‘The lads’ skill level was very high’, says delighted Cooney
“It was a very pleasing performance. The lads set the tone right from the start and we raced into a seven-point lead. That settled the nerves. In the second half we controlled it, more than going at them like we had done in the first half. I’m very, very happy as I thought the lads showed a real determination to get the result.”
This initial post-match salvo from Westmeath senior football manager, Jack Cooney, neatly summed up his side’s impressive win against Laois in last Saturday’s rescheduled Allianz Football League Division 2 game in TEG Cusack Park.
The Coralstown/Kinnegad man continued: “We’re back since mid-September. All our focus has been on football, and I think great credit is due to the clubs in Westmeath for the lads coming back so very fit and fresh. We just continued on where they had left off with the clubs.
“Their skill level was very high today after a very entertaining club season here in Westmeath. We brought in some fresh faces and that has been very productive for us.
“They are young and they are starting out their inter-county career. They brought a new zest and a new energy to it. When you are around an inter-county panel for a few years, seeing new fellows coming in gives the older lads a bit of a boost as well.
“Young Brandon Kelly came in and got a great score today. He has been brilliantly coached by Kevin Burke in Milltownpass over the last number of years.”
Cooney was unsure how his charges would perform after over seven months without a game due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We were going into this game not knowing where we were, or where Laois were, unlike when we were due to play them in March,” he opined. “We focused on this game right from the get-go. We told the lads how important it was.
“We probably left points behind us against Cavan and Armagh, and we could have been in a better position in the table. At the same time, we still weren’t safe from relegation before today. The one thing we wanted to secure was Division 2 football next year. It would take freakish results for us to be relegated now!
“Now we can go and enjoy the game against Kildare, and if we get a positive result there (in Newbridge next Saturday), we don’t know where we could be.”
The first half display by John Heslin was memorable. His manager agreed: “John had a great campaign for St Loman’s and kicked some great scores today, including a few wonderful frees. It’s always good to have John on fire like that.”
The Lake County defence also played very well. In this regard, Cooney concluded: “We have a lot of experience there and a lot of those lads have been togging out for Westmeath for more than ten years. In important games like this, that experience is priceless.
“They controlled the game in the second half. There was a lot of leadership and communication shown on the pitch which is very important.”
– Gerry Buckley