Westmeath determined to win McDonagh Cup this year – Clarke

Reaching and winning the Joe McDonagh Cup final in 2020 would be a “huge” boost for Westmeath hurling, says Lake County hurler Aonghus Clarke.

The final of the second tier hurling competition will be the curtain raiser for this year’s All-Ireland senior hurling final, and having reached the final for the last two years, Clarke is hoping to go one better in 2020.

“We played the last two years in Croke Park before big games, so it's really just we want to win it this year, and get up to that Leinster Championship for next year,” the Castletown-Geoghegan clubman told Sky Sports.

“Just the profile of being up on that stage on the big day. Even this year, being up in Division 1 of the National League was a huge profile. It just encourages hurling around the county.

“It’s fine for the players who are playing, but it encourages everybody to get behind it. And then youngsters are looking up. It’s good long-term for Westmeath, for us to be at that level. There’s a bit more excitement and enjoyment around it.”