Some five weeks after their Leinster championship quarter final loss to Louth, the Westmeath senior footballers return to competitive action on Saturday evening, as a journey to the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds in Armagh and a stern test against the Orchard County awaits (throw-in, 4.45pm ).
This, Westmeath’s opening encounter in the Sam Maguire round robin series, is the first of three encounters to be played over a four week period, championship contests against Galway and Tyrone to come.
The disappointment of a harrowing two point defeat to Louth must be swiftly eradicated from the minds of the Lake County players as the reward for their Tailteann Cup success in July of last year, commences this weekend.
Having failed to achieve the initial goal of promotion from Division 3 during their Allianz National Football League campaign, Westmeath struck out in their opening game of the provincial championship. Despite holding an eight point interval lead, the Lake County succumbed to the Louth second half challenge to lose the game by two points and with this result to the fore, it will take a wholehearted contribution from all the players called upon on Saturday evening to earn a result in Armagh.
Under seasoned manager, Kieran McGeeney (who was appointed to the role in 2013 ), Armagh will be firm favourites to garner a brace of round robin points, but Westmeath will be eager to eradicate their Leinster loss and may prove to be doughty opponents for the beaten Ulster senior football finalists.
The hope is that Westmeath play with spirit and remain in the contest with the final quarter to play. Such a scenario may give cause for home team uncertainty and possibly pave the way for a remarkable achievement on Saturday evening.
History Making Result for County Hurlers
Referencing remarkable achievements, Sunday afternoon proved to be a historic day in Westmeath hurling folklore, as Joe Fortune’s charges completed a stunning second half comeback in Wexford Park to defeat the home team by two points in their penultimate Leinster senior hurling championship round robin fixture.
Training by 16 points at the interval, few, if any, hurling aficionados afforded Westmeath the opportunity to reel in such a half time deficit but a true belief in their play and ability to avail of scoring chances as they presented saw the Lake County record an amazing and wholly morale boosting result.
Second half goals from Niall O’Brien and Niall Mitchell proved pivotal to the final scoreline cause as Wexford simply capitulated under intense spells of Westmeath pressure, a final result which will certainly be recorded in the annals of county hurling history.
Westmeath complete their provincial championship campaign in TEG Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon when Antrim are the visitors to the Mullingar venue. A victory or draw with their Northern opponents will once again ensure Liam McCarthy hurling for Joe Fortune, his fellow management and players in 2024.
