Kieran Martin captained Westmeath to the Allianz Football League Division Three title.
By Cian O’Connell
Silverware and success has been part of the Westmeath GAA story so far in 2019 ensuring Kieran Martin is optimistic ahead of Sunday’s Leinster Championship tussle against Laois at Bord Na Mona O’Connor Park.
It will be the third competitive meeting between the counties this year with Westmeath defeating Laois twice already including last month’s Allianz Football League Division Three decider.
That was a satisfactory outing at Croke Park for Westmeath, who have enjoyed a productive stint under highly regarded new manager Jack Cooney. “It has been a great year so far, in fairness the lads have put in a big effort since the very start,” Westmeath captain Martin admits.
“We've got a couple of lads back at the right times which probably brought that extra boost to us. We got the most benefit out of each competition. The O'Byrne Cup was a good way to start going into the League, we had all the games to start. We could see where we were at better than other years.
“We were lucky in the League a few times, we were only one kick of the ball from not qualifying. We were happy in the end, the League final was a bonus.
“Our main goal was to get promoted. We went out in the League final and because we are playing Laois in the Championship it was hard to know what way to look at it, but things went our way in the final as well. We were delighted to win it.”
Cooney’s mixture of passion and purpose has assisted the midlanders’ with Martin acknowledging the fact that the new boss is the first Westmeath native in charge since the early 90s. “It is a help in ways, but you look at the lads he brought in - Paschal Kellaghan is a strong Offaly man, but he would die for the lads at the moment,” Martin says.
Kieran Martin remains an important player for Westmeath, who face Laois in the Leinster SFC on Sunday.
“That is the thing, it all depends on the whole package and who is brought in. Jack is a Westmeath man through and through so he has that passion, especially for the young lads coming through in their first or second year, he is putting that passion into them. He wears his heart on his sleeve because he would do anything for the lads.
“The lads will be that bit better for that type of manager because he is a players manager, he is a Westmeath man too. At the end of the day a manager can only do so much, the players must put that bit of extra effort in too. We are training a lot, a couple of times a week, but it is what you do outside of that which will make the difference.”
Kellaghan is another emerging coach, who has enjoyed successful with a string of clubs before entering the inter-county arena as Tipperary’s trainer in 2018. “For a young man he has a lot of experience,” Martin admits. “I think for him and Jack working together with Rhode they combine very well.
“Paschal is a great coach, he expects top level from every player and if you're not doing it in training he will pull us in to make sure that we are going to do it. To get to Dublin's level you have to be at your best in every single training session, no matter if it is a gym session or on the pitch you have to be at your best.”
Martin accepts it will be demanding to face Laois again this weekend. “It is, our main goal was to get promoted,” Martin states. “We got to the League final, it was against Laois and it was a bonus if we won it. You don't know what way to take it because you have them a month later, six weeks later.
“It is hard to beat a team three times in a year and they are going to have their homework done. When it comes to Championship it is a different game altogether. Teams will raise it that 10 or 15 per cent. If you have played them in the League you have to raise it that 15 per cent, maybe even 20 per cent more because they will try to counteract everything we have done.
“It is up to us to try to bring that bit of extra intensity, to work that bit harder. It is always going to be close in a local derby, be it League or Championship you need that bit of luck on the day. Hopefully it might go our way.”
Westmeath have enjoyed an impressive start to 2019 under manager Jack Cooney.
In January Westmeath derived confidence from triumph in the Bord Na Mona O’Byrne Cup against Dublin at Parnell Park. “You are winning silverware, the fact it is Dublin at the end of the day people look at the scoreboard and it is Dublin on it,” Martin comments about the importance of that particular triumph.
“They were going out to win it, no matter what team they put out they were going to be a fairly strong team. They brought on some of the senior panellists they had near the end to see what would happen, to try to get close.
“At the end of the day every game we go out we try to win, if we can win silverware along the way that is a big bonus, especially in Parnell Park. It brought the young lads on a bit as well. We have a good mixture of youth and experience so the experience of playing against Dublin will give them that bit of extra confidence.”
Encouraged by the depth of the Westmeath panel Martin is delighted that Cooney has nearly a full deck to choose from this summer. “Panel wise definitely,” Martin replies when asked about Westmeath’s development. “We always had a strong team, but coming towards the end of the panel we probably were lacking that small bit.
“This year is probably one of the strongest panels I've ever seen there. A lot of the young lads that have been in and out for the last few years are after stepping up big time. The likes of Ronan Wallace full back, he was one of the best players in the League.
“Boidu (Sayeh) is after maturing, he is a solid corner back and Kevin Maguire coming back in is probably helping them play better. He has the experience and the lads are that bit more confidence playing beside him. Getting John (Heslin) back in after the first few games was a big help to the forwards.
“We have a big task ahead of us against Laois, they will have their homework done so we just have to try to raise it 10 or 15 per cent to get over the line.”
