Hurlers ‘have an awful lot of improving to do’ – Fortune
When Westmeath senior hurling manager Joe Fortune said that “it’s great to see people back enjoying themselves after the last two years” following last Sunday’s Kehoe Cup victory against Kildare in Joristown, it’s unlikely that there would have been too many people who would have disagreed with him, even the vanquished Lilywhite players and mentors.
The long-awaited return of ‘normality’ coincided with a facile win for the Lake County, albeit the visitors were very much understrength, writes Gerry Buckley. Fortune summed up the performance as follows:
“I’d be happy that we got game time into another 11 lads as well as the 15 that started. Some lads were making their debuts here as well,” he said. “Look, Kildare were missing 11 or 12 guys from Naas who were in an All-Ireland semi-final today.
“So we are under no illusion that this is going to be different in five or six weeks’ time (in the league) in St Conleth’s Park. Kildare are making serious progress.
“But I’ve to think of Westmeath and, even though I thought we were a bit sluggish in the first half, I suppose it’s job done today. I was happy that we created goal chances as we didn’t create any last week. At the same time we have an awful lot of improving to do as well.”
A winner-takes-all match in Carlow next Sunday will round off the pre-season competition for two of the favourites for promotion out of Division 2A. The Wexford native was pragmatic about the Kehoe Cup.
“This competition is all about seeing where lads are at, seeing whether they have the stomach for it. As I said last week, I wouldn’t be doing my job right if I wasn’t giving lads a chance,” he explained.
“They are training quite hard and putting a big effort in. I’d have to be happy with their application. They seem to be enjoying it, but it’s a lot of hard work this time of year. We are looking at February 6 as the focal point of where we want to be when we play Kerry.
“I’d love that day to be able to give Westmeath supporters new faces, new guys who really are proud of putting on that maroon jersey. The lads want to be back in Division 1, but so do Kerry, so do Carlow, so do Kildare.
“After that, we have five Liam MacCarthy Cup matches which we are all looking forward to and we will see where we are at as a county,” he added.
When he was asked to comment on his side’s inexperienced full back line, he replied: “Jamie Mulkearns is only a young lad and already he has a county medal in his back pocket which a lot of other lads would love to have. I thought he did well today at full back.
“Peter Kelly (a Westmeath selector) often has a word in his ear. He is an All Star full back and Jamie has to learn, as he’ll have days when it won’t go for him.
“Johnny (Bermingham) and young (Alan) Cox did well in the corners as (Gerry) Keegan was very good for them. It’s a learning experience for young lads and it’s a learning experience for me as well.”
Westmeath fans present were concerned to see Niall O’Brien being helped off after just 15 minutes on the pitch as a sub, but his manager clarified: “Niall went over on his ankle, but I don’t think he is too bad. We also have a couple of lads in the background recovering from injury.”
In conclusion, he reiterated his delight in wearing the Westmeath bainisteoir bib and his hope that everybody would continue to support him.
“I would like to put on record how thankful I am to Raharney. The facility they have here today is incredible,” he remarked. “The Westmeath people were out in force and we’re going to need that over the next few weeks and months.
“If we are going to achieve anything this year, we are going to need the clubs and the people of Westmeath behind us. I am proud to stand on the line for Westmeath. I am enjoying it.”