Published: Wednesday, 20th January, 2010 6:00pm

Hackett feels "it's too early to tell" about newcomers in Westmeath panel

Westmeath manager Brendan Hackett being interviewed by the media after Sunday's O'Byrne Cup defeat.

"Ah well, that loss is understandable," the Monaghan native stated at the outset. "A lot players got a run and it was as good as a trial game. You can have all the inter-panel matches you like, but it's only when you get out into a competitive environment that you get to see who's up to the mark and who's at the mark. You learn what work you have to do. So we're not disappointed. Contrast that with DCU who are four weeks away from the Sigerson Cup, four weeks away from their championship year. They were very slick, they were very organised. To be honest, I expected that today."

"We'll put more players out and give them a chance. We'll see what we're working with. In the games before Christmas, we really only had one good trial match. We had trial matches back in October and then we were floored with the flooding and the frost. So we're really only getting to see these fellows now."

Ironically, regular Westmeath full back, Kieran Gavin starred in an underworked winners' defence. The merits or otherwise of college teams participating in the O'Byrne Cup is debatable, but Hackett saw no problem with many inter-county players not being available for their counties in January. "It gives a chance for more people to play football," he opined, before rhyming off other Lake County players, both proven and unproven at the highest level, who were not available last Sunday. "Listen, you can only play 20 players, so with fellows watching the IT games, you get to see 25 players.

When asked specifically about Des Dolan, Hackett only commented briefly on the matter to the effect that "there was a process, some people didn't take part in the process, whatever their reasons are, whether they have retired or whether they can't give the commitment. You work with what you have."

"I wouldn't single out individuals at this stage either way, positive or negative. It's too early to tell. When you start off trying to form a new panel, you need to have a spine of people who are experienced. You need the likes of Michael Ennis, Gary Connaughton and Denis Glennon. These couple of matches for us are really like trials," he concluded.

All Westmeath Gaels will be hoping for many better days ahead in 2010, as the new management team continue their rebuilding work.