‘A learning curve’ for Westmeath admits O'Brien

Westmeath senior hurling boss Kevin O’Brien admitted his side were left chasing the game after a decisive third-quarter spell saw Laois pull clear in Division 2 of the National Hurling League last Sunday.

Having trailed early, Westmeath recovered to go in level at the break and even edged two points in front, but a devastating 1-8 without reply turned the contest on its head and ultimately decided the outcome.

“We didn't really start hurling until minute 25, 26 in the first half,” said the Westmeath manager, “We came in at half-time, draw game, went two points up and then there was a 10 or 11 minute spell where we went from two up to nine down. The goal, a couple of soft frees and then it just seemed to get away from us a small bit then.

“Laois put the squeeze on and unfortunately we just didn't have the answers for it. They got a head of steam up, scored some good points. I think they scored four frees in a row and it just kept them ticking over. They put a few points of a cushion between us then and we just found it hard to fight back, to bring it back.”

The key sequence came midway through the second half when Laois struck for 1-8 unanswered, the goal proving the critical moment.

“That was it,” O’Brien opined. “The goal was a real turning point. After that, Seán Jackson made two point-blank saves and another day they could have three or four goals.”

Despite the setback, Westmeath’s first defeat of the campaign following a draw and two wins, O’Brien insists promotion remains firmly in the balance heading into the closing rounds.

“It’s our first loss, we have a draw, two wins and now a loss. It’s going to come down to the last two games against Derry and Mayo. And Kerry's last two games. Kerry have to travel to Trim to play Meath as well, which is a tough game for them. It’s looking like Laois are through now and it’ll be ourselves and Kerry maybe on nine. It’ll come down to points difference.”

Next up is a crucial clash with Derry this Sunday at TEG Cusack Park - an opposition who are battling to avoid relegation.

“Yes, it’s a big game against Derry,” O’Brien acknowledged. “Derry were beaten yesterday by London, so if they lose next weekend, they’re relegated. So they will be trying to get a win on the board. It’s a massive game for them. That’s a game obviously we’ll be targeting to win; we have to.”

O’Brien also pointed to the learning curve for his younger players against one of the Joe McDonagh Cup favourites.

“You have to,” he said when asked about positives. “It’s a learning curve for them. They were beaten and when these strong teams like Laois, one of the favourites to win the Joe McDonagh, when they get a run on you, it’s how you stop that run and how you break their momentum and stuff like that. But that’ll all come.

“We’ll analyse the game, review it, we’ll meet this week after training and go through it and see if we can fix a few things or just improve it for the next time.”

Tactically, Westmeath adjusted their forward set-up in an effort to counter Laois’ shape, particularly with Padraig Delaney sitting deep.

“The way Laois played there with Padraig Delaney sitting (back). We played the two (inside), we tried with three at times. We weren’t getting any ball around the middle and the half-forward line. So you’re kind of robbing Peter to pay Paul. You’re trying to win the ball in the half-forward line to get it in.

“Their half-forward line is very good and our half-back line. They just swamped between the two 45s, put lots of numbers in there. We couldn’t get clean ball in. So we kind of took an extra player out to try and win that ball around the middle.”

While that approach initially kept Westmeath in contention, the concession of the goal and a series of avoidable frees proved costly.

“It did, but look the goal was the turning point then and a couple of frees. Just silly errors, silly mistakes that the lads have to learn from. It kept the scoreboard ticking over. They ran out of easy winners in the end.”

There was some good news on the injury front.

“There are no injuries from today; no new injury worries,” O’Brien confirmed, though he added that Killian Doyle remains short of full fitness.

“Killian is carrying a little knock, he’s not 100%. It will take another couple of weeks maybe, but he just wasn’t 100% and we’re not going to play a lad if he’s not 100%. It’s not fair on him or on the panel.” Johnny Bermingham, Eoin Keyes and David O'Reilly all missed Sunday's game, while Peter Clarke only came on in the second half.

With promotion hopes still alive but the margin for error gone, Westmeath now face some crucial games in Division 2, starting on Sunday at home to Derry.