‘Nothing between’ teams in McDonagh Cup, says O’Brien
When Westmeath senior hurling manager Shane O’Brien spoke about his charges’ trip to Belfast next Sunday, his initial thoughts echoed those of most Gaels nationwide: “For the whole morale of the country, we need matches to go ahead, once they are played in a safe environment with everybody following the necessary protocols.”
The Westmeath bainisteoir and his troops were surely relieved when it was confirmed that their belated Joe McDonagh Cup campaign for 2020 would commence next Sunday in Corrigan Park (throw-in 2pm).
“We just don’t know what is going to happen. We’re going to travel up individually in cars to Belfast. We have no other option really, having consulted with different medical support people that we have. It’s all about being safe and everybody taking their own individual responsibility.
“We’re just delighted to be able to play the game, when we think back of the time we had in ‘lockdown’ when we were doing Zoom training sessions and meetings. We feel we are very privileged to be able to play sport at this time,” O’Brien opined.
As part of their preparation for what is a daunting trip to the northeast, on Sunday last the Lake County panel had what their manager called a “brilliant exercise” in Abbotstown, consisting of a training camp from 10am to 2pm followed by a challenge match (refereed by Barry Kelly) against Offaly who were preparing for their Christy Ring Cup game against Kildare. “We were missing seven lads but we used two different sets of 15 in each half,” O’Brien clarified.
With the Glensmen having won a thrilling National League Division 2A final against Kerry in Tullamore last weekend, they are sure to be in upbeat mood ahead of the visit next Sunday of a side which has held the upper hand in clashes in recent years. However, O’Brien feels that all four opponents (Antrim, Kerry, Carlow and Meath) are of similar status, stating: “We think the four games will be equally challenging. All of the teams are capable of doing anything on any given day. There is little, if anything, between all the teams.”
Westmeath hurling seldom makes national headlines, but Davy Glennon’s switch from one maroon and white jersey (Galway) to the other made the news big-time in recent weeks. His new inter-county manager is unsure where the transfer lies as of now.
“It’s up in the air whether we’ll have him for the Joe McDonagh Cup,” O’Brien stated. “All I know is that the Galway County Board have sent in the necessary documents to Croke Park.”
A thrilling win against Carlow in TEG Cusack Park over seven months ago secured Westmeath’s Division 1 status for 2021, but the Dubliner outlined that there have been some dramatic changes in the interim.
“We have nine new additions to our panel since the league campaign, including two new goalies. We’ve brought in a good few of the U20s and people who have performed well in the club championships,” he explained.
“The county senior final was an outstanding match. These lads have added a lot to the whole set-up. Unfortunately, we’ve had to drop a few players. Killian (Doyle) is away in England and he is a loss, but the new additions have added a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the squad.”
Significant alterations have also taken place in the backroom team. O’Brien explained: “Noel Larkin is a massive addition, bringing a wealth of experience with him. I don’t think there are too many coaches who have won All-Irelands at inter-county (Galway in 2017) and club (Portumna in 2014) level. We’re exceptionally lucky to have a man of his calibre in with us.
“Alan Mangan has come in as a selector. You’d be doing well to find a more committed man, both from a hurling and football perspective for club and county, in Westmeath over the last 25 years.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s game, O’Brien added: “We have a serious headache this week trying to pick a team, but that’s what we want to have as a management team. Given the restriction on numbers going into the ground, we are going to have to leave some lads behind, which is most unfortunate."
“We’d be devastated if the game didn’t go ahead,” he concluded.
– Gerry Buckley