Westmeath county football team

Westmeath's history is that of a minor county which only recently rose to the higher ranks of football. Its 2004 Leinster Senior Football Championship (SFC) provincial title was presaged by a 1995 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship (MFC) title and victory in the 1999 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship.

Another generation of Westmeath players took part in the first week-night fixture in the GAA championship: on 20 June 1935 they played Meath in Kells and lost by a scoreline of 2–7 to 0–9. The footballers won the 1929 Leinster Junior Football Championship (JFC), lost to Dublin by ten points in 1960 and then defeated Dublin to reach the 1931 Leinster SFC final. The team defeated Carlow, Laois and Offaly to advance to a 1949 Leinster SFC final against Meath, but was well beaten on both occasions. Twenty years later the team reached the National Football League semi-final. Westmeath defeated Dublin again in the 1967 Leinster SFC and the 1984 Centenary Cup campaign and qualified for a second League semi-final in 1994.

In 2001, the team went on an All-Ireland SFC run that lasted for an unprecedented nine games, including an extra-time win against Mayo in Roscommon. Prominent players in this campaign were Ger Heavin, Dessie Dolan, Rory O'Connell, Damien Healy and David Mitchell, with other players occasionally coming to prominence, including Martin Flanaghan, Fergal Wilson, Paul Conway, David O'Shaughnessy and Fergal Murray. The team's campaign ended when it lost to Meath in a 2001 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final replay. Uneventful 2002 and 2003 seasons followed and Westmeath parted terms with its then manager, Luke Dempsey.

Former Kerry player and manager Páidí Ó Sé was brought in to manage the senior team some months later, after he had been removed from his role as Kerry senior manager. The following year, under the management of Ó Sé, Westmeath progressed to the 2004 Leinster Senior Football Championship Final and won a first ever Leinster SFC title with a replayed victory over Laois (having previously beaten Wexford, Dublin and Offaly).{{cite news|first=Colm|last=O'Rourke|author-link=Colm O'Rourke|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/pid-guides-midlands-army-to-glory-482427.html|title=Páidí guides midlands army to glory|work=Sunday Independent|date=25 July 2004|access-date=25 July 2004}} However, the team tamely exited its second All-Ireland SFC quarter-final — losing to Derry. That campaign is covered in the documentary film Marooned.

Ó Sé quit Westmeath at the end of a poor 2005 season and his assistant Tomás Ó Flatharta replaced him. After a poor league campaign, in which the team nevertheless secured promotion from Division 2, Offaly knocked Westmeath out of the Leinster SFC in the first round. However, wins over London, Limerick, Sligo and, then, a historic defeat of Galway, at Pearse Stadium in Salthill, set up a third All-Ireland SFC quarter-final for the team in six years{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2006/0729/207374-westmeath/|title=Westmeath battle past Galway|publisher=RTÉ|date=29 July 2006}} — against Dublin on this occasion. Westmeath did not live up to expectations in that game and sustained a ten-point defeat.

Westmeath staged a strong second half display to capture the 2008 Division 2 National Football League title for the third time, and the first since 2003 following a five-point win over Dublin at Páirc Tailteann in Navan. The scoreline in that game was Westmeath 0–15, Dublin 0–10.

Dublin defeated Westmeath by 27 points in the 2009 Leinster SFC quarter-final. Ó Flatharta resigned as Westmeath manager after the team's defeat to neighbour Meath on 11 July 2009.

The county board, searching for a manager after the resignation of Ó Flatharta, appointed Brendan Hackett as manager in September 2009, with the choice of someone who had not managed at that level for many years seen as unexpected.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-20100469.html|title=Hackett surprise choice in Westmeath|work=Irish Examiner|date=9 September 2009}} Hackett included Michael Carruth as a masseur and Eoin Rheinisch as part of "physical preparations" on his backroom team.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/carruth-and-rheinisch-boost-westmeath-26573917.html|title=Carruth and Rheinisch boost Westmeath|work=Irish Independent|date=16 October 2009}} Westmeath embarked on a second successive league campaign without winning a game and the team was relegated to Division 3 of the National Football League.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-30454278.html|title=Hackett resigns as Westmeath manager|work=Irish Examiner|date=17 April 2010}} Hackett resigned in April 2010.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/westmeath-manager-hackett-steps-down-1.1245820|title=Westmeath manager Hackett steps down|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=17 April 2010}} He did not contest a single championship match.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/sport/gaa/hackett-in-shock-exit-27948608.html|title=Hackett in shock exit|publisher=Independent.ie|date=15 April 2010}}

