McHugh’s influence driving Westmeath on - Cooney

Leinster SFC final preview

Westmeath midfielder Brían Cooney feels the side has nothing to fear heading into a Leinster final against Dublin on Sunday week.

“That comes down to the management team - they have come in and given us so much belief. And in fairness to older, more established players, have shared their experiences. We are a young team, overall, but they do give us the support we need. They’re really good mentors for us,” he declared after the semi-final victory over Kildare at O’Connor Park, Tullamore.

Cooney, scorer of a terrific first half goal, said former Donegal football Mark McHugh, who won an All-Ireland under Jim McGuinness in 2012, has been inspirational since taking up the managerial reins. McHugh took over when Dermot McCabe departed at the end of last season.

“We would do anything for Mark because we know he’d do anything for us. When you think of him driving for three hours to training and then home again: He has a young family and he’s putting in all this commitment - the least we can do is give something back. He enjoys it as much as us; we’d do anything for him and I think that shows on the pitch,” remarked the Coralstown/Kinneagd star.

A son of former Westmeath manager Jack Cooney, who led the county to Tailteann Cup glory in 2022, Brían said the players are keen to write their own history.

“We found out that there were only five teams (from Westmeath) who have made Leinster finals in the past. There are 79 Westmeath players over the history of the GAA who have played there and now it will be 99 when we take on Dublin on Sunday week,” he observed.