Leinster club SFC Dempsey expects physical battle in Aughrim
To this day, whenever Wicklow v. Westmeath clashes in the Leinster senior football club championship come up in conversation, the highly controversial semi-final in Newbridge almost 25 years ago between Baltinglass and Mullingar Shamrocks invariably conjures up horror stories in the Lake County’s capital town.
However, it is the blue side of Mullingar who will represent the county in Aughrim next Sunday (2pm) when St Loman’s face Rathnew, surprise winners of the first round tie against Edenderry nine days ago in Tullamore.
St Loman’s manager, Luke Dempsey wasn’t in O’Connor Park that afternoon as he was on family holiday in New York, coinciding with his mid-term break from teaching duties in St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge.
However, quite apart from Luke being familiar with next Sunday’s opponents after wearing the Moorefield bainisteoir bib against “a very physical Rathnew side” last year (the Kildare men won by 0-17 to 2-7), the St Loman’s spies on duty were impressed with their recent victory against the Offaly champions.
“That game will stand to Rathnew,” Luke stated on Saturday last, “particularly the way they won it, coming back from five points down. Indeed, one of our selectors was texting me, keeping me up to speed, and he had written off Rathnew at one stage and was going on about Edenderry’s key players who might need special attention from us!”
“They will field what I would call a traditional Wicklow team, with a strong midfield, while Leighton Glynn in attack was an All Star nominee and an International Rules player,” Luke added.
"But this is a chance for our better players to take on their better players in a competition that has proven to be one the GAA’s best successes. All matches in it are once-off and tend to be very exciting."
Aughrim has been the Garden County’s main football venue over the years and earned a degree of notoriety because of a number of tempestuous inter-county games at the venue, some of which involved hair-raising experiences for match officials.
However, Luke isn’t especially concerned about Aughrim’s fortress-like reputation: “Home advantage is always a help but since the clubhouse was built in the ground, the whole place doesn’t seem as confined or claustrophobic.
“We’ll be dismissing that myth about Aughrim. Our main concern will be getting the logistics right on the day, as it is a difficult venue to find for travelling teams and supporters.”
At the time of writing, Luke had no injury concerns and was confident that he would be picking from a full deck. His charges, who recently added the league title to their championship crown, gained invaluable experience in the Leinster championship two years ago, shortly after regaining the Flanagan Cup after a half-century gap.
After defeating Carlow champions Old Leighlin, St Loman’s, Mullingar (then managed by Declan Rowley) exited at the hands of understrength Dublin kingpins, St Vincent’s in that 2013 campaign.
The former Westmeath, Longford and Carlow manager stated: “Those matches gave our lads a taste of what it is all about and they are very clued in to what will be needed against Rathnew, who are a formidable side having won their third Wicklow title in-a-row this year.
“There is a great camaraderie in the Rathnew camp, but we have great team spirit in St Loman’s also. We are taking Leinster very seriously and if we play as well as we can, we have a good chance of advancing to the semi-final. It is great to continue this journey with the lads.”
Prior to next Sunday, Westmeath and Wicklow sides have met just three times in the 45-year history of the competition.
Long-time kingpins, Baltinglass represented the Garden County on each of those occasions – losing to Moate, but twice defeating Mullingar Shamrocks, including the aforementioned travesty in 1990.