Westmeath return to the Leinster Football Final tomorrow afternoon for the first time since 2004. The win 11 years ago was the first provincial title as the defeated Laois by two points in a replay.
Two of the stars of that team, Dessie Dolan and Fergal Wilson spoke to Ger and Adrian about that year ahead of tomorrow's final with Dublin.
"When Paidi walked into a room he made a massive impression", Dessie Dolan told Ger about manager Paidi O'Se, whose first championship year in charge came in 2004. He added that O'Se brought added confidence to the team. O'Se "was the final piece of the jigsaw" according to Dolan, as Fergal Wilson add that the team were primed to win a title around that time.
Wins over Offaly, Dublin and Wexford were Westmeath's path to the final, before it took 140 minutes to beat Laois. Wilson told Ger that they had a good record against the then reigning champions Laois and that they had their luck along the way including a fortuitous point against Offaly.
Westmeath played Derry in the All-Ireland quarter finals, where their run ended. Dolan told Ger that the loss was "a missed opportunity". Wilson told Ger that "a lot of celebrations" took place after the Laois win and the side found it hard to come down after the win.
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