‘Purple patches’ will be crucial - Paddy Dowdall
Shay Murtagh Precast Westmeath SFC Final preview
The final could come down to who makes the most of their purple patch, according to Paddy Dowdall, who's in his fourth year managing St Loman’s, Mullingar. Two high-scoring teams are set to collide when Dowdall's charges face holders The Downs in Sunday’s Westmeath senior football final.
The dual star, still active as a player for St Loman's and Clonkill, knows how fine the margins can be between these sides. The 2022 and 2024 finals were both epic encounters, with little to separate the teams, and St Loman’s were fortunate to come out on the right side of the result in 2024 after a penalty shootout.
“They were two epic finals; there was nothing between the two of us. Two great teams and we were lucky to come out on the right side of it to finish out with the win that year,” he recalled.
The road back to another final has been far from straightforward for the Blues. Their championship was littered with draws and moments when results could have gone either way, but Dowdall believes the players showed considerable character to keep themselves in the hunt.
“A hell of a year is the way I call it. A few games we should have won, a few games we could have lost. But ultimately, the lads showed huge character and the drive just to get the results. If you don’t draw one of the games, you’re probably not making it through to the knockout stage; they would have realised that,” he remarked.
Loman’s showed glimpses of their quality during the group stages, particularly against The Downs and Mullingar Shamrocks, while Dowdall felt they could also have taken more from the clash against Garrycastle. The group game against Coralstown/Kinnegad was another test of their resolve. Nine points down, they could have folded, but instead they kept pushing and, according to Dowdall, could have and probably should have won the game but for a last-minute point.
The eventual breakthrough came with their win over Caulry at the end of the group stage, which Dowdall described as a huge relief and one that secured their place in the quarter-final against Tubberclair, a game that provided what he felt was an ideal preparation for another major test against Coralstown/Kinnegad. While Loman’s eventually ran out 10-point winners in the semi-final, Dowdall insists the margin did not tell the full story.
“I don’t think it was a reflection on how the game went at times - Kinnegad missed a couple of chances," he observed. “There was probably a six-minute period there where we’re a point down in the second half and within six minutes we’re six points up and they had a player sent off.
That was a huge swing for us. They kept going and I expect no different from Jack’s team to keep going to the bitter end, but our guys went again and again showed huge character to push on.”
Dowdall has been encouraged by the way his side have improved as the championship progressed, although there remains one obvious concern.
“We’ve been slowly but surely getting better through games, finishing out games most importantly. That’s the big thing. Probably one thing we probably wouldn’t be happier with is the slow start in games, but ultimately we’re finishing fairly well in games,” he said.
They now face the biggest test against the standard bearers.
“The Downs have been the best team in the county for the last two years, and in particular this year,” admitted Dowdall. “They played half the championship without two or three of their key players, the likes of Luke Loughlin and Kevin O’Sullivan. Credit where credit is due. They’ve again showed who they are throughout the championship. They’ve played very well and we’re probably going into the final as underdogs. We’re not used to that at times, but we’re looking forward to it,” he added.
Loman’s have also introduced a number of new faces into the team this year, something Dowdall believes was important after the lack of new additions in recent seasons.
Ethan Brown, Mark Tunney, Shane Mulderry and Mikey Weir have all made an impact, with Dowdall particularly impressed by Weir, who captained Coláiste Mhuire to all-Ireland success in March. “Mikey, just in particular, he’s just took to it like a duck to water. He’s been brilliant in training. For a young man, he’s been brilliant. He just fell into senior training: came back from U20 which was a tough out in their final game against Kildare, but when he came back to us, he was brilliant,” said Dowdall.
Ronan O’Toole, currently in Australia, could make an impact if he returns, but Dowdall admits he has no idea if that will happen.
“He’s very busy in Australia; he has work commitment’s over there, a contract over there, so at the moment, nothing. Radio silence. Unless he arrives home here, I won’t know about it anyway, that’s for sure, until he’s at the door,” said Dowdall.
Asked if it would be a good selection headache to have were O’Toole to return, Dowdall remarked: “It’d be a fantastic headache to have, because at the end of the day, the quality, you can’t replace the quality that he brings. He’s fantastic; number one, a fantastic person, number two, a fantastic team mate, and number three, a fantastic player.”
Two-pointers could potentially be a decisive factor on Sunday, particularly given the ability of players on both sides to punish teams from distance and Dowdall believes it has become a major feature of the game.
“I think in every game, and you look at all the games, county and club this year, two-pointers are always a factor. Because two-pointers, if you’re scoring two-pointers, teams have to push out on you, and then the space is in behind, and then it creates goal chances. If teams push out on you, the space is in behind, and if you can be accurate enough in your tactics and the way you play, there are goal chances, and you will create them,” he observed.
“Both teams are very good. The Downs, with Luke, Mullen and Egerton, for example, are really good at kicking two-pointers. We have a few of them, and they will be a factor in the final, I’d say.”
Then there is the battle around midfield, an area where Dowdall expects both teams to have plenty of options.
The Downs can call on Charlie Drumm and Lorcan Mullen, while Jonathan Lynam has returned. St Loman’s have options in that sector also, where Seán Flanagan and Sam McCartan played in the semi-final.
“You could have different guys in there,” noted Dowdall. “The Downs could have Charlie Drumm in there, they could have Mullen, they could have Egerton. They have a couple of different options; they have Lynam obviously back from injury as well, so they have quality around that middle third,” he observed.
“The couple of key battles you’re going to have here is at midfield. The kickout - if you can get 50%, and that’s the number we’re talking about, around that 50% of the opposition kickout, and most of your own, you can go fairly well on the day.”
The encouraging news for Loman’s is that there are no major injury concerns, with players who returned from Westmeath duty now beginning to heal after a demanding county campaign.
And behind the players, Dowdall is quick to acknowledge the work of a backroom team that has been together in large part for several years.
Head coach Phillip Wolfe has been with Loman’s for the last four years, with Joe Matthews working as goalkeeping coach. David Geoghegan, who has also worked within the club’s underage system and with the minors, brings considerable experience, while Liam Joyce has come on board this year after previously being with The Downs in 2024. Seán Kelly is a selector.
Alan Bracken handles analysis and stats, Paul Devine looks after the kit and Mark Scally is the physio, while Gary Devine was involved for the previous three years.
“It’s a brilliant group. Most of the guys have been with me the last four years. They’ve brought everything to the group,” remarked Dowdall.
And now they face another final against The Downs, with history showing just how little separates the two sides.
For Dowdall, however, the equation on Sunday is simple: maximise the good spells, put scores on the board and make those crucial moments count.
“The key is to get the scores on the board,” he remarked.
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