Westmeath a very tough task for the outsiders Longford

On the strength of gaining promotion and the subsequent extra-time defeat against Carlow  in the pulsating Division 4 final at Croke Park, there is a new sense of belief about Longford in the build-up to the Leinster Senior Football Championship first round clash against Westmeath at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park this Sunday, throw-in 3pm.

Make no mistake about it, this is a big step up in class for a fully committed squad and unquestionably a very tough task against the neighbouring rivals who have been operating at a higher level in recent years, a fact clearly reflected in their Tailteann Cup triumph in 2022 to achieve Sam Maguire Cup status. 

In that same season, Longford fell at the first hurdle against Westmeath at Cusack Park in Mullingar and that was the most recent clash between the counties in the provincial championship with the Lake County winning on the comfortable scoreline of 3-13 to 0-14. 

According to the bookies, the red-hot 1/8 favourites Westmeath are going to repeat the dose with Longford the 6/1 outsiders in the ‘two-horse’ race and that may well turn out to be the case in the current transition period for our small county.

Mayo man Mike Solan is working with a young squad who are growing in stature and while the present bunch of players are not expected to upset the odds, their never-say-die attitude must count for something and particularly with home advantage. 

The Longford supporters really got behind the team when they staged a remarkable recovery in coming from 11 points behind midway through the second half against Wicklow  to eventually snatch a sensational victory by the minimum of margins, 2-21 to 2-20.

The major reward is a place in Division 3 of the National League next year against five other Leinster counties - Carlow, KIldare, Laois,Offaly and Westmeath - along with Clare and Sligo and that is pleasing progress for a Longford squad generally lacking in experience.

That theory will be put to the test in the local derby on Sunday and Westmeath will be very anxious to bounce back from the bitter disappointment of letting victory slip from their grasp in the recent promotion decider away to Wexford.

A last gasp goal was the dramatic winning score for the home county and a real sickening blow for the new Westmeath manager Mark Harte, the former Donegal star.

In a mixed emotion league campaign that yielded wins over Sligo, Clare, Fermanagh and Limerick, the defeats against Down, Laois and Wexford cost Westmeath an immediate return to Division 2 in the aftermath of relegation last season.

While the serious threat of class act John Heslin is not a concern any more with his retirement at inter-county level, Luke Loughlin is now the dangerman in a slick attack that could also feature the versatile Ronan Wallace on his move from the defence.

Loughlin and Wallace will take some stopping, as will Ray Connellan at midfield, while Longford are also facing the force of wing backs Sam McCartan and Matthew Whittaker who scored 0-5 apiece against Wexford. 

Westmeath are effective all over the pitch, providing they succeed in producing their true potential, and have developed a habit of inconsistency that has been punished in the recent past.

Longford will be looking to attacking defenders Dessie Reynolds and Peter Lynn to produce their usual inspirational displays while there is plenty of scoring power in the attack with Oran Kenny, Daniel Reynolds, Matthew Carey, Dylan Farrell and Joseph Hagan all capable of causing problems in making their presence felt.

All we can ask for is that Longford will be competitive against the neighbouring rivals in the bid to upset the odds and who knows what might happen in the battle to earn a crack at the Division 2 league champions Meath in the Leinster SFC quarter-final.