Ireland finalists Tyrone.]

From HoganStand

Tomas O Flatharta is expected to confirm later today his intention to continue as Westmeath football manager for a fourth successive year.

Last Thursday night's meeting of the Westmeath football board gave unanimous support for the West Kerry native to remain at the helm for another season. Westmeath officials were in contact with O Flatharta two weeks ago and are hopeful he will give them confirmation today. The Dublin-based bank official's reappointment would finally end speculation linking him with the vacant football manager's post in the capital.

O Flatharta, who was brought to the midlands by then manager Paidi O Se in 2003, has earned a big reputation after guiding the Lake County to a NFL Division 2 title earlier this year. They beat Longford and Offaly in the Leinster championship before narrowly losing to Dublin at the semi-final stage.

Westmeath's season ended in controversy when they had two players sent off in another narrow defeat to All-Ireland finalists Tyrone.

Some good news for Westmeath if O'Flatharta confirms. It really shows now how we've progressed under him by loosing narrowly to Tyrone away from home as we did with them now in the final.

Anybody know why there are no hill tickets for Sunday's game? I know I would much prefer to purchase a cheaper terrace ticket with a half decent view of the game than a dearer ticket at the back of the upper Canal tier. Unless it was front of the Hogan or Cusack upper tier I'd definitely go with the Hill. I also think full lower tiers and a full hill would make for a much better atmosphere than full lower tiers and half empty upper tiers.
What could the reason for this be? Is it the GAA being greedy? Is it an attempt to reduce Steward numbers and costs? What the hell is going on?

There was alot of giving out done about the pitch in Croke Park in recent years. It must be said that it couldn't be in better nick now. Much credit due to Croke Park and the groundsmen. The amount of rain that it has taken over the last two weeks is massive and yet we were seeing balls hop over Dooher's head on Saturday.

It might be seen as a bit early to start this thread but I for one can't wait for this game, there's a fair few mentions of the game on other threads already and I don't think there's a better way to start it than with this from Connaughton which pretty much sums up the situation from a Westmeath point of view.

League win irrelevant, Connaughton insists
11 June 2008

Gary Connaughton claims Westmeath's victory over Dublin in this year's NFL Division 2 final will count for nothing when the sides renew their rivalry in the Leinster SFC semi-final on June 29.

The Tubberclair goalkeeper captained the Lake County to a 0-15 to 0-10 win in Dessie Dolan's absence at Navan in late April but significantly, the Dubs were missing a host of key players through suspension.

"What happened in the league final was nothing," Connaughton insisted.

"Dublin at Croke Park are a serious outfit. They have the extra man with the support nearly, the 16th man which is always an advantage to them. It's definitely for other teams in Leinster now to stand up to them and try to wrestle it (the provincial title) away from Dublin."

After beating midland rivals Longford and Offaly to get this far, Connaughton believes the pressure is now off Westmeath to a certain extent.

"After getting over the first few rounds and the two teams that were put in front of us, we'll probably be underdogs against Dublin but that's the challenge we have to face on the day.

"The main part of the year so far was about staying in Division 2 and getting into a Leinster semi-final then. Now we're there we don't want to rest, it's only a semi-final, something we were at a couple of years ago."

He added: "We want to be up lifting the Delaney Cup again. But that's for another day again. The Leinster semi-final was definitely a realistic target at the start of the year and we've made it now."

As Connaughton alludes to, the pressure was on to beat Longford and Offaly as there was a slight bit of expectation on Westmeath for both games. Nobody's expecting anything more than a decent performance against the Dubs and from a Westmeath point of view I'm hopeful this will have a positive impact on our performance.

Having aquired my ticket for this championsip opener I feel it is time to start this one, starting with asking any of the Longford posters do they know where section P is in the ground???

Nationally, this isn't a high profile game, but I don't think anybody from Westmeath or Longford is expecting anything but a fast and furious, high tempo game.
If Westmeath can produce some of their earlier league form I expect us to win this one, but also feel it is equally as likely that we will see a game of similar nature to the Louth one in Dundalk in March.
O'Flaherta's team could make for interesting reading. For me, if both fully fit, it should be Flanagan and O'Shaughnessey in the middle, with Healy playing in the half back line. The other 5 defenders virtually pick themselves, i.e. Keane, Ennis, Boyle, Heavin and O'Donoghue. Connaughton in goals, of course...
It's a bit of a cliche, but.... this game is likely to be won and lost on the performance of Dolan if fit. From my recollection (I'm open to correction) Pearse Park is tight enough and won't suit the likes of Glennon, Connellon, Mangan and Wilson, who are all likely to feature in attact at some stage. Although Dempsey's teams do have a habit of being a bit pourous... I imagine I will be happy enough with O'Flaherta's team as long as I don't see John Smyth on the starting 15...

The Westmeath team to play Derry on Sunday at Celtic Park shows one change from the side which beat Laois with Damien Healy coming into the side.

Damien Healy, introduced as a sub against Laois, retains his place at midfield with Paul Bannon, moving to the 40, Alan Mangan moves to full forward to the exclusion of Peter Tormey.

Dessie Dolan passed a late fitness test on his injured hamstring and has been included in the side.

Westmeath: Gary Connaughton, Francis Boyle, Michael Ennis, Kieran Gavin, Alan Rigney, Donal O'Donoghue, Derek Heavin, Martin Flanagan, Damien Healy, Fergal Wilson, Paul Bannon, John Smyth, Dessie Dolan, Alan Mangan, Denis Glennon
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Could be a good game on Sunday, think it could tell alot about what is to be expected of Westmeath for the rest of the league, people were generally surprised by the level of performance against Laois.
Healy in midfield is interesting, he's not your traditional high fielding, ball winning midfielder, but himself and Flanagan are a pretty mobile pair, and Bannon is likely to be back helping out in the ball winning department. The Bradleys and Maldoon will be a nice test for a relatively inexperienced back line and it will be interesting to see if Kieran Gavin and Budge Rigney can build on their improvement against Laois.
I'd rather see Tormey getting another chance or two ahead of John Smyth, I don't think he offers much.

If anyone could provide me with directions of how to get to Celtic Park from the Coleraine direction it would be much appreciated...