An opportunity to secure a place in the prized provincial championship fixture awaits Westmeath senior footballers as they aspire for Leinster semi-final success over Kildare in Croke Park on Sunday (throw in, 2pm ).
Following their 16 point victory over Laois in the quarter final of the competition, the Lake County are certain to be brimming with confidence when play commences on the vast green swathe of GAA HQ on Sunday afternoon.
Such a comprehensive victory over Laois was far from the minds of the Westmeath supporters as Westmeath trailed by the minimum at the half time interval but upon the start of the second period the Lake County upped their possession and performance levels to overwhelm their opponents.
When Denis Corroon, who impressed from his wing forward berth, goaled, confidence flooded through his playing colleagues and further three pointers from the hard working David Lynch and Castledaly clubman, Lorcan Dolan, ensured the scoreboard weighed heavily in Westmeath’s favour.
Having suffered three close defeats in their league campaign, Westmeath manager, Jack Cooney, will be more than satisfied to have achieved a first competitive victory in 2021.
The team gelled as a unit with neat and swift interplay to the fore and Cooney will be hoping his charges replicate same on the vast open space that is the Croke Park surface.
Opponents Kildare, fresh from their promotion to Division 1 following a progressive league campaign, defeated Offaly in their quarter final clash, but were not overly convincing in the manner of their play.
Under the managerial guidance of Jack O’Connor, the Lilywhites will be favourites to advance to a final fixture but Westmeath will pose numerous challenges and give of their being to ensure a place in the Leinster final on August 1 is annexed.
The game will be streamed as part of a Leinster senior football championship semi-final double header on the GAA GO media platform.
