By Paul O’Donovan
“The Tailteann Cup gives those teams that miss out on the opportunity of progressing in Sam Maguire another chance to lift some silverware and we would relish the opportunity to do that,” said Westmeath captain Kevin Maguire as he looked ahead to this Sunday’s intriguing semi final clash with Offaly in Croke Park (4pm).
This might be the first year of the Tailteann Cup, but it certainly isn’t the first meeting of Westmeath and Offaly.
intense
The Midlands rivals have met 22 times in championship football over the past 104 years and the rivalry this Sunday in Croke Park will be just as intense if not more than when the side met back in 1919.
That day, in Croke Park, Westmeath won by a point, 0-3 to 0-2. Westmeath will settle for a similar win this Sunday, although the scoreline is lightly to be a little different.