Westmeath’s Leinster minor winners of 2000 honoured

Wesmeath’s Leinster minor football success of 2000 was recalled at a special reunion in the Greville Arms Hotel on Saturday evening, where a special gathering took place to acknowledge a noteworthy achievement. Westmeath defeated Dublin in that final 25 years ago, 2-9 to 1-10.

Team captain Alan Lambden said the evening was about paying tribute to the late Eoin Farrell as much as celebrating the team’s great success. Eoin (known as Eoinie) passed away at the age of 39 in 2022 after a brave battle with illness.

“We should take a while to recall Eoin, a phenomenal goalie. It was his tragic passing that brought us all back together and we all reconnected. Eoin was great; he paraded around with a smile; some of us take life too seriously,” he remarked.

“He was brilliant under a high ball, or with a kickout. Outside of football, he was great to me when my dad passed. He turned up at the funeral; that was the mark of the man.”

Alan referred to a piece he wrote on his 2000 memories after being asked to do so by Tom Hunt, Mullingar Shamrocks PRO, and spoke of the great spirit within the group. He felt the great confidence among players at the time came from the success of Luke Dempsey’s minor and U21 sides in 1995 and ‘99.

Randal Scally, who was Minor Board PRO in 2000, noted how Westmeath football was riding the crest of a wave at the time, with such talent emerging from underage teams. He recalled the late Adrian Murray’s contribution, saying how proud he was to win the Leinster title.

“The game against Mayo was left behind in Croke Park with Mayo winning after a relay in Carrick-on-Shannon. PJ Ward missed the drawn game with illness and that was crucial,” recalled Scally.

“But the team of 2000 achieved a remarkable success, being an underrated side. It was the following year’s minor football side which was supposed to win, but the 2000 caused a great shock.”

Kieran Galvin, Westmeath Independent sports editor, recalled the impact Eoin Farrell had on the young players he coached in the Maryland/Tang club, adding that this is amnother part of his legacy.

The success of the minor footballers 25 years continued a successful period for the county. “They were just great times. The sad thing is Westmeath has not won a Leinster minor or U21 since the 2000 success,” he remarked.

Gerry Buckley, sports writer and passionate Westmeath supporter, said the 2000 Leinster success was undervalued. It was the county’s 15th of 16 Leinster titles, the second last the county has won, following the 2004 senior success.

He remarked how the All-Ireland semi-final defeat in 2000 was heartbreaking, but paid tribute to the players and to manager Ambrose McGowan.

“We have only won five Leinster minor titles; you are in an elite band of players, so you can be proud,” he said.

Ambrose McGowan revealed he was a reluctant manager, lacking confidence at the time, but he recruited Eugene Dolan and it took off when the players gathered in January.

“The players were winners all the time, unlike nowadays when we go out more in hope than expectation,” he remarked.

He recalled how Westmeath had lost to Offaly by 12 points in Castletown Geoghegan, but then beat them convincingly in the Tipperary Tournament. He noted how PJ Ward scored 5-5, a record, against Kilkenny that year, sharing how he had given PJ instructions to be the pivot of the attack at full-forward and to lay off the ball to colleagues. However, the penny dropped and PJ scored 5-5 before being taken off!

Laois were beaten in a replay, before the momentum grew in the Leinster final and they overcame a fancied Dublin team, noted McGowan, who was quick to praise the role of the clubs. “The players were products of their clubs; I had them for a year, but the clubs did the work with them,” he remarked.

Westmeath GAA Frank Mescall chairman said it was part of an unprecedented period of success in the county. He paid tribute to all involved, including manager Ambrose McGowan. “What you achieved in 2000, you have done so much more after that, such as Colin Whyte in New York and others here in the county. You have credibility so remain involved and continue contributing to your club and county,” he said.