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Preview: Leinster SFC - Kildare v Westmeath

Niall Kelly

Niall Kelly

Leinster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final

Kildare v Westmeath, Croke Park, 4.15pm (RTE)

By John Harrington

Westmeath’s ability to find form in the Championship after a disastrous League campaign is impressive.

Last year they were relegated from Division Two of the Allianz Football League but regrouped and made it as far as a Leinster Final. This year they suffered they suffered their third consecutive relegation and will play in Division Four in 2017, but that didn’t seem to inhibit them unduly when they beat Offaly in the Leinster Quarter-Final two weeks ago.

Westmeath’s knack for suddenly coming good is down simply to the fact that they have some very talented footballers like John Heslin, Kieran Martin, John Connellan, James Dolan, and Paul Sharry. Of course, that only makes their consistent under-performance in the League all the more mystifying.

When they have momentum they’re a dangerous side though, and on the back of the hard-fought win over Offaly it was no surprise to hear their manager Tom Cribbin sounding optimistic ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Kildare.

“We’ve a clean bill of health, in good form, and it’s all about playing to our own ability now, our own potential,” he said. “I know Kildare have a couple of injuries at the moment, and we don’t. 

“So we’re as good as we can be anyway, and that’s all we can worry about. The day takes care of itself then, and if you’re good enough then you’re good enough.

“We played two games in Croke Park last year, and hopefully that experience will stand to us. Kildare will fancy their chances too, having got promoted. Okay, they were criticised a little after the Wexford game, but it’s always difficult to get over the first round. 

“They’ve been working on a defensive system, thinking of what’s coming down the road. And most teams are doing that. You saw Galway last weekend, Cavan as well, and even Mayo, bringing back Kevin McLoughlin.”

Kildare’s defensive system certainly didn’t impress in their one-point quarter-final win over Wexford. Their manager Cian O’Neill has put their poor performance down to nerves, which may be understandable. In their previous three matches at Croke Park they conceded 14-51, so it would be no surprise if confidence were still a major issue for this group of players.

It’ll be interesting to see if they can play with a bit more self-belief on Sunday, because they certainly have a lot of quality in the shape of players like Neil Flynn, Niall Kelly, Eoin O’Flaherty, Tommy Moolick, Ollie Lyons, and Eoin Doyle.

There’s a good team in Kildare waiting to break out if they could only generate some momentum and confidence, and a win against Westmeath would surely do that for them.

Both teams have plenty of ability but there are also question-marks over their temperament. That’s why this match is likely to be won by whichever team puts their best foot forward first.

Kildare: M Donnellan; P Kelly, D Hyland, O Lyons; J Byrne, E Doyle, C O'Donoghue; T Moolick, F Conway; A Tyrrell, M O'Flaherty, E O'Flaherty; C McNally, N Kelly, N Flynn.

Westmeath: TBA