Fitzpatrick: We showed true grit

Louth manager Peter Fitzpatrick praised his side's character as they withstood Westmeath's late rally to claim a place in their first Leinster Senior Football Championship final since 1960.

Louth are fast becoming the team of this year's Championship as they battled their way to a 1-15 to 2-10 Croke Park victory over the Lakesiders, adding to previous wins over Longford and Kildare.

Fitzpatrick was simply overjoyed by the effort of his players who dug deep to book a place in the July 11 decider against Meath.

"For a team that was winning by six points, then all of a sudden conceded two goals and was just leading by a point...a lot of the Louth teams of old would have given up, but this team is something different," he said.

"This is a true grit team, and I've never been so happy and so proud of a bunch of lads - from the whole 30 players and everything else."

While his side never trailed in yesterday evening's game, Fitzpatrick said it was the tough test Louth required ahead of the Leinster final.

"From the minute the first ball was in, we went a point up. I don't think we were behind in the whole game. But yet again I have to take my hat off to Westmeath.

"I went down to see Westmeath playing Wicklow, and to be honest I came out of the field a wee bit confident. I said that we had a great chance of beating these boys, but in fairness Westmeath put it up to us today.

"That's the kind of game you need before a Leinster final. We weren't too confident coming in, we knew that we a 50-50 realistic chance of winning the game."

Fitzpatrick had particular praise for Paddy Keenan at midfield, and also full-forward Shane Lennon who, despite a hand injury, continues to play through the pain barrier.

"Paddy Keenan played some fantastic stuff, and Shane Lennon with a tendon gone in his hand. Some of the performances today were absolutely fantastic, and I'm just very proud to be a Louth man today."

The Clan na Gael clubman also held a special word for the Louth supporters who gave the men in red a strong vocal backing.

"Croke Park is a big place and everything, but we could hear the supporters cheer us on, and all I hope is that we get a few more supporters for the Leinster final," he added.

"This is a very, very proud day for Louth. I told the boys that today was a game, and not to worry about the occasion.

"But the good thing - the occasion comes into it now. It's 50 years since Louth made a Leinster final.

"We have won no trophies, there is nothing on the table yet, and all I hope is that there is one more game in these boys in the Leinster final."

Meanwhile, Westmeath manager Pat Flanagan felt his side had left it too late to make a recovery.

The Lake County side trailed by just a point, after Paul Bannon's 48th-minute penalty goal; but Louth crucially notched the next two points.

"Obviously it's extremely disappointing, especially the fact that I don't think we played to 100% right throughout the game. It was only in the last 15 minutes that we got stuck into it," he said.

"We gave away too much early ball in the first half, we didn't keep enough possession and we were penalised big time.'

Martin Flanagan's 65th-minute goal, coupled with a point from Denis Glennon, cut the deficit to the minimum late on, but the Westmeath boss lamented Louth's canny knack to capitalise quickly on the breaks that came their way.

"We were going forward with another ball just after that, but unfortunately it was robbed, and it wound up that it was a point the far end, and that happened far too often today.

"We had a lot of possession going forward, and we lost it cheaply and paid the price for it big time."