Connellan injury a concern as Westmeath focus on league

The sight of midfielder Ray Connellan limping off injured in Saturday’s O’Byrne Shield semi-final in Kinnegad is one that will concern Westmeath supporters and management alike ahead of the start of the National Football League on Sunday week.

Westmeath lost to Louth by six points, but certainly of greater concern would be an injury that keeps the Athlone ace out of the big league opener against Offaly in Tullamore. Manager Dessie Dolan is hoping Connellan makes a full recovery, especially with Sam Duncan unavailable this season.

“Ray got a bad knock and we don’t know: it’s hard to know so soon after the game. He’s sore at the minute. I thought it was a dead leg, but we don’t yet know. It’s on the knee area and he was limping heavily enough. Other than that, everyone else is fine,” he said, afterwards.

The Wee County, who overcame Westmeath in last year’s Leinster championship, got two timely goals, the second of which put them firmly in control (2-9 to 0-8), but Dolan felt a more clinical Westmeath could have avoided that scenario.

“We were unlucky: I think Luke (Loughlin) had a shot and it was 1-9 to 0-8 at that stage and it (a point) would have brought us right back into it. Instead, it ended up in the back of the net at the other end. I suppose that’s just something we have to learn: at this level if you make mistakes, you get punished. And I thought the goals were a bit soft from our behalf: both goals, in the first and second half,” he observed.

“At this time of year, goals are big scores. Just when we looked like we were coming back into it, they got that goal and it killed it off a bit.”

Dolan was happy his side created plenty of chances on the day and it was good preparation for the league, but he will be looking for better execution in the key games that await in a very tight Division 3.

“I thought we created enough opportunities; we had plenty of wides and too many shots into the (Louth) goalie’s arms. In terms of being clinical, you need to be better. With the conditions underfoot, and (the passing of) the ball: it’s a bit colder as well and the flight (of the pass) and things like that. We just need to be better,” he remarked.

“If we are being honest, we know there are areas we need to concentrate on and work on. They are obvious areas.”

Louth manager Ger Brennan played a very strong side in Saturday’s game and it was certainly a much improved Westmeath display with most of the county’s first choice players on show.

“It was a very good test. Louth had a strong team out as well and I suppose it showed up some good bits of play and also some areas we have to work on. And it’s clear there’s a bit of work to be done before the National League starts. We will just have to go away now and reflect on that performance, but certainly it was a good test for us, a timely test and one that we needed,” said Dolan.

John Heslin and Sam McCartan will come back into the side ahead of the league.

“They just have stuff on. As we said before, this time of year, there’s a bit of travelling being done and other stuff, and we have to factor that in,” said the manager.

A hectic start to the season sees players being called on for college and U20 football also and Dolan is conscious of balancing the workload.

“There’s a Sigerson Cup as well to consider. We trained last night because there are lads involved with Sigerson during the week. You wouldn’t want to be U20, playing Sigerson and playing for Westmeath seniors. The load is (significant): we try and balance it out and give lads game time. There is a balance to be done,” he said.

Overall, Dolan was content with such a competitive match in the lead up to the big midlands derby on Sunday week.

“You can see there’s work to be done. Louth had a strong side out and they are a good team, playing in Division 2. We will go away and work hard now.

“At times we were a bit open back there. And we are giving the ball away a bit cheaply as well. So that’s what we will work on.

“We have to improve and we know that; heading to Tullamore won’t be easy,” he added.