'We'll have to be at our best,' says Carr

 

WESTMEATH minors will have to be at the very best if they are to remain in the championship after their upcoming All Ireland quarter final against Mayo on Bank Holiday Monday.

That’s according to bainisteoir Tom Car, who says that his charges have been on a “learning curve following their Leinster final defeat to Kildare on July 14.

“They learned how to be disappointed with their performance. They didn’t perform close to their potential – that would be the overriding lesson from the game against Kildare. They didn’t leave on the pitch what they intended. We had a good discussion and we’re hoping for a bounceback performance.”

Going into the clash with the Connacht champions, who beat Roscommon in the provincial decider, Carr acknowledged that Westmeath are widely viewed as the weakest team left standing in the championship.

“No matter what team it was it would have been a tough test for us,” Carr added. We’re very much the minnows among the quarter-finalists, and most teams would view us that way. Mayo are a very good team, they have some lovely footballers who are physical and strong.”

Westmeath will need to be wary of Mayo forwards David Doherty and Tommy Conroy. Conroy bagged himself 2-2 in Mayo’s semi-final victory over Galway while Doherty also scored a brace of goals in the semi, and a goal in the final.

Carr says that Westmeath know what to expect after attending the Connacht final on a scouting mission. “They have a good inside forward line, three of them are good lads. We went down to the final and watched them play.

“They have a nice wing forward – a very stylish footballer. They’re also very strong in the middle of the park. Look, we’ll just have to be at our best. We’re only concerned about our own performance,” explains Tommy.

Westmeath has two major injury worries following last weekend's round of club matches with Rosemount's Boidu Sayeh almost certainly and Isreal Ilunga awaiting a fitness test.