‘Loman’s are a class team, but we’ll be ready’ - Luke Loughlin
As The Downs prepare for their second Westmeath senior football final in three years, joint-captain Luke Loughlin is determined to enjoy every moment this time around. With the memories of the 2022 triumph still fresh, Loughlin is eager to focus on the positive energy surrounding the squad ahead of their showdown with St Loman’s on Sunday (TEG Cusack Park, 3.30pm).
Loughlin hopes the supporters will be treated to an exciting contest. “I’d say this is the game supporters want to see. Both teams focus on football rather than sitting back and defending. Hopefully, it will be a good match, and if the weather holds up, it’ll be an exciting one.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” he says. “I’ve been trying not to talk about it too much, to be honest. With all the games we’ve played, even in the knockout stages, it just felt like there was always another game next week.” Loughlin, now joint captain with Darragh Egerton, is keen to take a different approach to the final than he did in 2022, when he was battling an Achilles injury that weighed heavily on his mind. “Maybe in 2022, I didn’t enjoy the build-up as much. I was quite serious back then, dealing with that injury, and it had me wound up. This time, I’m trying to enjoy it more and take it all in,” he reflects.
As a key figure for both The Downs and Clonkill’s hurling team, Loughlin has had to balance his commitments between the two codes, a challenge for any dual player.
“It’s really about looking after yourself and doing what’s right,” he says. “Sometimes you need a night off. The communication between the teams is good. At the end of the day, it’s all about managing things well.”
Loughlin’s loyalty to both his football and hurling teams is evident, but he refuses to choose between the two. “I wouldn’t be able to pick between The Downs and Clonkill. They’re both special. When Clonkill were winning, I was at a different stage in my life, and I didn’t enjoy it the way I should have.”
Coming into Sunday’s final, Loughlin admits that the road hasn’t always been smooth. Injuries have hampered his season, but he feels ready to make a difference in the decider.
“I started the season well, but after I got that bang, a few things started cropping up - hamstring, Achilles. But the Kinnegad game was probably the first one where I felt fresh again since the injury, so that’s a good feeling going into the final,” he says. “Mentally, it’s been tough. People don’t realise how mentally fatigued you can get. But I’ve hit burnout a couple of times. The fatigue just creeps up on you.”
While Loughlin is fighting fit, he acknowledges the mental and physical strain that comes with the inter-county schedule, which allows little time for a proper break.
“I think inter-county players are getting a raw deal. If your club goes far, you’re not getting a proper pre-season or a break. Some lads are starting to take the league off, but players in Westmeath can’t afford to do that.”
Under manager Johnny Murray, The Downs have embraced an attacking style of play, something that suits Loughlin’s game perfectly. “Johnny has us playing quite an attacking brand, which suits me,” he says. “But with the way teams are set up now, everyone just wants to win. We’ve got a lot of good forwards, and everyone is trying to stop us from playing our game. We haven’t had many sessions with a full squad this year, but we all know each other well.”
Looking ahead to the final against their rivals, defending champions St Loman’s, Loughlin knows his side are in for a tough contest but is confident The Downs will rise to the occasion.
“I’m expecting a tough game. They’re a class team with a lot of quality players,” he says. “This is their tenth final in a row, which is incredible. But we’ll be ready.”
For Loughlin, the stakes are high, but the enjoyment of the journey is just as important as the destination.