Cooney regrets missed opportunities in Croke Park

“When you think back and reflect on the game, you would say that halfway through the second half we were just hanging in there. You would say that Kildare were probably bossing it a wee bit, and we went through a phase where we kicked three or four wides, and those few opportunities would have made a huge difference coming into the last few minutes.”

In truth, these initial post-match thoughts from Jack Cooney neatly sum up his Westmeath side’s Leinster senior football semi-final loss to Kildare in Croke Park last Sunday.

Reflecting further on the clash, the losing bainisteoir added: “Even though we were beaten by three, we missed a lot of opportunities, even in the second half. Probably the deciding factor is that in the first half, I think we gave them 1-8 off turnovers. It’s a thing we worked on.

“The intensity was up in the first half, and we probably just forced a few things when we got the ball into an attacking position. And what Kildare are very good at this year is that counterattacking part of the game, and they punished us.”

Westmeath raised two green flags to their opponents’ one over the course of the game. In this regard, Cooney opined: “The goals kept us in touch. It was a great start to the first half. The second goal was very timely for us, because it gave us a bit of encouragement to stay in touch with them. Also, Johnny Lynam had another great opportunity for a goal.

“Even near the end, Sam McCartan was through, he kicked one over the bar. It was a good score, but that was another possible goal opportunity. I would say it’s very, very important, in an empty Croke Park, where a game feels flat, to take your opportunities coming down the final stretch.”

Reflecting further on unforced errors, the Coralstown/Kinnegad man stated: “We got a huge percentage of our kick-outs away, but the two or three where they squeezed us and put pressure on us, they hurt us. And I think they got a goal off that.

“We probably lacked just that little lack of composure in possession, in attacking positions on the pitch. And it’s something that we just have to learn and be better at, that we don’t have to always try and score off the first phase or second phase. We need to be a little more patient.

“But having said that, we actually got through them a few times very, very well, ran through them and created good opportunities, kicked some good scores. Look, the easy thing for the lads to do when you’re five or six points down in the second half is just throw your hat at it. But they didn’t in fairness, they showed great character and kept going at it, and left it to a score in the end.”

Like many in attendance, Cooney was surprised that the referee blew the game up very promptly, stating: “I don’t know, I’m watching football a long time and there’s four and five minutes put up in injury-time, and there’s always 45/50 seconds extra played, and we got an extra seven seconds there today. And that included a booking. All we needed was one chance, and not five or six seconds added on to the injury-time.”

Overall, the Lake County manager added that he was “immensely proud of the lads. They put in a huge shift, put in a massive, massive effort. We’ll regroup now, we’ll focus on the Tailteann Cup and go from there. We totally respect the competition. And if we can get back up here to play in Croke Park, it means we’re in the Tailteann final and we’ll be pushing for that.”

“Those boys in there love playing for Westmeath,” Cooney concluded.