Leinster Senior Championship 2026

imtommygunn · May 12, 2026, 11:40:24 AM

Would be a massive shock if Westmeath won - particularly with how easily Dublin beat Louth.

Yeah Loughlin missed Kildare game too.

Cunny Funt · May 12, 2026, 02:59:25 PM

Quote from: Armagh18 on May 12, 2026, 10:45:28 AMHeslin back in with Westmeath?

Out of retirement and back in training ahead of Leinster SFC final against Dublin. Be interesting to see will he feature Sunday, quality player but surely other forwards training since November should be ahead of him in the pecking order.

Armagh18 · May 12, 2026, 03:12:45 PM

Quote from: Cunny Funt on May 12, 2026, 02:59:25 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on May 12, 2026, 10:45:28 AMHeslin back in with Westmeath?

Out of retirement and back in training ahead of Leinster SFC final against Dublin. Be interesting to see will he feature Sunday, quality player but surely other forwards training since November should be ahead of him in the pecking order.

Who knows, might be a chance off the bench. Would be good to see him get a provincial medal some player!

shark · May 12, 2026, 03:40:11 PM

Quote from: Cunny Funt on May 12, 2026, 02:59:25 PM
Quote from: Armagh18 on May 12, 2026, 10:45:28 AMHeslin back in with Westmeath?

Out of retirement and back in training ahead of Leinster SFC final against Dublin. Be interesting to see will he feature Sunday, quality player but surely other forwards training since November should be ahead of him in the pecking order.

Not many of them left. Had a lean panel to begin with and now have a number of injuries. I think there were just 2 available forwards who didn't feature against Kildare, and they have no intercounty experience.

Iarmhí Abú · May 12, 2026, 09:23:47 PM

Luke Loughlin is out for the season. He'll require surgery. Damaged hamstring and tendon rupture.

John Heslin will probably be sprung from the bench, most likely at full forward. It's a bit of a gamble, probably worth it considering the injury situation.

Dublin are heavily favoured by the bookies. Croker will help them, you'd imagine. It will be very interesting to see what version shows up on the day. Will they resemble the outfit that overran Louth, will they be able to kick on from there or will they struggle to replicate the same intensity?

Westmeath are in bonus territory and will feel they have little to lose. McHugh will be working to ensure that they seize the opportunity to put in a performance. He'll challenge them to believe. The proliferation of upsets so far this year will be highlighted.

The players are too young to have witnessed the bedlam that ensued in 2004. They will be aware of the legacy left by Dessie, Shaugho, Rory, Mitch, Willow, Healy, etc. It's a shot at immortality for them and they'll be keen to seize it. Composure is paramount and they'll need to stay in the fight.

Dublin will have a different type of energy. They'll seek to quell the enthusiasm and grind Westmeath. We might see periods of retaining possession.

The new rules allow leads to be whittled away. Hopefully it will go down to the wire. The 6th ever final for Westmeath, it will be an occasion to relish.

thejuice · May 12, 2026, 11:14:16 PM

It would be great to see a Westmeath win but without Loughlin it's hard to see it happening. Dublin seem to have found a bit of form and if they hit it again they could have an easy enough win. I hope I'm wrong though. WM will have to bring the same intensity they brought to the Meath game.

Ohtoohtobe · May 13, 2026, 02:57:07 AM

Can't see less than 10 points in it myself. The Westmeath/Kildare semi-final was low on quality.

Laois Rising · May 13, 2026, 02:35:03 PM

It would be better to have Heslin start. Oisin McGraynor and Eoin Darcy got plenty of joy out of Dublin in the few forward line for Wicklow a few weeks back. Having Heslin in there from the start brings an unknown and if he starts well would give Westmeath a serious lift and support other inside forwards. Westmeath need a good start. I know Dublin faded in a couple of league games this year in the second half but if Westmeath are to pull an upset they will want to stick with Dublin all the way through and hope that when they do get a purple patch that the scores go over. It's incredible to think that Dublin got so fortunate to beat Wicklow and had Wicklow been more clinical they would have been out of Leinster and in bit of crisis mode. One game on and a very good victory over Louth its almost like normal service has resumed. Strong favourites this weekend and home venue.

Fogarty · May 13, 2026, 02:36:45 PM

A massive mistake by Westmeath to bring back Heslin. The Dubs will be laughing at this.

shark · May 13, 2026, 03:46:22 PM

Quote from: Fogarty on May 13, 2026, 02:36:45 PMA massive mistake by Westmeath to bring back Heslin. The Dubs will be laughing at this.

They won't , as they'll be paying no attention to it.
Heslin scored 2-9 for his club in division 1 league game last week. Outside of Loughlin, who is injured, he's still the next best forward in the county.

Cunny Funt · May 13, 2026, 06:49:47 PM

Quote from: shark on May 13, 2026, 03:46:22 PM
Quote from: Fogarty on May 13, 2026, 02:36:45 PMA massive mistake by Westmeath to bring back Heslin. The Dubs will be laughing at this.

They won't , as they'll be paying no attention to it.
Heslin scored 2-9 for his club in division 1 league game last week. Outside of Loughlin, who is injured, he's still the next best forward in the county.

club league football is a bit of step down on a Leinster final v Dublin. Heslin hasn't played for Westmeath for two years and didn't score in his last match.