‘Mental resilience stood to us’ - Westmeath captain
Ronan Wallace has spoken about the resilience Westmeath showed in this year's Leinster final to overcome Dublin after extra-time.
Wallace was reflecting on the memorable 2026 campaign when Westmeath senior footballers were announced as the overall winners at the Westmeath Examiner Community & Sports Awards held in the Mullingar Park Hotel recently.
Having lifted the Delaney Cup as Westmeath's victorious captain, Wallace was quick to highlight Senan Baker's classy point to level the match near the finish. And he stressed that there was a belief in the Westmeath dressing room ahead of extra-time that they would not be denied.
“We knew the work was done and were confident we had greater levels of fitness than Dublin at that stage. And also the work we did with Gerry Duffy (high performance coach): it shows the mental resilience that is in the group," said Wallace.
"We knew they were fading and we were just coming into our own. That first half in extra-time really showed the ability that is in this group,” continued the Multyfarnham man.
Emmet McDonnell, assistant manager, said he feels Westmeath are well positioned to build on this year’s Leinster success. Asked about the likelihood of players coming through to strengthen the squad for next season, McDonnell said the reigning Leinster champions have big plans for the new season.
“We lost a couple of players this year through injury. Jonathan Lynam suffered a cruciate injury in Wexford and he’s back playing after four and half months, which is great credit to him. Luke Loughlin is back playing and we’re hoping that Ronan O’Toole (currently in Australia) returns for next year also,” he said.
"If you take in those established players, and the young players coming through from the successful Coláiste Mhuire side, it is an exciting time for Westmeath football,” he enthused.
McDonnell spoke of how proud the players and management were to represent such a loyal band of supporters in 2026 and said they were humbled by the big number of fans who travelled to games as the season progressed. TEG Cusack Park was sold out very quickly for the All-Ireland SFC game against Cavan, while thousands made the journey to Salthill for the game against Galway.
“There is an appetite among the players to go further, to push a little bit harder. It’s the same with the management team. There is a sense of pride in the team, whether it be the day in TEG Cusack Park against Cavan, or the day against Galway in Salthill, or driving into Clones and seeing the maroon and white," said McDonnell.
"The message among the management and players is, ‘we want to give back a little bit more to the supporters’. We’re hoping for a very good year in 2027,” he said.
McDonnell was asked about the impact Mark McHugh had in his first season as manager. An All-Ireland winner with Donegal in 2012, McHugh was described as someone who gave the county a crucial edge.
“He was incredibly important. We had a really good day in Donegal last December at a workshop with Jim McGuinness. It was a real strength of a manager to take us up there. That set the tone for our preparations for the year,” said McDonnell.
“One of Mark’s strengths is bringing good people around him and listening. And giving everybody a voice. He brought an edge to everything, including players meetings. His attention to detail for video analysis was impressive and it was the same at training. That edge - the players bought into that. And the sense of disappointment down in Wexford (when Westmeath lost the chance to secure promotion late in the game) drove the team on to win the Leinster title,” he added.