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Westmeath Boss Joe Fortune Embracing Youth In Bid To Bring The County Forward

Friday, 21 January 2022 15:03

He'll be working with an extended squad until the onset of the league campaign.

Joe Fortune isn't taking anything for granted with Westmeath following a solid opening day win over Meath in the Kehoe Cup. 

Kildare, albeit without their Naas contingent will be a much better yardstick of where the lake county are at, in their preparations for the Allianz National League next month. 

Of Westmeath's new faces,  Cullion's Jack Gillen in particular left his mark on the Royals a week ago in notching up 1-6, much to the delight of the new boss. 

Fortune has embraced the succession of youth, Eamonn Cunneen another teenager started at midfield and didn't look out of place whatsoever. All indictors are that more fresh blood will be thrown in the deep end tomorrow. 

A panel of between 40-42 players are operating at the moment and will only be reduced by between 4-6 for the league season. 

Davy Glennon is back in with the squad for a second season, which will be a boost to the former Dublin U-20 boss as he is without the services of a number of more experienced campaigners due to injury at the moment. 

Shane Clavin, Josh Coll and Jordy Smith are among those who won't be joining the panel this year for a variety of reasons but Fortune insists the door will never be closed to a player from Westmeath while he's at the helm. 

There was also special praise revered for incoming S&C specialist Richie Flynn who has been working with the panel since they returned before Christmas. Fitness and physical conditioning is always an area which is emphasised when speaking about the gap between the top tier sides and the chasing pack in both codes at the moment. 

Westmeath feel they're in a good place to bridge that with their current group with Flynn's appointment. 

Turning his attention towards the game with David Herity's Kildare, Fortune told Midlands103 Sport:

Yeah, looking forward to it now again, look this time of year, Robbie, like you want you want games you know, and I suppose they're competitive games, they're Kehoe Cup games.  

Myself and David will be conscious that we're giving guys an opportunity and a chance to put their hand up for Westmeath and Kildare.   

So yeah, look another chance then to get a match played in the home of the county champions this weekend, so it’s an opportunity to look at more players and build on the initial work we got through last Sunday against Meath. 

Speaking about some of the new players who've taken their chance, primarily Jack Gillen, who struck 1-6 last weekend: 

He did, yeah, and look I got a chance thankfully, in October, November to see the club championship in Westmeath and look I wouldn't be doing the job right if I didn't give these lads who impressed in club championship and opportunity and Gillen did well, and you know young Cuneen starts for the first time, a Leaving Cert student playing in midfield for Raharney to win a county title and we will have a few more in the lineup this weekend.   

Sometimes you’re nearly afraid because you leave out one or two lads who you realise haven't played senior for Westmeath before but look overall, like we will give guys an opportunity and a chance because they have played and trained hard. 

The thing as well is that we're conscious that the 6th of February is coming quite soon, and that National League will start against Kerry. 

So, and it's all about getting ready for the first game of the National League on the 6th of February also. 

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