Fortune to reflect on future plans

Westmeath senior hurling manager Joe Fortune will take a period of reflection before deciding on his future plans, following his side's final game in the Joe McDonagh Cup on Saturday.

"We get a couple of weeks now to have conversations and chats and we’ll see where we are in the next couple of weeks,” he said, following Westmeath's resounding victory over Laois at TEG Cusack Park.

The Wexford native has been at the helm since 2021 and has led the senior hurlers through two Leinster championship campaigns before they returned to the Joe McDonagh Cup this season. Fortune believes Westmeath have the quality to get back to the top level after a disappointing loss to Kerry scuppered this year's plans.

"They showed in the first half how good they are. I walked in with Darragh Egerton off the pitch and said, 'the frustrating thing is not what they can do, it’s just what’s between their ears at times'. It’s frustrating, but that’s sport. We have all seen days where the 'lesser' team can come out hungrier. We spoke about giving that bit of energy and honesty and they go off to their clubs now for a really competitive Westmeath championship," he said.

Fortuned bemoaned a system that does not facilitate Westmeath in the Leinster championship, drawing comparison with the senior footballers. He accepted his side's display against Kerry in round one was not up to the level required, but spoke of his pride at how they regrouped and at the emergence of promising young players.

"It needed to be like that five weeks ago and it wasn’t. And that’s not down to coaching or management: the players didn't go out to perform like that on day one, just as the footballers didn’t go out to play like they did against Wicklow. They have a chance in the Sam Maguire series, but we don’t have that luxury," he observed.

"We can’t call it the Leinster championship anymore, let’s be honest. It’s not the Munster championship, that’s really what it is. But my job today was to make sure the players put a bit of pride back into themselves and the group; I think they did that. The performance was good. It gives a massive sense of pride."

PROUD

The Westmeath manager was very proud of the display from his side against Laois, especially after a campaign that went pear-shaped early on. He admitted the players were determined to show they were better than their performance against Kerry in round one and said they were keen to restore pride.

"The first half was excellent; it was the first time we clicked (in this campaign). Maybe there was an expectation that because we came down from the Liam MacCarthy that we would go straight back up again? Maybe that was inside their heads. It’s not for the want of trying on the players or management’s behalf. I am lucky to have a really good management team there; it has changed over the three years but at the same time, there is no blame there," he remarked.

Westmeath were certainly aiming to reach the final after some fine performances in Division 1B of the league this spring, but the form didn't carry through.

"We had a good league and I’m delighted that the players bounced back today. It was a case of the players taking ownership and saying, ‘we know we let you down on the first day’.

“Conor Gaffney has had a massive year for us; Johnny Bermingham was good; Darragh Egerton is back to his best. I would rate him as one of the best corner backs in the country. There was a couple of games this year where we used him at number six. Aonghus Clarke was excellent today, Tommy Doyle was back to his best.

“Yes, we still made mistakes, but the defending was top class in general and we were clinical up front," he observed.

Although the championship has been a source of frustration, the season overall has been positive and the number of young players emerging under Fortune's watch is a definite boost for the future.

"The young players were excellent; Aaron Craig was excellent in the first half also. Killian (Doyle) has been carrying an injury, but he went to war last week to ensure we got over Meath because that was such a big game for Westmeath hurling," said the manager.

He reiterated his view that the flat performance again Kerry is what really cost the team in the McDonagh Cup campaign.

"The narrative was the Meath game was a game for relegation, but we always knew we messed up on the first day. Kerry deserved it, but we had no luck really.

“Everything happened in the space of six weeks and I’m delighted the Westmeath players ended the year on a positive note," he added.