Minors deserve day in TEG Cusack Park - Sheridan
Underage players are the future of Westmeath and deserve to be treated with greater respect when it comes to holding finals in TEG Cusack Park, the county grounds, according to Mullingar Shamrocks minor football manager, Derek Sheridan.
Speaking after his side won the Minor Football Division 1 title last Sunday at Dovida Lakepoint Park (defeating The Downs by 0-14 to 0-11), Sheridan expressed his disappointment that the final was not played in TEG Cusack Park. The match was switched from Westmeath headquarters at the eleventh hour due to inclement weather: with the Senior football final on Sunday and the Senior hurling final replay on Bank Holiday Monday, there was a very slim chance the Minor football decider would go ahead as planned.
“We are very disappointed. The players worked hard all year, had 130 sessions and we would have spoken on the importance of playing in Cusack Park,” he remarked.
“Even if you have to play the underage finals earlier in the year, when Cusack Park is available, it would be fairer to young players. The Downs also missed out; they never had a minor and senior team on county final day and it is a pity for them as a club.”
“We had seven county minors last year, two this year. The Downs had seven county minors. These are the future of Westmeath football. Every young player wants to play in Cusack Park. As of today, there has been no underage final in Cusack Park. We’re very grateful to St Loman’s, Mullingar for making their venue available, but Cusack Park is a special venue and young players want to play there. It’s our county grounds.”
The Minor hurling final between St Oliver Plunketts and Clonkill was cancelled the previous weekend and it has now been moved from from TEG Cusack Park to Joristown Park, Raharney next Sunday (12 midday).
Sheridan said he knew last Sunday’s Minor football final would be a tough test.
"It was a hard fought win. Conditions were harsh. We had the semi-final four weeks ago and it was drawn out. We were really good against Shandonagh in the semi-final, but The Downs were always going to be good. They were unbeaten up to today - they won the first three games in the league stages and drew one. We met them in the last round and they beat us in The Downs,” he observed.
“They beat St Loman’s in the semi-final, who people fancied. We knew it would be tough.”
The winners had to contend with injuries this season. “We lost Andy Gavigan and Ted Aherne who scored eight points in the league final. He had surgery on a knee injury. Hugo Corroon played after suffering a bad foot injury and he is still an U16 player, but he scored five points, which was great,” said Sheridan.
“It took us a while to get into the game, but we had a strong 15 minutes and were six up at the break. They got their purple patch as we knew they would, but we responded.”
The team has developed nicely over the season, with Adam Buckley, Ben Sheerin, James Flynn, Ben McNamee, Paul Keating, Ty Masterson, Rory McCaul, Criostóir Ormsby and Ted Aherne all getting inter county experience.
“Tom Ormsby took the reins three years ago and he brought in myself and Paul Christie. Last year we made the league and championship final, but lost out to Tubberclair. We have been in the last four finals. Tom has moved on to the U20 side and they are in a final against Tubberclair,” Sheridan explained.
“I’m involved with Tom as a coach. I have Paul Christie, Aaron Purcell and Colin Farrell with me. Ryan Blundell did strength and conditioning. We put in a major effort. From last year’s final, 13 players went up to adult level, so they were hard to replace - the likes of Donnacha Maguire for example, and Ryan Kelly. We did a lot of strength and conditioning training. Today was our 133rd meeting.
“Paddy Monaghan was with The Downs and had them chomping at the bit; they were here to win it. We got over the line, it was tight, but on the balance of play we deserved it.”