Man of the match O’Toole: ‘It was touch and go for a while’

Westmeath star Ronan O’Toole was beaming with delight when speaking to the media after his side’s victory over Cavan in the inaugural Tailteann Cup football final at Croke Park last Saturday afternoon.

“It probably hasn’t sunk in yet. As a child you’re looking down and wondering will you ever have a day like that and it’s happened today,” he said.

“I mentioned 2004 (when Westmeath won the Leinster senior title) in the preview and looking down at the lads lifting a trophy in the Hogan Stand and we’ve done that today.”

Reflecting on the match and the way it finished, O’Toole said: “It was so touch and go for a while. I don’t think anyone knew which way it was going to swing. I think it showed the strength in depth in our squad.

“Kieran Martin came on and he was a like a battering ram! I don’t think anyone could have stopped him (from scoring the vital goal). I thought he was going to go through the net at one stage!

“Cavan got their tails up with about ten minutes ago. But we just kept plugging away and eventually got over the line,” Ronan continued.

So often the creative heartbeat of the Westmeath attack, O’Toole was a deserving winner of the official man of the match award. He scored four points from play in the first half and a total of five.

Asked about his own display, he downplayed it and said: “I was going in at half-time disappointed because I kicked a ball short and that was kind of playing on my mind.”

When Padraig Faulkner struck for a Cavan goal, followed by two points which put them three ahead, the game appeared to be drifting away from Westmeath’s grasp.

“You always have to be worried,” said O’Toole “But it shows the character in the squad to just keep plugging away. At half-time we said keep knocking away at that scoreboard and it will come and thankfully it did today.”

Speaking shortly after the game, Ronan thought it was Westmeath goalkeeper and St Loman’s, Mullingar clubmate Jason Daly who saved a late goal attempt from Cavan substitute Conor Madden which would have drawn the teams level. It was actually Kevin Maguire who threw himself at the ball to block Madden’s goalbound shot, in what was certainly a case of a captain leading by example.

“They nearly had a goal; the heart was in the mouth. I think everyone thought it was going to rattle the net. Thank God, it didn’t go in,” said O’Toole.

The red card in the last quarter shown to Cavan midfielder Thomas Galligan was for a wild challenge on O’Toole. Asked about the incident, Ronan’s initial replay was succinct.

“I don’t remember much about it to be honest,” he said. “I think I got to the ball first... it’s the ref’s decision at the end of the day; he makes the calls,” he added.

Having also produced an outstanding performance in the semi-final win over Offaly, O’Toole appears to enjoy the Croke Park stage and he remarked that every forward relishes the wide open spaces at GAA headquarters.