'Westmeath went backwards this year' claims St Loman's delegate

While Football Committee chairman, Niall O'Brien, seemed positive about the future of Westmeath football, there was criticism from club delegates when the matter came up for discussion at last week's meeting in the Mullingar Park Hotel.

Niall O’Brien, spoke of the great disappointment experienced in Aughrim on Sunday week last, where the county’s senior footballers suffered a narrow defeat against Wicklow, ending their Tailteann Cup campaign prematurely.

“There were a lot of disappointments in the league and in the Tailteann Cup, but Dermot McCabe (manager) and his backroom team, each of them are pure gentlemen to deal with. The players were fantastic; they tried so hard to give the Westmeath supporters something to cheer about. They are a fantastic group and a very happy group,” he said.

He spoke of the positive achievement of the U20 footballers in the All-Ireland ‘B’ final, praising manager Kenny McKinley and his backroom team, as well as the players. “We have a lot to look forward to,” he assured the Westmeath football supporters, whom he thanked for their loyalty all season.

“People are starting to come back and I’d love to see more supporters getting behind our teams,” he added.

However, there was criticism from the clubs as to the poor run of results this year in senior football and hurling.

Joe Malone of St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge said it was a major disappointment to be out of the Tailteann Cup and noted that Westmeath didn’t seem to be able to finish off games, in his view. He accepted it was a much-changed senior football panel, with 11 new players, while his hope for the Leinster U20 football championship next year is to avoid Meath and Dublin in the group stages.

Tony Robinson of St Loman’s, Mullingar said the feedback from club players involved with the senior panel was not positive and they got no feedback from the manager after being sidelined. They felt they had to leave the panel, he said, criticising the lack of progress on Westmeath's part this season.

“We went backwards in the league and championship. We had players who had to leave the panel and that festers if it’s not dealt with. It’s not right. The manager should explain what he wants from players.

"There was no communication; that needs to be looked at because it is something that festers. Anything we are asked to do as a club, we do it; our players are always available and we are very disappointed as a club,” he remarked, stressing he was compelled to raise the issue.

Chairman Frank Mescall felt it would be unfair to comment on individual players, but the the St Loman's delegate's points were noted.

Johnny Rabbitt, Castlepollard, said a “very rosy” picture was painted at the outset for the football and hurling managements, but it didn’t turn out to be a good year.