Under the management of Tom Cribbin the team reached consecutive Leinster SFC finals in 2015 and 2016. This was a first in the team's history. The team also won the 2017 NFL Division 4 title. Colin Kelly was appointed Cribbin's successor as Westmeath manager on a two-year term in late 2017 but left in mid-2018, citing family commitments.

Jack Cooney's appointment as Westmeath senior manager was ratified in September 2018, making him the first Westmeath native to fill the role since 1992. Under Cooney's management the team won the 2019 O'Byrne Cup, its first time to win that competition since 1988. Later that year it won the 2019 NFL Division 3 title. In 2022, Westmeath won the inaugural Tailteann Cup, defeating Cavan in the final at Croke Park.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/westmeath-win-inaugural-tailteann-cup-as-late-goal-sinks-cavan-41827448.html|title=Westmeath win inaugural Tailteann Cup as late goal sinks Cavan|work=Irish Independent|first=Michael|last=Verney|date=9 July 2022|accessdate=9 July 2022|archive-date=9 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709195131/https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/westmeath-win-inaugural-tailteann-cup-as-late-goal-sinks-cavan-41827448.html|url-status=live}} Cooney resigned unexpectedly the following month, and was succeeded by Dessie Dolan. Dolan walked in August 2024.

{{small|Team as per Westmeath vs Derry in the 2024 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Group 1 Round 3, 15 June 2024}}

{{GAA squad start}}

{{GAA squad player|no=1|pos=Goalkeeper|name=Jason Daly|club=St Loman's Mullingar}}

{{GAA squad player|no=2|pos=Right corner back|name=Jamie Gonoud|club=Tyrrellspass}}

{{GAA squad player|no=3|pos=Full back|name=Charlie Drumm|club=The Downs}}

{{GAA squad player|no=4|pos=Left corner back|name=Kevin Maguire (c)|club=Caulry}}

{{GAA squad player|no=5|pos=Right half back|name=James Dolan|club=Garrycastle}}

{{GAA squad player|no=6|pos=Centre back|name=Ronan Wallace|club=Multyfarnham}}

{{GAA squad player|no=7|pos=Left half back|name=David Lynch|club=St Malachy's}}

{{GAA squad player|no=8|pos=Midfield|name=Ray Connellan|club=Athlone}}

{{GAA squad player|no=9|pos=Midfield|name=Andy McCormack|club=Rosemount}}

{{GAA squad player|no=10|pos=Right half forward|name=Jonathan Lynam|club=The Downs}}

{{GAA squad player|no=11|pos=Centre forward|name=Ronan O'Toole|club=St Loman's Mullingar}}

{{GAA squad player|no=12|pos=Left half forward|name=Sam McCartan|club=St Loman's Mullingar}}

{{GAA squad player|no=13|pos=Right corner forward|name=Luke Loughlin|club=The Downs}}

{{GAA squad player|no=14|pos=Full forward|name=John Heslin|club=St Loman's Mullingar}}

{{GAA squad player|no=15|pos=Left corner forward|name=Senan Baker|club=Caulry}}

{{GAA squad mid}}

{{GAA squad player|no=16|pos=Substitute|name=Jack Connaughton|club=Caulry}}

{{GAA squad player|no=17|pos=Substitute|name=Shane Allen|club=Athlone}}

{{GAA squad player|no=18|pos=Substitute|name=Conor Dillon|club=Milltown}}

{{GAA squad player|no=19|pos=Substitute|name=Danny McCartan|club=St Loman's Mullingar}}

{{GAA squad player|no=20|pos=Substitute|name=Robbie Forde|club=Moate All Whites}}

{{GAA squad player|no=21|pos=Substitute|name=Eoin Mulvihill|club=Garrycastle}}

{{GAA squad player|no=22|pos=Substitute|name=Matthew Whittaker|club=Tubberclair}}

