As an air of positivity pervades the Westmeath senior football playing squad and management following the Leinster championship quarter final success over Longford, thoughts now imminently turn towards Sunday’s semi-final contest with Kildare, a place in the provincial final awaiting the victors.
To be played on the vast green swathe of Croke Park (throw in 2.15pm ), Westmeath journey to the capital brimming with confidence, a cohesive team quarter final team display giving just cause for optimism on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking to the Athlone Advertiser on Tuesday morning, team manager, Jack Cooney, afforded his pre-game thoughts, noting that the semi-final fixture with Kildare will be a closely contested 70 minutes of championship fare.
“Reflecting on our win in the quarter final, I would be pleased with certain elements of our performance after we settled into the game. We had prepared a gameplan to nullify the threat of Longford and thankfully, a positive result materialised,” Jack asserted.
With Sunday’s opposition in mind, Jack stated that a season playing league football in division one is certain to be of benefit to Kildare but his Lake County charges will hold no fear of the opposition.
“Playing league football against the top counties in the country is certain to have been of benefit to Kildare but we are one year further in our development. There was only two points between the teams at the same stage of the Leinster championship in 2021 and I would be of the view that a similar contest will unfold on Sunday.
“We are working towards a positive performance as a team on Sunday and if we achieve such a reality, I hope that it is sufficient to earn the required victory,” Jack remarked.
The team’s fourth senior football championship under the current management, Jack is of the belief that the experienced gathered by the players within the squad during this time will positively impact on the Croke Park playing surface on Sunday.
“The current group of players, with a few exceptions, are working with the current management for four years and hopefully the playing experience gained during this time will come to positive fruition in Croke Park.
“A number of new additions to the panel have yet to to savour the Croke Park atmosphere and hopefully when they do, it will give cause for a boost to playing performance levels. There is a great atmosphere within the camp at the moment - there is no better way to enhance the mood than with a championship win - so hopefully, such positivity will be sustained when the game concludes on Sunday,” Jack concluded.
