'It doesn't have to be pretty'

When it comes to the target of securing promotion from Division Three, Westmeath manager Dessie Dolan isn’t worried if his team’s style of play isn’t overly appealing to purists.

Speaking after last Sunday’s victory over Limerick at TEG Cusack Park, which extended Westmeath’s unbeaten start to this year’s league campaign to four matches, the Garrycastle clubman said that getting over the line is “all the counts in football”.

He also said that being able to win while not firing on all cylinders is a sign that his side is maturing.

“It doesn’t have to be pretty. It’s an important win, just keeps the momentum. It was a difficult first half. I suppose if you think of Limerick coming up here, they’ve lost three games and they had nothing to lose. I think the way they played in the first half, they set their stall out, they were very aggressive, they were well up for the match and we found it difficult.

“We had a little bit of figuring out to do at half-time, but in fairness to the group I think they’re showing maturity insofar as that they’re able to process the information and figure out a way. They knew that if we delivered what we delivered in the first half, it wouldn’t be good enough.

“That’s the good thing about the team, they’re able to adapt and they’re able to learn. I think they figured it out at half-time and while there’s still areas that we need to work on, it’s still very early in the season. I think they figured it out and they got the result, that’s all that counts.”

Not for the first time in his long inter-county career, Kieran Martin, who came on as a second-half substitute, played a central role in securing a hard-fought victory for Westmeath over stubborn opponents.

Dolan says the Maryland man’s experience is invaluable to the squad.

“To be fair to Kieran, he gives everybody a lift when they see him, and the team get a bit of a lift as well with the supporters. In his decision making, he is very good and he’s a very difficult man to get the ball off.

“At that stage, it was the right substitute, when it opened up a little bit and then he could get a couple of scores. He took scores that were important at the time. That just shows his wisdom.”

Westmeath fans will be heartened by the fact that the team have maintained their unbeaten run despite the continued absence through injury of a number of experienced players, including John Heslin and Luke Loughlin.

Looking ahead to the team’s next match against Antrim in Belfast on Sunday, Dolan said that it was too early to say if any of them would be involved.

“We are just waiting for John, he’s a big player. Jack Smith is another player out as well and Luke Loughlin, so they’re three big players to come back into it. We just have to assess them during the week. I can’t say if any of them will be available for next Sunday,” he added.