The Westmeath senior footballers enter new championship territory on Sunday afternoon when they journey to Portlaoise to play Laois in the opening round of the Tailteann Cup.
O’Moore Park is the venue for this southern region fixture, a 2pm throw in, commencing the Lake County’s aspirational quest to become inaugural winners of the silverware on offer to those defeated Division Three and Four teams who failed to reach their respective provincial finals.
Following their Leinster semi-final loss to Kildare, manager Jack Cooney stated that there would be no issue in refocusing his players minds for the fresh championship challenge at hand and with the contest on Sunday being of knockout status, Westmeath will be firmly aware that a journey to perennial rivals Laois will prove to be a difficult test following their provincial disappointment.
Should Westmeath emerge victorious in O’Moore Park on Sunday, they will advance to the quarter final stage of the competition and a possible meeting with Carlow or Tipperary during the June bank holiday weekend.
With both semi-finals and the final fixture being played at Croke Park, it is an ample opportunity for Westmeath to return to GAA HQ as the quest for championship silverware remains to the fore of players and management.
