Loughlin keen to relive the glory moments of 2022

The Downs are back in the Westmeath senior football decider for the second year in succession and they have been playing like men on a mission, fully intent on putting the heartache of last year’s defeat on penalties behind them.

Joint captain Luke Loughlin knows about the highs and lows. Last year’s final saw him produce an outstanding display before things went pear-shaped in the shootout. In the drawn encounter they were so close, a point ahead with less than a minute remaining, before St Loman’s, Mullingar got an equaliser. Undoubtedly, Loughlin and his colleagues have been fully determined to put things right this year.

The Westmeath star is fully aware that their impressive performances in the group stages count for nothing now and they still need to be at their best to deny Coralstown/Kinnegad on Sunday. Them being the fancied side is just talk, he insists.

“We didn't read into last year too much because - excuse my language - s**t happens from time to time and you just you move on. You dust yourself off and, look, we're a very talented bunch, but we're taking nothing for granted. You know all those victories in the earlier rounds, they mean nothing now because when we went to play Mullingar Shamrocks (semi-final) there were people questioning us even after all the earlier rounds,” he remarked.

“You're not going to tell me that Kinnegad don't think they've as good a chance of beating us as we have at them? It's a complete 50-50 game. And regardless if we're favourites, or not favourites, I don't think anyone cares.”

Loughlin is fully aware that this time of year can throw up different challenges in terms of playing conditions and while the season has been generally good, weather-wise, things could be a lot more challenging on county final day.

He said the player will just focus on what they can control.

“Well, when we won in 2022, it was probably monsoon (conditions); it probably suited us though maybe to try and spoil the St Loman’s forwards back then but look, I think stuff like that is completely out of our control. You're just trying to focus on what you can focus on, we're not really going to be too worried about Kinnegad themselves, per se, we try and get ourselves right,” he said.

“Because if we start worrying about Kinnegad … That's up to the management. As players we're just trying to get our heads right, our bodies right, and have absolutely everyone raring to go. Myself and Ian Martin are obviously joint captains, so it takes a small bit of burden off.

“We don't have a whole lot to do because we've so many good players out there: I think we've nine lads potentially going into a county set-up next year. I don't think there's too many teams out there have that, so we're very lucky with the experience we have. But as I said, we'll just focus on ourselves, let the management worry about Kinnegad and look, we'll just try and enjoy the build-up and put the burden of worrying about the opposition on to them.”

As a dual player, Loughlin faces different challenges each year, but he’s full of praise for the working arrangement between The Downs and Clonkill, with players’ needs always understood and respected.

“It is tough, 100%, but I suppose we're lucky there in a way that Clonkill and The Downs have great tradition. When Clonkill were going well before, maybe The Downs weren't, but you just kind of work it day by day. At the minute there's not actually as many of us as you think doing both, so I suppose it's kind of up to the individual,” he opined.

“I'm hitting the 30 mark now, I might need a rest, maybe the odd night. But if I went to Dermot (Power) or Mickey Dan (Murtagh, Clonkill), there'd be no problems and they're usually fairly understanding.

“But it can be challenging when one is going well and the other one's not going so well because you can see things are done a certain way in one place and you're going over to the next and it's not just going as right. Obviously that comes in waves with players and management and all these different things. A couple of seasons and things can change again.

“Clonkill and The Downs, I think I've always said it, I wouldn't be able to pick if you put a gun to my head; I'd have to go down the middle. I'm very lucky to be able to play both.”

Winning the Paddy Flanagan Cup with his club three years’ ago stands out as the most significant moment in Loughlin’s fine playing career and he’s very keen to relive that experience. The club has been the heartbeat of the community for many decades and they bring a passion that inspires the players: the build-up to Sunday’s final promises to be a special one.

“The Downs are all about tradition and when we meet people, that's one of the words that comes up a lot. So it's great to be able to represent that. We’re looking forward to going out the motorway to training and seeing all the flags in the days ahead. This is what you want,” he said.

“From a personal standpoint, when we won it in 2022, it was the best day by far I had playing football. Just because of the sentiment part of it and last year obviously was very tough, but I think we've fairly well forgotten about it.”

Last week Loughlin was selected on the Tailteann Cup Team of The Year, another significant achievement in an outstanding career. However, victory on Sunday will be even more special for the brilliant forward.