“We have a serious squad” – Damien Gavin

PHOTO: Westmeath’s Michael Byrne pushes his way through a Kildare challenge. Photo: Sean Brilly.

“There’s great fight in this team. In championship football, that’s what it’s all about. We were very poor in the first half and probably lucky to be still in the game, to be honest. We didn’t click at all in the first half.

“Newbridge is a tough place to come and Kildare are always a good side. But the lads hung in there, which is a good thing.”

These initial post-match thoughts from Westmeath U20 football manager Damien Gavin neatly encapsulate his troops’ excellent win against the raging-hot favourites in all-white in last Thursday’s Leinster championship opener in St Conleth’s Park.

Ben McGauran’s huge individual haul of 1-10 was key to the victory.

The winning bainisteoir concurred: “Ben was very good. He missed nothing. He’s a good finisher and has a great eye for a goal. He knows his role inside out. He stays inside near the goals and that’s how he plays it.”

The St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge man lauded the contribution of the subs he introduced: “Stephen O’Connor was excellent. In challenge games lately, he’s been excellent as well. At that stage of the game, you need someone who can win the ball inside and Stephen was able to do that.

“Senan Baker came on and tied up (Paddy) McDermott who had been running up and down the pitch. Jordy (McDonnell) and Liam (Moran) also came on and did a job for us.

“We have a serious squad. It’s difficult to even pick 24 lads. When the subs come on, they don’t weaken the team, which is important,” Gavin said, ahead of Thursday’s quarter final with Longford.

Throw in at Glennon Bros Pearse Park in Longford on Thursday is 7.30pm