End of an Era …

So that’s it for now, the end of an era and no joy for Tye Adamson in the final game of the Leinster Under-21 championship for ever.  The different in football ability between both teams was one aspect to ponder but the difference in athleticism between the two was a real cause for concern as the county shipped a heavy defeat and made a tame exit from the championship that began in 1964 and becomes an Under-20 competition in 2018.

Westmeath has a proud record in the grade with the 1999 All-Ireland tile victory against Kerry ranking high in the list of ‘Great Days in Westmeath GAA History’. Shamrocks made a significant contribution to this title win with Brian Lambden and Micheál Burke lining out at wing-back throughout the campaign. Those with long memories might recall Micheál’s introduction as a substitute as Westmeath headed for the exit-door in a first-round replay against Kildare in Cusack Park  … the game immediately turned and Westmeath did not lose again until a wet night in Portlaoise in the 2000 All-Ireland semi-final against a strong Limerick team (1-8 to 1-6) whose use of an extra defender provided a problem that Westmeath and several other counties were unable to solve. Even the introduction of a promising rugby player, Niall Breslin, who also played football for Shamrocks, was unable to turn the game in Westmeath’s favour.

 Micheál Burke played in all twelve of those matches for Westmeath and earned an All-Ireland and two Leinster medals in the process. Brian Lambden had to settle for one All-Ireland and one Leinster medal which reminds us that Westmeath won two Leinster titles in 2000 as Brian’s brother Alan captained Westmeath to victory in the Leinster minor championship and the county was unfortunate to lose to Mayo in an All-Ireland minor semi-final replay by a single point. Donal O’Donoghue was also a key player on that Westmeath team in a year that Mullingar Shamrocks also won the county senior title.

The times have certainly changed ….