Another stepping stone, says Mitchell, as sights set on Leinster crown

SO, for the second time in two weeks we were treated to the highly unusual sight of Westmeath players, officials and management bounding across the Croke Park pitch in joyous abandon.

It was no different away from the public’s gaze either. Their cries of delight could be heard echoing through the bowels of the Hogan Stand long before the dressing room even came into view.

But this is a team with more than just prized scalps in mind. Silverware is the goal for these Westmeath lads.

Ask forward David Mitchell. “It means we’re another step closer to the Leinster championship, to the Leinster final,” said the Rochfortbridge man. “What does it mean to Westmeath? It’s just another stepping stone. I think we’re gone past the days where it’s great to beat the big teams. It’s the Leinster title we want to win.”

The belief, it seems, is there in abundance. But this is a team forged on the near misses of old. The game seemed up for Dublin when Joe Fallon popped over their last score to open up a two-point gap with four minutes of injury time played.

Even then though, past nightmares spurred on Páidi Ó Sé’s men.

“When did I think we had it won? Just before the final whistle went, to be honest,” laughed Mitchell. “You don’t know, especially with the Meath matches where we used to be renowned for giving away a goal in the last minute, so you never stop until the final whistle goes.”

Crucial to this surprise success yesterday was their ability to move on from the loss of Rory O’Connell.

Gary Dolan moved back from the half forwards to partner David O’Shaughnessy, but it was the pilfering of loose ball from the half back lines that set up the platform for this victory as much as anything.

“It’s just a new strategy of Páidi’s, trying to throw a bit of size in around the half-forward line,” added Mitchell, who nicked a vital point himself. “It worked well today, especially in midfield without Rory. The two lads did very well and it was very important for us to break a lot off them as well.”

Dessie Dolan, as usual, furrowed the path yesterday for others to follow. After the near misses of days gone by, yesterday and the defeat of Offaly are enough to savour for now.

“In the last couple of years we were very unfortunate to be beaten,” the live wire attacker said. “All we could beat in Leinster was Carlow and that was about it. At least we’re beating a few different teams, which is good.

“I’m not surprised that we beat Dublin but at the same time, in the second half they seemed to drop their heads and didn’t seem to be as hungry as we were. That’s just the way it seemed to be.”

Three points was the measly total Dublin could muster after the interval to Westmeath’s seven. All this despite the fact the underdogs looked in big trouble in the first period as Alan Brogan and Jason Sherlock ran rampant.

So, was there a Joe Kernan-like story behind the turnaround? Any medals flung against walls, perhaps?

“There was no big secret about half-time. We just had to work that little bit extra, a few more percent than we did two weeks ago, so that was the difference.”