Favourites Raharney taking nothing for granted
Next Sunday’s Westmeath senior hurling final sees Raharney go in as favourites to overcome Lough Lene Gaels, but it’s not something that concerns Deelsiders’ boss, Ger Flanagan.
“I wouldn't be too worried about the favourite’s tag. We will just worry about ourselves, turning up and performing and hopefully what we bring on the day will be enough,” he said, looking ahead to Sunday’s decider.
Tipperary native Flanagan feels the experience of winning the title just two years ago will be an obvious boost for his charges, a lot of whom are used to playing inter county hurling for Westmeath. However, they’re taking nothing for granted as they prepare to meet a Lough Lene Gaels side with serious momentum.
“It’s a big plus for our experienced guys to have been there so recently. We have a lot of county panellists between the senior and under 20 sides. They are used to playing for Westmeath and they are used to turning up on the day and producing performances. That surely should stand to us. And the fact that we won two years ago also - they don’t have too far to go back to find that experience,” he observed.
“But each day is a new challenge and we really have to just focus on this year’s final; what we did two years ago, or what we did last week is not really going to help us produce it on the day against Lough Lene Gaels.”
Flanagan has a strong hand to choose from and he is conscious of the calibre of player the Raharney club has developed over the years.
His hand has also been strengthened as the year has progressed with players returning to the fold.
“We have huge experience and just looking at Jamie Mulkearns, for example: he was part of the side two years’ ago, but I’m sure he’s a different man now.
“We have five or six subs really pushing to make the starting 15, so I won’t be surprised if we have a few changes,” he remarked.
“We have had a lot of changes since the start. A lot of the county players are back. We have had a lot of changes since the early rounds. We know what we are about; we probably have changed formation slightly. We knew we would get stronger as the year progressed: we have players putting their hands up to claim a place.”
Flanagan has a strong management team and is joined by Bernard Crowley, Brian Smyth, Kevin McGrath and Kevin McKeogh.
Meanwhile, Lough Lene Gaels’ manager Joey Williams is not impressed at his side being written off ahead of the final. They have already caused a shock by defeating the reigning champions Castletown Geoghegan, but it wasn’t something that surprised Williams.
“Raharney are the big favourites. In everyone’s eyes we are underdogs, but we don’t believe that. We have been knocking on the door: last year we beat Raharney and only lost by a point against Castletown Geoghegan. I don’t know where everyone is getting underdogs from. We believe we are always good enough: this year we got the break and we’re in the final,” he remarked.
As to what it might take to topple a team of Raharney’s quality, Williams suggests his side will have to keep things tight.
“You have to be there at the end, very close and if you get the break you take it,” he mused.
The Collinstown side welcome back Tommy Doyle, who returned from abroad and played so prominently in the semi-final. His presence could be a major factor in Sunday’s final and Raharney are well aware of the Westmeath full back’s capabilities.
“He is a massive presence, even from puck-outs you can see his influence. He can play in the forward line also, so it gives them options. We will have to deal with that,” observed Raharney captain, Robbie Greville.