Westmeath confident of finishing the job

FORGET the notion that Westmeath have missed the boat.

The feeling emanating from the county yesterday was one of quiet confidence and a determination to finish what they started so impressively on Sunday.

It is easy to buy into the notion that Páidí Ó Sé’s side have seen their best chance of capturing a first Leinster SFC title slip by after Chris Conway’s equalising point for Laois on Sunday. Too easy, in fact.

Factor in the county’s traumatic experiences in replayed games against Meath and the odds seem stacked further in Laois’ favour.

Westmeath folk take a different slant.

While Sean Boylan’s Meath continue to hold the Indian sign over their neighbours to the west, Laois present no such fears. You’ll hear it again and again as the week progresses but it’s worth repeating.

Westmeath claimed Leinster titles against Laois at minor and U21 levels in 1995 and ’99 after replays.

“The feeling is good, the lads just feel that the job isn’t done yet, it’s there to be finished,” said Westmeath selector Paddy Collins yesterday. “People talking about our record in replays are just talking history.

“We aren’t concerned about that. This panel is just looking to make it’s own bit of history. People could take solace out of our record in replays against Laois at underage but again that’s all in the past.”

Rather than rue their failure at the weekend, Collins instead reflected on the sheer entertainment served up.

“It was just a very enjoyable experience. It was such a refreshing game, free of any cynicism and great to watch. I’d say all round it was good value for the 56,000 or so people who were there to watch it.”

Collins was effusive in his praise for Rory O’Connell, playing in his first game in two months after a 12th hour reprieve from the High Court.

The bad news is that both O’Connell and Dessie Dolan were undergoing x-rays yesterday on wrist and thumb injuries respectively.

Defenders Michael Ennis (hamstring) and Derek Heavin (ankle) are also on the treatment table.

Should Dolan recover to make the line-up he will again be facing Portlaoise corner back Aidan Fennelly who more than held his head above water against the lethal forward on Sunday.

“You could say I did well but at the end of the day he’d scored two points from play off me. I don’t like lads scoring on me. He got a few frees as well there because it’s tempting to lunge in on him. He flies past you. He’s so quick and he doesn’t slow down at all when he’s soloing the ball.

“Some lads would be slower when they try to solo it and that lets you get the hand in and knock the ball away. He doesn’t give you that chance so you need to control yourself that bit more.

“I suppose you could say that he’s always going to see a lot of ball because he’s their main man up front. I knew that at the start. Whenever the midfielders or centre back get the ball they look up to try and find him. You know its coming but its still difficult to stop. I have it all to do again now this Saturday too.

“Yeah, in general the defence did alright, but just alright. Tom Kelly caught some great ball and Joe Higgins did brilliantly as usual but they still scored 13 points and you can’t be happy when you concede 13 points.

“I suppose, that’s to be expected as well though. It’s not like the northern teams where defences are packed tightly behind the ball. It was always going to be a more open game.”

Collins may discount history’s influence on the replay but Laois won’t. Scratching the Westmeath itch means almost as much to the midlanders as a second consecutive provincial title at this stage.

“A lot of lads will be so hungry to win this next Saturday. I wasn’t on the minor teams that lost to Westmeath back in the mid-nineties but I know our lads who played then are thinking we can’t let them beat us again in a replay.”