Standing at 6'4 and just 20 years of age, David Duffy looks set to have a long career in the maroon and white of Westmeath. In 2006, the hugely promising midfielder was given the unenviable task of filling Rory O'Connell's boots, and already comparisons have been drawn between him and the county's first football All-Star. By Randal Scally. When Rory O'Connell was forced to retire last year with a back injury, a raw teenager from Shandonagh was suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Over the previous 18 months or so, David Duffy had been finding his feet in the Westmeath senior football panel. But now the time had come for him to step up to the mark and prove himself as a worthy successor to a man who had long been regarded as one of the top midfielders in the country. "I didn't feel under any real pressure because as far as I'm concerned, Rory O'Connell is irreplaceable," Duffy explains. "I was given my chance and I tried to do my best. I'm still learning and trying to improve all areas of my game. This is my third season on the panel and I definitely feel that I've improved in that time. Last year, Jason Cowman (physical trainer) and Padraig Lynn (fitness and conditioning coach) set out a gym programme for me which I have found to be hugely beneficial. "When I was younger, I looked up to Rory O'Connell and David O'Shaughnessy, and aspired to be as good as them. I was honoured to partner Rory when we played Tipperary in the league last year, and it has been great lining out alongside 'Shaugho' as well. I'm working hard on my game and I hope to be involved with Westmeath for many years to come." Most Westmeath fans would agree that Duffy has the potential to be a great midfielder. He's tall (6'4), athletic, mobile, is an accurate kicker and is fast developing into a physically strong player. After featuring at under 16 and minor level for the county, he made his senior debut against Tyrone during the 2005 National League campaign and was a regular starter last year until he was dropped for the glamour All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin. "It was a big disappointment not to start that game, but I accepted it and took it on the chin. I knew my position was under threat after the Galway game when I didn't have one of my better games. 'Shaugho' had come on as a sub and given a great performance. Paul Bannon was playing out of his skin too and there was no way he was going to be dropped." Westmeath's progress to their third All-Ireland quarter-final in five years, coupled with their promotion back to Division 1 of the National League, made 2006 a successful first year at the helm for new manager Tomas O Flatharta. However, their achievements were undermined somewhat by two bitterly disappointing performances against Offaly and Dublin at Croke Park. "We were very disappointed with our display against Dublin - it took some of the good out of the year," admits Duffy, who has been a member of the NUIG Sigerson Cup team for the past two years and won an All-Ireland Freshers title with the Galway university in 2006. "The Dublin game showed the improvements that are needed. Dublin are one of the best teams in the country and that's the standard we've got to reach if we're to be successful." Prior to the Leinster championship opener against Offaly, the Lake County suffered a huge setback when a knee injury ruled out star forward Dessie Dolan. The Garrycastle man could only look on from the sideline as Offaly avenged their 2004 defeat in a game they never looked like losing. Few would have given Westmeath much chance of making progress in the All-Ireland qualifiers, but after they beat London in the first round, they gradually built up momentum. Trailing Limerick by seven points early in the second half of their next game and a man down following substitute James Davitt's dismissal, Westmeath scored eight unanswered points in the time remaining to pull off a remarkable victory. A last-gasp Gary Dolan goal gave Tomas O Flatharta's improving side a controversial extra-time victory over Sligo in the third round at a very hostile Markievicz Park. Sligo finished the game with just 12 players, while Donal O'Donoghue also received his marching orders for the visitors. The highpoint of Westmeath's year was undoubtedly their magnificent 1-8 to 0-10 defeat of Galway in Pearse Stadium. The midlanders went into the game as 4/1 outsiders, but displayed tremendous resolve, determination and ambition to cause a major upset. "I thought it was an unbelievable achievement to go down to Salthill and beat Galway. It was easily the best Westmeath win I was ever involved in. "Our heads were definitely down after losing to Offaly, but we were lucky with how the qualifier draw went and we were able to get Dessie (Dolan) back for the Limerick game. We showed great character to beat both Limerick and Sligo, but I think we took it to a different level against Galway." According to Duffy, Westmeath's two primary objectives for 2007 are to retain their National League Division 1 status and to reach the Leinster final. "The last thing we want is to get relegated after coming up. It happened to us before and we don't want it to happen again. We can only benefit from playing the top sides in Division 1. Last year, I felt we were at a disadvantage coming up to the Offaly game because we had been playing weaker teams in Division 2. "Our other aim is to get back into a Leinster final. We've haven't won a Leinster championship match since we beat Laois in the 2004 Leinster final replay, and that's something we want to put right this year. We have a very difficult first round game against Longford in Pearse Park and none of us are looking beyond that. Luke Dempsey knows Westmeath football inside out and he'll have the Longford lads well up for that game." The Shandonagh clubman has welcomed the appointment of Paul Conway and Eamonn Gallagher as Tomas O Flatharta's new selectors, and also regards the return of Martin Flanagan and Fergal Wilson to the Westmeath squad as a huge boost. "Paul and Eamonn are two good men to have on the sideline. Paul was one of the stars of the 2004 Leinster title win, and has obviously worked with Tomas before. Eamonn managed Raharney to win a county hurling championship last year and also brought the Killucan footballers to the senior championship semi-final against all the odds. "This year has seen a good few changes to the panel with Fergal Wilson and Martin Flanagan coming back and the likes of Kieran Gavin, Alan Rigney, John Gaffey and Peter Tormey coming in. It's great to see two experienced players like Martin and Fergal involved again - Martin is one of those players who can lift the crowd while Fergal has a great left foot and should add scoring power to the attack." David, who won't celebrate his 21st birthday until September, is also looking forward to what he hopes will be a long and successful under 21 campaign with Westmeath. "Most of the team that lost to Laois last year is eligible again this year, and when you factor in younger players like John Connellan, Kieran Gavin and Conrad Reilly, we have a good team on paper. If everyone can stay fit, I think we will do well," he concludes. Tweet

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