Longfort - Iarmhi

[AN other]

I expect this to be a very tough one for Westmeath and I hope the squad and management are approaching it as such. Longford have shown the last couple of years that nobody can go to Pearse Park (think I got it right this time...) and get a win without a big fight in recent years, even the Dubs were nearly caught recently...
Any talk of upsets if Longford win is nonsense. Based on league form Westmeath should have enough but league form goes out the window now.
Apparently Dolan tweaked his hamstring against Dublin in the league final, he should never have been brought on and if Westmeath loose a tight match on Sunday O'Flaherta has alot to answer for. Whether Dolan plays or not is irrelevant, an extra weeks recovery would have made a big difference to fitness levels as well as his hamstring.

[ExiledGael]

I expect this to be a very tough one for Westmeath and I hope the squad and management are approaching it as such. Longford have shown the last couple of years that nobody can go to Pearse Park (think I got it right this time...) and get a win without a big fight in recent years, even the Dubs were nearly caught recently...
Any talk of upsets if Longford win is nonsense. Based on league form Westmeath should have enough but league form goes out the window now.
Apparently Dolan tweaked his hamstring against Dublin in the league final, he should never have been brought on and if Westmeath loose a tight match on Sunday O'Flaherta has alot to answer for. Whether Dolan plays or not is irrelevant, an extra weeks recovery would have made a big difference to fitness levels as well as his hamstring.

Did Dolan feature in the final against Dublin? Sounds a bit crazy, he sustained the hamstring damage during the Monaghan game in Clones.

[Shamrock Shore]

He did. He (Dessie Dolan) was interviewed in yesterday's Evening Herald and he pushed the management to be brought on only to tweak the hammer again. I think Tomás is probably blameless if he doesn't make it.

[AN other]

Well Dolan hasn't made it. He did do the damage against Monaghan and tweaked it against Dublin when brought on. It was crazy. Dolan might have been pushing to be brought on but O'Flaherta had the final say. Sunday's game is far more important than the game against the Dubs. Dolan's been suffering with hamstring problems for most of the year so far.
Duffy hasn't made it either. Westmeath's task has got all the tougher.
With the two injuries carrying through, the team is the same as the team which took on the Dubs, which was a predictable enough selection were Dolan and Duffy not to make it.
We've had the same first 7 for virtually all the league which should stand us in good stead on Sunday but you're only as good as your last game, the same applies to the good performers like Flanagan, O'Donoghue, Wilson and Harte the last day. We'll need repeat performances from all on Sunday and probably a bit of luck to get the win.

[AZOffaly]

Ironically, I think this almost makes an upset less likely. It's going to be extremely hard to see Westmeath looking beyond this game now. Dolan is a huge loss, but I actually think Duffy might be a more important miss against Longford. If Martin Flanagan has one of his round the world soloing tours on Sunday, Westmeath could be in trouble, but I think they'll be very focussed now. I'm still tipping Longford for an upset though

[AZOffaly]

Foireann Iarmhí v Longfort

1. G. Connaughton;

2. F. Boyle,
3. K. Gavin,
4. J. Keane;

5. M. Ennis,
6. D. Heavin,
7. D. Healy;

8. D. O'Donoghue,
9. M. Flanagan;

10. F. Wilson,
11. J. Smyth,
12. D. Harte;

13. A. Mangan,
14. D. Glennon,
15. D. Bannon.

Strong half back line.

[AN other]

Ironically, I think this almost makes an upset less likely. It's going to be extremely hard to see Westmeath looking beyond this game now. Dolan is a huge loss, but I actually think Duffy might be a more important miss against Longford. If Martin Flanagan has one of his round the world soloing tours on Sunday, Westmeath could be in trouble, but I think they'll be very focussed now. I'm still tipping Longford for an upset though

I'd agree re Duffy AZ. We struggled in midfield last year against Longford and I think it is what cost us the game that day in the end. Along with the two early second half goals of course... Duffy has been playing great stuff this year so far and we need him back to full fitness soon if we are to do well this year. We do need a big game from Flanagan in his absence, but he's been producing them consistently this year so hopefully he won't blow it now...

[AZOffaly]

How is Donal Donoghue doing out around midfield? I'd have classed him as a bit immobile in at full back, but he might have the stamina for midfield. Has he the football for it?

[Shamrock Shore]

No news on the Longford team yet. Some of these lads will surely start:

[Hardy]

The jive lives on in Larryland!

[AN other]

How is Donal Donoghue doing out around midfield? I'd have classed him as a bit immobile in at full back, but he might have the stamina for midfield. Has he the football for it?

O'Donoghue's a good footballer in my opinion. He is a bit slow but he's done well in midfield this year. He's been playing there with Shamrocks for a few years now I think. His distribution is generally accurate and he's produced some great forward passes from midfield in the league, most notably his ball into Bannon that lead to the goal against Monaghan. He's been playing as almost a third midfielder or replaced a midfielder in any of the games he's been playing as half forward this year, the new position seems to work for him. He's not been found wanting too much in the air either, while he's not capable of producing the fielding of either Duffy or Flanagan when they're on top of their game he's a good ball breaker and winner. Sunday will be a big test for him.

[AN other]

I see Brian Kavanagh togged out in what appears to be a Westmeath jersey. He wouldn't be a bad replacement for Dolan.

[Croí na hÉireann]

Team as expected, hopefully O'Flaherta's decision to bring on Dessie the last day doesn't come back to haunt us Midfield is gonna be key now, need even more from Flan and O'Donoghue than they've given us so far, Dowd's strong running has to be curtailed. Another big performance needed from Bannon, nothing like having Dessie on the bench to keep you focussed. Speaking of focus, there should be two things running through the panels minds on Sunday.

1. What happened last year in Pearse Park
2. We haven't won a game in the Leinster Championship since 2004

Don't spare the whip Westmeath!!!

[forkinknife]

I've studied this thread carefully and although you all have made fairly relevant points concerning different boyos who are great but let's be honest. Who gives a fcuk. You'll win nothing. This is like the FA preliminary rounds. Fcuk away aff to the Tommy Murphy and let the big boys play. I own you two.

Like, longford or longfort? Make your feckin minds up. And iarmhi. Sounds like scurvy.

[full back]

Sounds like scurvy.

Was it scurvy or the crabs you hard knifeinfork?