Áth Cliath vs Iarmhí

[Croí na hÉireann]

Indiana - I agree 2-11 was a decent score but do you think they will score that against Dublin? While we won't get as much midfield dominance against Westmeath Paddy Keenan is a very good midfielder and the Louth full forward line is highly rated yet we still have Whelan/Brogan to enter the starting lineup and Flynn/Connolly onto the bench now so we will be far stronger also....We also scored 1-22 and missed a few goal chances and kicked some very bad wides so I can see us kicking a decent score...The teams who have beaten Dublin are the ones who attacked us and outscored us rather than the ones who try to defend and limit our scoring...

I really hope your name is Pillar Caffrey or Dave Billings... 

[DUBSFORSAM1]

Sorry but where did I say that Dublin will win easily or by a lot? I have honestly said that we should be confident about beating Westmeath as we are 3 time Leinster champions and have been to the last 2 All-Ireland semi-finals...If we are thinking that Westmeath are as good a team as Dublin then where do we rank ourselves in the 32 counties???

If you are missing Griffen, Shocko, McConnell, Whelan, Fennell, Brogan, Brogan, Connolly, Flynn then the strength in depth is impacted dramatically plus with Westmeath having a championship game far closer than we did it is obvious they would be further ahead in their preparation than Dublin...

The 3 teams that beat us in the championship in the last 3 years have beaten us by outscoring us (ie by attacking rather than trying to defend) and Westmeath don't play like that - They tried the defensive approach 2 years ago when we won very comfortably.

I predict Dublin will win - possibly 4/5 points and it won't be nearly as easy as against Louth even though most people thought that would be a tough match which would be relatively close...

[Iarmhí Abú]

Any update on Flan?

[Croí na hÉireann]

Haven't heard anything. Will eat my hat if he starts the next day, would be great to have him on the bench and if we were still in with a shout with 10 mins to go he'd be some option to spring...

[AN other]

Any update on Flan?

Rumblings on the Westmeath messageboard of Hoganstand seem to indicate that he was doing some light training last night with the squad and that he only suffered some bruising... could be completely unreliable but it would be a great boost to have him fit.

[DUBSFORSAM1]

A couple of weeks out of training at this time of the year would be tough especially when required to play centre field in Croke Park

[INDIANA]

i don't think he'll be selected at midfield, i think Duffy will start and flanagan will play up front. Whelan is going to start instead of Fennell DSFM , whelan hasn't played for 2 months and didn't really play before that so Flanagan won't be any worse off than whelan.

[his holiness nb]

Whelan is going to start instead of Fennell DSFM ,

Jesus I hope not.

[Whacker]

Good luck to both you's next week with Paudi Hughes referee

Pathetic doesn't even come close!!

[Croí na hÉireann]

Is that Tyrone man Hughes???

[his holiness nb]

Is this game on the telly?

[Croí na hÉireann]

Is this game on the telly?

On TV3, is the bandwagon not hitched yet??? 

[his holiness nb]

Is this game on the telly?

On TV3, is the bandwagon not hitched yet??? 

Dont worry Croí, this would be the third game between the two sides I've been at this year (missed the league final due to club commitments)

But the game is 3 days after the missus is due so want to cover all angles just in case!

[The Real Laoislad]

Been working down in "The Gar" all week...They are all fierce confident of bating the Dubs next week

[his holiness nb]

Been working down in "The Gar" all week...They are all fierce confident of bating the Dubs next week

I dont see why they wouldnt, its the most impressive Westmeath team I've seen in a few years.
Whether its good enough to beat the Dubs is to be decided on the field, I predict a close one either way.