Laois manager John Sugrue pictured at Croke Park on Saturday.
By Cian O'Connell
"Execution overall," is what John Sugrue answered instantly when asked what Laois' Allianz Football League Division Three Final could be put down to.
"I think execution with regard to what we spoke about and execution with regard to having the ball in our hand and doing the right thing with it.
"We need more clarity of thought, we need more concentration and we need to execute better full stop."
It was particularly evident during a first half in which Laois only converted 0-5 from 15 shots. While Westmeath didn't score until the 17th minute the maroon and white outfit were still able to accumulate a two point interval advantage.
"We will look back on that video in great detail I think with the squad," Sugrue admitted.
"They had chances also in the first-half. Now we probably didn't execute as many of our chances as they did of their's percentage wise, but they missed their own chances as well in the first-half, but we kicked nine wides.
"I think we had 14 turnovers of unforced variety so execution was definitely a big issue."
Ultimately in the closing stages Ger Egan's goal was a critical moment. "Yeah a killer goal against - just execution," Sugrue stated. "And that is it. If you could put your finger on why we kicked the ball away so many times, kicked it over fella's heads, kicked it directly to Westmeath fellas, handed it to Westmeath fellas.
"If you could put your finger on why we did that I think we'd have had a different result."
Laois goalkeeper Graham Brody's ability and willingness to get involved in open play was evident once more. When Laois lost possession Westmeath pounced to net a goal.
"I'm in this job 18 months, Graham has come out north of 100 times, I think we conceded one in Leitrim last year, again an execution issue," Sugrue commented.
"That's the second one. So of 100 patterns of play that he's been involved in, two goals is probably not a big return for the opposition. It's one goal - it's a fairly significant one, but they're the margins you're playing with."
