Ideal test for Ó Flatharta

Gavin Cummiskeyfinds Westmeath's manager already turning his thoughts to the championship

TOMÁS Ó FLATHARTA tried to tell us this week he is still new to this game. Learning as he goes, he said. Not even the green-behind-the-gills reporter took any notice.

Westmeath's presence in the Division Two final tonight in Navan has been overshadowed by other matters. Such progress is, however, a surprise as Monaghan had been out in front throughout the campaign, only for their promotion aspirations to be killed off by a late blitz from the Westmeath attack in Clones last Sunday.

We've seen sporadic bursts of excellence from this panel over the past five years. Ó Flatharta has been the guiding hand throughout. "I'm there since November 2003. This is my fifth year. I was two years with Páidí (Ó Sé) doing the training and stuff."

"And stuff" carried a fair amount of responsibility. For starters, being Dublin-based he was closer to the midlands and was in possession of the whistle at training. He was also a selector but whisperings within the county quickly established the Kilmacud Crokes man (via west Kerry, hence the Páidí Ó Sé connection) as the key component in the management team. On match days Ó Flatharta was regularly spotted rising from the bench to inform Páidí of certain tactical nuances.

The county board made sure to retain his services when Ó Sé headed home two years later. A first Leinster title meant the Kerry legend's popularity was forever secure in Westmeath. But Ó Flatharta was charged with building on the solid foundations.

Ó Sé's second year, 2005, was a disaster. Westmeath lost to Kildare, recovered to beat Tipperary in the qualifiers before being knocked out by Clare.

The wheels seemed to have come off entirely when Offaly had their number in the 2006 Leinster championship. It was at this point that Ó Flatharta's influence was put to the ultimate test. Qualifier wins over London, Limerick and Sligo set up a quarter-final play-off against Galway in Pearse Stadium. Dublin awaited the winners in Croke Park. The feature writers began preparing to revisit the infamous 1983 All-Ireland final.

All this was scrapped by a shock, yet deserved Westmeath victory in the Salthill wind. Last season they failed to keep up the momentum as Ó Flatharta admits.

"That win against Galway was two years ago. Last year we were beaten in the first round of the championship (by Longford), yeah, we beat Longford in the qualifiers but then went out to Donegal after that. Even though we had a good league campaign last year, it is the championship that counts.

"This is my third year as manager. First year, I suppose, there was a small bit of progress but since then there has been a lot of twists and turns. From a performance point of view this has been one of the better periods."

He was initially handed a two-year term though Westmeath could have gone for a local. Dessie Dolan snr for one is the current Leitrim manager. Luke Dempsey is still with Longford. Tonight is seen as a championship tune-up, ahead of another trip to Longford on May 11th, but to attain some silverware with bainisteoir on his back would confirm what many people have thought all along.

They have pushed on from 2004 under him too, in the sense they no longer dwell on it. Ten of the team that overcame Dublin, before beating Laois in the replayed Leinster final, started last week against Monaghan. Granted, Dessie Dolan is injured tomorrow but Martin Flanagan's exile is over, Denis Glennon has matured into a quality forward, while Kieran Gavin looks like a long term investment at fullback.

If Westmeath are unable to beat a weakened Dublin, should they not forget about being real Leinster championship contenders?

"I wouldn't call it a weakened Dublin. There are quality players at their disposal. They have a big panel and a lot of lads who have played in big games. It is very close to championship for us so we would be concerned about injuries at this stage. It is great preparation for Longford and that's the way we are going to use it."