‘We enjoy what we’re doing’ - Browne hails players’ resolve

Westmeath ladies senior football manager Frank Browne has hailed the character of his players after a fine victory over Monaghan on Sunday ensures they consolidate Division 2 status for next season.

They can now focus on the forthcoming Leinster Championship and All-Ireland series after a league campaign that has tested their resolve. Sunday’s success, combined with defeats for Roscommon and Clare, meant the latter two were relegated and Westmeath will back in Division 2 next year.

“We always knew we'd have the character to come back. We always knew because that's just what we're made of,” declared a delighted Browne following his side’s crucial victory.

Westmeath welcomed back Lucy McCartan on Sunday and she came off the bench in the second half as they proved too strong for a gritty Monaghan side. The manager said his players have grown stronger as the league progressed.

“We've our panel of 27 set now and we're delighted with it. You hear managers say this all the time, but we've a really tight bunch. We've a really good crew of people who work for each other,” he said.

Browne said the group has formed a close bond and it stood to them in their battle to survive, with many questioning whether they could avoid relegation.

“Sometimes in the modern game, you think 'what's he talking about?' But we laugh a lot. We enjoy what we're doing because at the end of the day it's a pastime. It's something you're supposed to enjoy. It's something you're supposed to love. Where else would you want to be on a fine Sunday afternoon when you're staying up in the league in a game that you love? And that's the idea,” he remarked.

“We enjoy each other's company. We enjoy being around each other. And that's the spirit we have. And that spirit was tested sorely at the beginning of the league when we were taking heavy defeats. Tough defeats.”

Westmeath had four points to spare in the end, but can thank goalkeeper Aoife Temple for producing a few crucial saves in the first half when Monaghan threatened their goal. Although concerned Monaghan were creating such chances, Browne was thrilled for his goalie.

“I'm actually delighted for Aoife herself, personally, because Aoife's kind of been the number two to Lauren (McCormack) for a couple of years. And in fairness, we see it so much where the players say, ‘no, it's not for me, I'll go back to my club’. But Aoife dug in and kept working and believed in herself, and worked to get her place. We're absolutely delighted for her. She made a couple of great saves in the first half,” observed Browne.

“But the thing we talked about at half-time, it always worries me when your keeper's making great saves. Because it means the shots are going in and there's somebody not winning their battle out the field.”

He felt his side played some good counter-attacking football at times and that their ability to break at pace was a key factor.

“The beauty we have too is when we do manage to get a turnover, we've really powerful, fast runners. Not alone are they fast, they're powerful. So you've Vicky (Carr), you've Ayesha Roche, you've Pip Ruane when she came on, and Anna (Jones). They're making the hard runs. If you can get the ball, they'll make you 40 yards. And not alone are you putting yourself attacking, you're also relieving the pressure on your defence as well,” he noted.

Westmeath can now look forward to the Leinster Championship meeting with Wexford at TEG Cusack Park in May, before the All-Ireland series. The manager said the target is to qualify for the All-Ireland intermediate final in Croke Park. "Please God, we'll be in Croke Park that day. That's the goal,” he said.

“We want to win every competition; we're competitive animals. Otherwise, why are you going to the gym on a Monday night and the pitch on a Tuesday night? Is that giving other people ammunition? If it is, it is. But what am I going to say? No, we don't want to win it,”.

The manager was pleased with how the team finished out their Division 2 campaign after some tough defeats.

“I think we performed well in the last two games. That's been coming. We knew that it was always going to come down to the last two games. Cork and Galway probably skewed Division 2 a little bit, just like Tyrone and Mayo will next year. But that was for them. We knew that we'd have to win,” he said.

“When we came off the pitch against Donegal, we said that could be the point to save this. And that's what it was. In a couple of games, we strung to get a performance for 20 minutes, up until the last two games. And in the last two games, we strung the performances together. We justifiably won this game. It was probably a little bit closer than what it could have been. But that's what happens when you're losing games: you don't have that confidence and It always kind of comes down to almost ‘squeaky bum time’.

"But the girls are fit, they're working hard and we're delighted we're staying in Division 2. And now we just look forward to the first round of the Leinster Championship against Wexford on May 4 in Cusack Park. We have history with Wexford from last year. We had a couple of ferocious battles that went down to the wire and went to extra time. I think we had three trips to Wexford last year, so it'll be nice for them to come up here. We'll take a couple of days off now and then we'll just go working hard again.”

He praised his players, saying: “It was a great performance, we were delighted to see it. Sometimes when teams get the ball, they kick it. So we're holding possession and putting the other teams on the back foot.”

Westmeath's strong panel came into play also.

“We've just seen Lucy (McCartan) and Chloe (Smullen) and Méadbh (Monaghan). All well able to score. That's the beauty of it. Sometimes it's hard being on the bench because you just have to bide your time; you're waiting for your chance to come.

"And you're still training hard on a Tuesday night and in the gym on a Wednesday night. You're doing all that time and you're waiting for your chance. Susana Buckley is a prime example. She got a chance last week with an injury and she took it. And she had such a good game last week that she had to keep the jersey. And that's the way, she's done really well and she kept it.

"And there’s Aoife Temple, a prime example, especially for players that are around the fringes. You keep working, you keep working, you keep putting yourself on the radar. Your chance comes and then you take it."

Browne said the objective from the outset was to retain Division 2 status and in that respect, it has been a successful campaign.