{{GAA squad player|no=23|pos=Substitute|name=Daniel Scahill|club=Shandonagh}}

{{GAA squad player|no=24|pos=Substitute|name=Lorcan Dolan|club=Castledaly}}

{{GAA squad player|no=25|pos=Substitute|name=Jack Smith|club=Skerries Harps}}

{{GAA squad player|no=26|pos=Substitute|name=Kieran Martin|club=Maryland}}

{{GAA squad end}}

{{Update section|date=August 2024}}

• Manager: Dessie Dolan
• Selectors: John Keane, Cathal Mullin and Mick Dillon

• John Keane, joined ahead of the 2022 season under Dolan's predecessor Jack Cooney,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/keane-edge-can-give-a-bounce-to-westmeath-41113294.html|title=Keane edge can give a 'bounce' to Westmeath|work=Irish Independent|date=3 December 2021}} retained by Dolan as coach
• Performance coach: Jason Sherlock{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/jason-sherlock-joins-westmeath-backroom-team-as-performance-coach-42153628.html|title=Jason Sherlock joins Westmeath backroom team as performance coach|work=Irish Independent|first=Donnchadh|last=Boyle|date=17 November 2022}}

Westmeath have a history of appointing "foreign" managers, with Páidí Ó Sé the most successful appointment; Ó Sé led Westmeath to the 2004 Leinster SFC (a first in the team's history).{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/the-import-and-export-business-28905488.html|title=The import and export business|work=Irish Independent|first=Martin|last=Breheny|authorlink=Martin Breheny|date=24 November 2012}}

Pat Flanagan was initially appointed as interim manager in April 2010 following Brendan Hackett's departure.{{cite news|url=https://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/2010/04/28/pat-flanagan-appointed-as-interim-football-manager/|title=Pat Flanagan appointed as interim football manager|work=Westmeath Examiner|date=28 April 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2010/0421/264113-westmeath_flanaganp/|title=Pat Flanagan takes control of Westmeath|publisher=RTÉ|date=21 April 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/article/index/150544|title=Pat Flanagan takes up football reins|work=Hogan Stand|date=30 April 2010}}

{{For|individual player details|Category:Westmeath inter-county Gaelic footballers}}

Championship only, as of game played 9 July 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/Article/Index/324213|title=Heslin moves to top of Westmeath scoring charts|work=Hogan Stand|date=12 July 2022}}

Westmeath has 5 All Stars, as of 2008. 4 different players have won, as of 2008.

;Winners

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

2001: Rory O'Connell

2004: Dessie Dolan^{1st win, 3rd nomination}

2004: John Keane

2008: Gary Connaughton^{1st win, 3rd nomination}

2008: John Keane^{2nd win}

{{div col end}}

;Nominations

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

1999: Dessie Dolan{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/1999/1127/146832-gaa3/|title=GAA: Eircell All-star nominations announced|publisher=RTÉ|date=27 November 1999}}

2001: Dessie Dolan{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2001/1101/159735-allstars/|title=Tohill left out of All Star nominations|publisher=RTÉ|date=1 November 2001}}^{2nd nomination}

2001: Ger Heavin

2001: David Mitchell

2004: Gary Connaughton{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2004/1019/186726-kerry/|title=Twelve Kerry men nominated for All Stars|publisher=RTÉ|date=19 October 2004}}

2004: Donal O'Donoghue

2004: Denis Glennon

2006: Gary Connaughton{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2006/1018/210289-allstars/|title=2006 Football All Star nominees announced|publisher=RTÉ|date=18 October 2006}}^{2nd nomination}

2008: Michael Ennis{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/vodafone-all-star-football-nominations-2008-26479439.html|title=Vodafone All Star football nominations 2008|work=Irish Independent|first=Martin|last=Breheny|authorlink=Martin Breheny|date=25 September 2008}}

2015: Kieran Martin{{cite news|url=https://www.joe.ie/sport/the-nominations-for-the-2015-gaagpa-gaelic-football-all-stars-have-been-announced-513853|title=The nominations for the 2015 GAA/GPA Gaelic Football All-Stars have been announced|publisher=JOE.ie|first=Conor|last=Heneghan|year=2015}}

