Tom Cribbin insists spell in lower rungs won’t harm Westmeath’s competitiveness

Westmeath 2-24 Wexford 2-11: Westmeath manager Tom Cribbin has insisted that their spell in Division 4 hasn’t harmed their chances of cementing their status as Leinster’s second best Championship team.

John Heslin’s eight-point haul — bringing his season’s takings to 3-29 — and goals from Ger Egan and Shane Dempsey secured the Division 4 title for Westmeath on Saturday.

Their next task is to close some of the ground that exists between themselves and all-conquering Dublin having lost to the Sky Blues in each of the last two Leinster finals.