Westmeath senior hurling manager Joe Fortune.

Fortune hits back as hurlers retain Division One status

Westmeath senior hurlers produced a gritty and determined display to defeat Laois and retain their Division 1 status at Semple Stadium, Thurles last Saturday.

Manager Joe Forunte was thrilled with the victory, which came following a very challenging campaign in the top flight, with tough defeats against leading counties such as Limerick, Galway and Cork. However, goals from Joey Boyle, Niall O’Brien and substitute Eoin Keyes laid the platform for a well deserved victory (3-24 to 1-26) last Saturday.

Wexford native Fortune took the opportunity to criticise some online comments written about his troops in advance of the crucial play-off game.

“I’ve read stuff where people gave out about Derek McNicholas coming back in. Derek took time off after the birth of his son,” he explained

“I brought in young Peter Clarke for his first game at that level. We don’t have a conveyor belt like other counties. The likes of Limerick put a massive amount of money into underage. You can bring the best strength and conditioning guy in Ireland in when a guy is 22, but your time has gone.

“I read last week that we didn’t look as fit as last year, but would you look fit when facing Limerick or Galway whose aim is to win the All-Ireland? It hurts me to see what some people write about this solid group of men that we have.”

Three goals at crucial junctures proved decisive in Saturday’s four-point win. The winning bainisteoir concurred, praising the impact of Raharney’s Eoin Keyes.

“Yes, we haven’t scored a lot of goals this year, but the three today were vital. Also, the subs we brought on made a difference. Young (Eoin) Keyes was disappointed not to start today, but I told him in Abbotstown on Thursday that he would come on and win the game for us,” he said.

“When the subs work out it is great, and you’re seen as the great tactician. But sometimes they don’t work out.”

Westmeath will now prepare for the Leinster championship and a meeting with Kilkenny on April 22 in Nowlan Park (6pm), another daunting challenge for Fortune’s troops. Following that they meet Dublin at Parnell Park a week later, while they host Galway in round three on May 6.

Westmeath are away to Wexford in round four (May 21), while in round five, Antrim come to TEG Cusack Park (May 28).

Meanwhile, there was strong criticism of the venue choice for Saturday’s play-off.

Raharney delegate John Donoghue raised the issue at last Wednesday’s County Committee meeting in the Mullingar Park Hotel, pointing out that Westmeath has travelled to Portlaoise a number of times to play Laois in the National Hurling League.

“Everytime we play a relegation game, we have to travel to Laois - for the last number of years. Now we have to travel to Thurles to play a relegation game. Did we not look to see if we could get a home venue for ourselves?” he asked.

It was explained that several other venues were sought, but for different reasons none were available, leaving the Westmeath hurling fraternity with a considerable journey for Saturday’s crucial game.