'We are where we want to be' says Gavin as Meath await

Gerry Buckley reports

Understandably, there were mixed emotions in and around the Westmeath U20 footballers’ dressing room in Home Instead Lakepoint Park last Tuesday night. This was because a solid win against Wexford had been somewhat spoiled by an increasing injury list in the squad.

Westmeath manager Damien Gavin said at the outset: “We are where we want to be now. We have two wins out of two. But we lost Mattie (Whittaker) and Shane Hanley with hamstrings this evening, and we already have Sean Leech and Cian Lee out with hamstrings.

"Mattie looks like he will miss the rest of the championship. Look, that is why you pick a panel. I just said to the lads that somebody is going to get an opportunity the next day.”

After a great away win over Kildare a fortnight earlier, the Lake County lads already had one foot in the quarter-final prior to the game.

Gavin stated: “Wexford had nothing to lose. They were always going to come and have a go at us, and they did to be fair. We had a good chance at the end of the first half with an interception from Senan (Baker), but it was a great save. When they got the goal at the start of the second half, it gave them a bit of life. Then, when they got it back to a point, our lads battled which is really good.

"In the back of everybody’s heads, we knew there was a seven- or eight-point cushion, but we still wanted to win the game. So, I’m more than happy that we drove on in tough conditions. We knew we’d have to be patient at times, but we got some great scores.”

Games in this grade continue to come thick and fast. In this regard, the bainisteoir concluded: “We have Meath away in Ashbourne next Tuesday (in the quarter-finals), and the most important thing now is to go in with a positive attitude.

"We’ve had two good wins, the lads are in good form, and against the old enemy Meath everyone will be up for it. There are usually only a couple of scores in these games. We just hope to come out on the right side.”