Fortune credits Kerry as crunch game against Offaly looms
Westmeath senior hurling boss Joe Fortune has called on his players to show spirit and resolve ahead of a crunch game against Offaly on Saturday, in round two of the Joe McDonagh Cup.
Speaking after his side’s defeat by Kerry on Sunday, he said there is only one way for Westmeath to respond. “The way to react to this is very simple: Offaly were beaten by Laois, (so) it’s a Joe McDonagh final for us next weekend," he declared.
“We might call ourselves Division 1, but championship is far different to league and what (Stephen) Molumphy (Kerry manager) has there is a group of U20s buying into what he wants to do. They are fit and strong and on the day they deserved their win. Two teams go to battle and they are the better team today: we have to take our hats off to them.”
The Westmeath manager said the mood in the camp is one of disappointment following Sunday's setback.
“We are just really disappointed with everything. The players know that. I spoke to them and what I don’t want to do is take away from Kerry. We became ‘the hunted’ over the last couple of weeks because we had a reasonably okay league,” he remarked.
While he accepted that people are entitled to comment on social media, he said he hopes there is no abuse of players, who have put in a big effort.
“What I’d love people to do - I’d nearly give you my phone number to put into the paper - just to make sure there is not an element of blame that goes online. I’d love it to come to me. I just think there’s stuff written on social media that’s not (fair). Everybody has a right to their opinion, but these lads are putting a massive effort in,” he said.
“They can’t give any more and they realise that today wasn’t good enough: from a game play point of view. We were sloppy with our touch, and even a couple of our decisions at times. I thought when we got the goal it might lift us and lift the crowd, but Kerry just kept coming.
“As a sports person, I’m in charge on the bad days as well as the good days. And you have to commend Kerry - their endeavour, their fight, their touch; just their willingness to back each other up. We didn’t have that today.
“We got on grass for the first time this week as regards training," said Fortune, suggesting this may have been a factor in his side's display. However he quickly added: "I’m not going to give you any excuses and I don’t want you to write any excuses. We looked today like we had nothing in us and it wasn’t because of any other reason than we were made look (poor). We just didn’t fight.”
There are no physical injury worries for Fortune, but he admitted the players are going to need to focus minds and lift spirits ahead of next Saturday’s crucial game.
Fortune acknowledged the level of Kerry’s performance and accepted his side played second fiddle. “We know it wasn’t good enough, we realise that. Our ball handling, our endeavour, our work rate, it just wasn’t up there today,” he said.
Westmeath are in the midst of an under-20 campaign also and it’s putting extra pressure on players like David Williams, David O’Reilly and Conor Heffernan, but Fortune said the correct thing to do was to allow those players to play at their own grade.
On Sunday, the Westmeath U20 hurlers will play Dublin a Leinster championship knockout game at TEG Cusack Park (throw-in 12.30pm) - just a day after the seniors face Offaly in Tullamore (3pm).