Westmeath footballers rue near misses as hurlers claim silverware

- Gerry Buckley

Relative to the previous year, 2021 was somewhat more ‘normal’ in that crowds gradually returned to watch Gaelic games, nationally and locally. At the time of writing, how exactly 2022 is going to pan out is known only to the great ‘referee/administrator’ in the sky. But the signs are worrying.

However, fixtures were fulfilled in the 12 months just ending and, in the case of Westmeath, there were more hard luck stories than good luck equivalents.

This columnist abhors ‘moral victories’ and/or excuses. Accordingly, as ever, I will concentrate hereunder on what went into referees’ notebooks and up on Mick Moody’s meticulously-operated scoreboard in TEG Cusack Park and other venues. Ultimately, that is all that counts.

Ironically, Westmeath’s senior footballers played very well for the vast majority of most games. Yet they have only the hammering of Laois in the Leinster championship in the ‘W’ column in competitive action in 2021. All four league games are in the ‘L’ column, regardless of ‘could haves’ and ‘should haves’.

Therefore, a far-from-straightforward Division 3 campaign beckons for Jack Cooney’s charges in the spring. Longford in the championship opener is winnable – but Westmeath’s neighbours will be thinking precisely the same. Westmeath simply do not want to be competing in the belated first staging of the Tailteann Cup.

Joe McDonagh Cup success was eventually achieved by Shane O’Brien’s troops. This very commendable achievement was blighted somewhat by a totally avoidable loss to Laois in a relegation play-off a week later.

There are many observers – and you can count me among them – who would have preferred to stay in Division 1 rather than moving from a Division 2 campaign (again, far-from-straightforward) straight into the lions’ den when Kilkenny visit Mullingar, a week ahead of one of the latter’s greatest servants, Henry Shefflin, giving the Galway team talk in Salthill for the visit of a side now managed by Joe Fortune.

Underage was a disappointment – yet again! Both minor teams bowed out timidly, and the U20 hurlers lost a titanic game away to Laois in their championship encounter. Damien Gavin’s football counterparts won two games (including a penalty shootout triumph in Longford) before succumbing narrowly to All-Ireland champions-elect Offaly. The earlier line regarding detesting excuses prevents me from detailing why that match was lost!

So here we go again, a personal stab at Westmeath Gaelic games inter-county highs and lows for 2021.

*Senior Footballer of the Year

Kevin Maguire (Caulry). Appointed as Lake County captain for 2021, the full back took to the task like a duck to water. A quality defender who was hugely instrumental in his club’s best ever run in the Flanagan Cup, when they gave champions-elect St Loman’s, Mullingar a fright.

Senior Hurler of the Year

Killian Doyle (Raharney). A spell in London initially looked like it had hindered the Deelside marksman’s progress, but his displays for club and county in 2021 were right out of the top drawer. A year after playing a relegation play-off, the men in blue regained the Westmeath Examiner Cup.

*Most Improved Senior Footballer

Lorcan Dolan (Castledaly). A fringe player for a number of the years, the corner-forward became a valuable regular in 2021. Another year facing into a perennially competitive race for the Peter Geraghty Cup will be a disappointment to him and his colleagues in gold and green.

*Most Improved Senior Hurler

Darragh Egerton (Clonkill). An automatic selection on the Joe McDonagh Cup team, the tigerish corner-back was Mr Consistency in both maroon and white, and green and gold, in 2021.He looks set to be a key man for Joe Fortune in the year ahead.

*Young Footballer of the Year

Devin Hill (Killucan). Not necessarily considered to be one of the really big names on the history-making St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge team in 2020, the corner-forward with an eye for goal came on in leaps and bounds in the last 12 months. He may well figure for Jack Cooney in 2022.

*Young Hurler of the Year

Jack Gillen (Cullion). A powerfully-built forward and an outstanding long-range striker of the sliotar, his progress in 2022 will be closely monitored by Fortune who seems very likely to hand him an inter-county senior debut in the not-too-distant future.

*Best Senior Football Performance

Laois have always proven to be very difficult opponents for Westmeath in senior football. Accordingly, their demolition by a very fit and focused Westmeath side in Tullamore provided hope of another Leinster final appearance. Re the Kildare game – see ‘excuses’ above.

*Most Disappointing Senior Football Performance

In sharp contrast to the rest of the year, the men in maroon and white produced a lethargic performance against Down in the league, resulting in a relegation play-off where even a remarkable tally of 0-25 in Cork could not stop the Division 3 trap door opening.

*Best Senior Hurling Performance

While many will argue that the Joe McDonagh Cup is now the original Christy Ring Cup by another name – and they make a valid point – victory in the latest second tier competition had eluded the Westmeath hurlers until they put in a fine display against Kerry in Croke Park.

*Most Disappointing Senior Hurling Performance

O’Moore County hurling continues to operate at a slightly higher level than the Lake County, but the relegation play-off defeat in Portlaoise was galling, especially as the visitors had followed up the Joe McDonagh Cup win by producing some sparkling hurling.

*Best Underage Football Performance

Any football victory in Newbridge is as welcome as it is hard-earned, and a gutsy display by the U20 footballers augured well for a lengthy championship run for Damien Gavin’s charges. This almost came to pass, but the 2022 side looks to have a lot of potential also.

*Most Disappointing Underage Football Performance

The minor footballers bowed out tamely in TEG Cusack Park to what was admittedly a fine Louth side and the wait for a meaningful championship run at U17 level continues. This year was the 21st anniversary of a Leinster minor/U21 double. Those were the days!

*Best Underage Hurling Performance

As stated above, Westmeath victories against Laois in meaningful hurling matches are rare, but Kevin O’Brien’s troops truly gave everything in what was a quality and incredibly high-scoring contest in MW Hire O’Moore Park. O’Brien’s move to Offaly should have been prevented.

*Most Disappointing Underage Hurling Performance

A miserable minor hurling campaign ended with a dismal defeat at the hands of Down in the ‘B’ competition, this year under the banner of the Peadar Ó Liatháin Cup. A year on from what was a promising campaign, 2021 in the grade was a damp squib.

*Score of the Year

Raharney clubman Ciaran Doyle’s incredible point for Westmeath against Galway in their Allianz Hurling League game had even seasoned national commentators in raptures. Division 1 – regardless of likely hidings – is where Westmeath need to be.

*Special Merit Award

Westmeath’s intermediate ladies regained the Mary Quinn Cup a decade after their first win. Meath, Westmeath’s 2020 final conquerors, astonishingly adjusted instantly to the senior ranks in 2021. Yo-yoing galls this columnist, so the target of new manager Michael Finneran in 2022 will be modest – just stay up.