Flanagan hits back at critics ahead of Galway clash

AS Westmeath prepare for their third fixture in this year's Allianz FL Division 2 campaign - against Galway at Cusack Park on Sunday (2.30pm) - Lake County manager Pat Flanagan has reacted angrily to criticism of recent performances and tactics. Clara native Flanagan has been placed firmly under the spotlight as Westmeath have began the league campaign with two defeats, including a 0-17 to 0-5 drubbing at the hands of Meath last time out. Westmeath's poor showing in last year's championship saw the county board review Flanagan's position at the end of the last campaign, despite the Lake County having achieved promotion from Division 3 of the league. Flanagan was obviously reinstalled at the helm, but recent showings in the league have intensified pressure on the Westmeath manager. At a recent county board meeting, Mullingar Shamrocks delegate and veteran referee Terry O'Dowd said Westmeath's senior team is currently "in serious crisis". O'Dowd said: "It's terrible to come down to Cusack Park and watch it. The minute they lose the ball, everybody runs to the middle of the field and turns to see where the ball is. Players in the half-back line win the ball and just look up, but there's no-one within 40 yards of the opposing goals. Somebody who has responsibility with regards to where we are going, or not going, should have discussions with the management team and find out why we are still persevering with that method of football. It doesn't go down well with our supporters. It's crazy what's going on." However, Flanagan - whose panel will be boosted for the Galway match by John Heslin's return from Australia - has hit back at his critics, and urged Westmeath supporters to get behind his inexperienced group of players. "I'm bitterly disappointed by some of the comments made since the start of the league. I think some of it has been very harsh on everyone involved with the Westmeath set-up," Flanagan told the Westmeath Independent. "It's been very difficult for our young lads to cope with the standard of Division 2 football, after coming from Division 3. Going from Division 3 to Division 2 is the hardest leap in the NFL, and negative comments coming from certain corners are extremely unfair on the players. "The people making negative comments, or trying to make headlines, are long enough around to know better. The same people are sitting idly-by as Westmeath footballers are told they can't represent the county at hurling and football, that they must choose one or the other; and sitting idly-by while Westmeath players leave the country to go to America or Australia, and doing nothing about it," Flanagan continued. "People are just plucking things out of the air and perhaps they should start looking at their own contribution to Westmeath football before deciding to air their grievances. In fairness, we didn't expect to be without six, maybe seven, Garrycastle players at this stage in the campaign. We didn't expect to lose two or three guys to hurling, or the four or five that moved abroad. To be honest, I could name a perfectly good Westmeath team of guys that aren't available to us at the moment. The comments made by certain people are unhelpful towards the young players, who are trying their very best for Westmeath and for the jersey. "People are talking about game-plans and what have you, but no matter what game-plan we had against Meath, they simply overpowered us. Don't get me wrong, I was very disappointed with the overall performance against Meath. I felt we'd be a lot closer to them, but when you see Meath bring fellas like Graham Geraghty and Joe Sheridan off the bench, while we're introducing very inexperienced players from the bench, you see the difference. Meath had years and years of experience on us, and their greater physical strength was a massive factor in the way the game panned out." "Our lads are trying their level best for Westmeath, and they'll do that again against Galway. I would hope people can show a little more patience with us, and realise Westmeath are in a serious period of transition. I'd like to think Westmeath supporters will get behind the team, and work together for the future of Westmeath football. I've no doubt we'll be a lot closer to Galway than we were against Meath," he added.