{{div col end}}

• All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
• Quarter-finalists (1): 2004, 2001
• Tailteann Cup
• {{Gold1}} Winners (1): 2022
• National Football League Division 2
• {{Gold1}} Winners (3): 2000–01, 2003

, 2008{{cite news|title=Depleted Dubs fail to fire as Flanagan stars|work=Irish Independent|date=28 April 2008|page=56}}

• National Football League Division 3
• {{Gold1}} Winners (1): 2019{{cite news|url=https://www.hoganstand.com/Article/Index/297665|title=FL3 final: Egan inspired Westmeath claim silverware at Croker|work=Hogan Stand|date=6 April 2019}}
• National Football League Division 4
• {{Gold1}} Winners (1): 2017{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/wexford-westmeath-division-4-final-report-3330676-Apr2017/|title=First league title in 9 years for Westmeath footballers as they rout Wexford by 13 points|publisher=The42.ie|first=Jackie|last=Cahill|date=8 April 2017}}
• National Football League Cup
• {{Gold1}} Winners (1): 1982–83{{cite news|title=Tone was right for Westmeath|work=Irish Independent|date=25 April 1983|page=12}}
• All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship
• {{Gold1}} Winners (1): 1999
• All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
• {{Gold1}} Winners (1): 1995
• {{Silver2}} Runners-up (1): 1963

• Leinster Senior Football Championship
• {{Gold1}} Winners (1): 2004
• {{Silver2}} Runners-up (4): 1931, 1949, 2015,{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/dublin-westmeath-leinster-final-2212471-Jul2015/|title=Dublin are kings of Leinster again after blitzing battling Westmeath|publisher=The42.ie|first=Niall|last=Kelly|date=12 July 2015}} 2016{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/0717/802997-dublin-westmeath/|title=Boys in Blue cruise to another Leinster title at Croke Park|publisher=RTÉ|first=Paul|last=Keane|date=17 July 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/dublin-westmeath-leinster-senior-football-final-2882453-Jul2016/|title=Dublin blitz Westmeath and make history by claiming Leinster 6-in-a-row: It was a landmark victory for the Sky Blues at Croke Park|publisher=The42.ie|first=Jackie|last=Cahill|date=17 July 2016}}
• O'Byrne Cup
• {{Gold1}} Winners (4): 1959, 1980, 1988, 2019{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/0118/1024154-dublin-v-westmeath-obyrne-cup-final/|title=Recap: Dublin 0–10 Westmeath 1–12, O'Byrne Cup final|publisher=RTÉ|date=18 January 2019|quote=19:51 Stat [Dressing room all set for the players arrival ahead of tonight's O'Bryne Cup Final v Dublin in Parnell Park at 8PM. Hopefully we will be lifting our first title since 1988. Let's give it everything!!!!#iarmhiabu#westmeathgaa pic.twitter.com/Ca3tVUkrBv — westmeathgaaofficial (@westmeath_gaa) January 18, 2019] It has been a 31-year wait for Westmeath}}
• Leinster Junior Football Championship
• {{Gold1}} Winners (4): 1905, 1915, 1929, 1940
• Leinster Under-21 Football Championship
• {{Gold1}} Winners (2): 1999, 2000
• {{Silver2}} Runners-up (3): 1995, 1997, 2010{{cite news|url=https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/2010/04/07/dorney-goal-kills-off-westmeaths-brave-bid-for-third-under-21-crown/|title=Dorney goal kills off Westmeath's brave bid for third under-21 crown|work=Westmeath Examiner|date=8 April 2010}}
• Leinster Minor Football Championship
• {{Gold1}} Winners (5): 1939, 1952, 1963, 1995, 2000
• {{Silver2}} Runners-up (5): 1951, 1982, 1984, 1992, 2013{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/kildare-westmeath-leinster-final-2013-992212-Jul2013/|title=Kildare blitz Westmeath to take Leinster minor title|publisher=The42.ie|first=Niall|last=Kelly|date=14 July 2013}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/hackett-wrong-man-to-steady-westmeath-ship-26650137.html "Hackett wrong man to steady Westmeath ship"]. Independent.ie.

{{Westmeath GAA}}

{{GAA National Leagues}}

Category:County football teams