Giles and co hoping to overturn the odds against fancied Meath

Last year, Joe Giles guided Westmeath’s minor footballers to a famous extra-time victory over Meath in the quarter-finals of the Leinster championship.

On paper it looks like it will be exceedingly difficult for Westmeath to achieve a repeat of that win when the counties renew rivalry this weekend, considering Meath’s stunning 1-15 to 0-7 victory over Dublin in the opening round. In addition, Westmeath have to travel to Páirc Tailteann, Navan for Saturday’s Leinster MFC quarter-final (throw-in 12.30pm).

The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on sporting activity of all kinds this year, as is evident from the fact that the Westmeath minors are playing their Leinster championship opener in December. Asked about the challenges involved, Giles told the Westmeath Examiner: “It’s probably been the same for everyone in terms of dealing with the restrictions. It’s been a long season, we started back last December, that’s when we had our first get-together for the 2020 season.”

“Obviously it has been hard to get any momentum and to keep lads motivated. But we gave the players programmes and they worked away themselves. We were lucky that club matches went ahead; that kept lads ticking over which was very important,” he continued.

From last year’s starting team which defeated Meath, the only player still eligible is goalkeeper Jamie Mulkearns. The Killucan player had the distinction of being Westmeath’s minor goalie in both football and hurling last year. So in effect Giles and his management team are working with virtually a completely new squad.

St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge captured the Leinster Schools SF ‘A’ title earlier this year, which was a major boost for Westmeath underage football. However, the different age limits for that competition mean that from the St Joseph’s team which started the Leinster final, only the aforementioned Mulkearns and Podge Quinn are part of the Westmeath minor squad. Sami Clarke, who came on as sub for Joseph’s in the Leinster decider, is also part of the Westmeath panel.

Unsurprisingly, Giles was very impressed by Meath’s performance in their win over Dublin on October 17.

“I got to see Meath’s game against Dublin online and they were very impressive. They are a very balanced team and they didn’t seem to have any weaknesses at all that day. Eoghan Frayne was very good at full-forward, he played against us last year as well. Meath are very strong at midfield, I think Conor Gray is 6’5”, he’s a really imposing player. Overall they are strong throughout the team,” said the Westmeath manager.

Frayne scored 0-7 (two frees) against Dublin, Dunshaughlin’s Aaron Murphy contributed 1-1, while Ruairí Kinsella chipped in with 0-3.

Westmeath’s win over Meath last year (2-15 to 1-14, AET) came in TEG Cusack Park and Giles agrees that the Navan venue is a significant plus for Meath.

“They have already played a game there and having the game in Navan is an advantage for Meath. But we have to play the cards we are dealt with and try to produce the best performance we can on the day.

“It’s been an extraordinary year and we haven’t been able to put in the type of preparation that we would have liked. We were hoping to play a challenge match last weekend but that was not permitted so we have had to rely on in-house matches to see how the lads are performing. But all we can do is our best and I hope the players can go out and express themselves on Saturday.

“It’s something to look forward to. It would have been awful if the minor championship had been cancelled; it would have been horrible for the lads to miss out on a year,” added Giles.

Among the Westmeath players to watch out for on Saturday are Caulry’s Senan Baker, Tubberclair’s Tom Kelleher and Sean Leech, who captained Killucan to victory over Moate in this year’s Westmeath Division 1 minor final.

Giles is joined in his management team by Eoin Farrell (Maryland), Damien McLoughlin (Kilbeggan Shamrocks), Coralstown/Kinnegad duo Fergal Kelly and Ken McNevin, and Killucan’s Johnny Duignan.

Although no regular supporters will be allowed entry to Páirc Tailteann on Saturday, one parent or guardian per player will be permitted to attend the match. The winner of the Westmeath v Meath Leinster quarter-final will play Laois or Carlow in the semi-finals.

The Westmeath minor football panel

Jamie Mulkearns (Killucan), Cian Molloy (Shandonagh), Daniel Scahill (Shandonagh), David Weir (Killucan), Jack Doran (Ballynacargy), Jake Costello (Shandonagh), Sam Smyth (Killucan), Tom Cloonan (Caulry), Tom Kelleher (Tubberclair), Mikey Lynam (St Joseph’s), Ben Killian (Athlone), Darren McWade (Shandonagh), Podge Quinn (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Tobi Conteh (Moate All Whites), Callum Cruise (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Danny McCartan (St Loman’s, Mullingar), Mikey Moffatt (The Downs), Oliver McNamara (Mullingar Shamrocks), Sami Clarke (Killucan), Seán Leech (Killucan), Senan Baker (Caulry), Warric Kirby (St Malachy’s/Lilliput Gaels), Brian Cooney (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Jack Geoghegan (St Loman’s, Mullingar), Luke Whitney (Moate All Whites), Seán Murphy (Caulry), Dylan Murtagh (Millmore Gaels), Jason McKeon (Ballynacargy), Harry Niall (Moate All Whites), Alan Malynn (Caulry), Eoghan Curran (Moate All Whites), Jack Cole (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Shane Lawless (Caulry), Mark Cunningham (Inny Shamrocks), Peter Pierson (Tyrrellspass), Eoghan Hogan (St Loman’s, Mullingar), David Aughey (St Loman’s, Mullingar).

When the sides last met...

Electric Ireland Leinster minor football championship quarter-final, TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar, Saturday June 1, 2019

Westmeath 2-15, Meath 1-14 (after extra time; full-time score WH 1-13, MH 1-13)

Scorers – Westmeath: B McGauran 0-6 (3f), F O’Hara 1-2, L Buckley 0-3 (2f), S Reid 1-1, E Martin, D Leech and C Lawlor 0-1 each. Meath: E Frayne 0-9 (6f, 1 ‘45’), N Finnerty 1-3 (0-2f), B Thompson and J Carolan 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Jamie Mulkearns; Daire Smyth, Dylan Fagan, Ciaran Daly; Darragh Seery, Eamonn Martin, Josh Gahan; Conor Gibney, Fionn O’Hara; Adam Treanor, Luke Buckley, Devin Hill; Ben McGauran, Shane Reid, Dan Leech. Subs used: Cillian Lawlor for Smyth (21), Mark Flynn for Fagan (h-t), Brendan Killian for Hill (51), Shane Williams for Lawlor (57), Jamie Corcoran for Killian (1, e-t), Ronan Hanley for Leech (8, e-t), Darren Mnguni for Reid (16, e-t).

Meath: Dean Pluck; Jamie Fagan, James McGovern, Harry Corscadden; Sean O’Donoghue, Aaron Chinchilla, Adam McDonnell (b/c, 16, e-t); Josh Carolan (b/c, 60 + 4), Endi Ehichoya; Cillian Hegarty, Niall Finnerty, Evan Corrigan; Shane Smyth, David Bell, Eoghan Frayne. Subs used: Pearse Sheridan for Corrigan (28), Barry Thompson for Ehichoya (h-t), Jamie Brown for Sheridan (51), Harry Ryan for Bell (57), Aitzol King for Carolan (60 + 4), Corrigan for Smyth (inj., 10, e-t), Brian Cassidy for Chinchilla (13, e-t).

Ref: David Fedigan (Louth).