Leona: Westmeath hungry to get back to senior grade

One of the longest serving members of the Westmeath ladies’ panel was very frank in her assessment of what drives her and her teammates on, when she spoke to the Westmeath Examiner at TEG Cusack Park last week.

Leona Archibold has been one of the mainstays of the Westmeath team in recent years and a consistent scoring forward en route to the All-Ireland intermediate finals in both 2020 and 2021.

The former international soccer player stated at last Wednesday night’s press night: “I wasn’t part of the 2011 squad and I remember meeting the girls afterwards, and the fact that after being so close for so long they had finally won.

“But the intermediate grade is a hard one to win and no matter whether we have won by only a few points, we get the chance to play in Croke Park and heal some of the wounds from last year.

“Each game this year brought massive pressure after losing to Longford, but the win or go home scenario maybe worked in our favour. It was maybe the kick we needed and we can have no complaints, because they came with a great game plan and we didn’t turn up.

“The young girls in the panel are driving us on and the underage structures are in place.

“Probably the league relegation playoff win against Tipperary gave us that boost that we needed, and we want to be playing against the bigger teams because it certainly helps us improve as well.”

The aim of course at the start of the year was to stay in Division 1 and get back to Croke Park for the championship decider, and while it was tough at times, Leona reckons the experience will stand Westmeath in good stead come next Sunday.

“We had to step up and use those games for our fitness, and to see where we were going as a team,” the St Loman’s, Mullingar forward explained.

“Clubs and players from all over the county were brought in, and it shows the good state that we are in ladies wise in Westmeath. It’s great to be back and the youth and experience is a good blend. With supporters allowed back, we hope they will all come out and cheer us on.”

Last year’s defeat All-Ireland final defeat to Meath is tempered by the fact that the Royals will now contest this year’s senior decider. Leona hopes for something of the same from her teammates.

“It’s a special day for us and Westmeath, and we hope we can do ourselves justice, and after the big kick early on. We want to bring the cup back and go one step further than last year, and there’s an All-Ireland there to be won,” she said.

Archibold’s honest assessment was refreshing, and in closing, she had this to say about the Lake County’s chances this Sunday: “If we play to our best, we will win. I’m very confident of that, so it’s all about how we play and getting the best out of ourselves.”