Westmeath manager Jack Cooney is adamant with his reply when asked what the biggest thing about winning Sunday's Tailteann Cup semi-final would mean.
"More time together," Cooney states.
"There are loads of different reasons why a win would be great but the main one is that we would go further and have more time together. One more win and we would have three more weeks together and reach the last game of the season.
"I wouldn’t undervalue that one for one minute, spending more time together. We have a lot of young fellas in, and it would be more of a chance to show them the environment. To show them that we will keep at it, develop step by step and you never know where we will end up."
Thus far this summer, Westmeath have beaten Longford well, lost narrowly to Kildare, and then beat Laois and beat Carlow in the Tailteann Cup.
Cooney says that training in decent weather – rather than the slog of winter and pre-season makes all the difference.
"That’s the big spin off from it. We have got two games under belts so far and we set our sights to get back to Croke Park. But you come for training and lads are out there training 40 minutes beforehand, just boys kicking the ball, and they are still there half an hour afterwards. Lads kicking ball with their friends."
Cooney, a top-class coach, is asked about the joy remaining – even at a time when Gaelic football is risk averse on many occasions, with a huge coaching focus on clamping down on space for the opposition and retaining possession at all costs.
"It’s just the evolution of the game," Cooney says.
"The performance analysis, the S&C, all of those areas have gone to a completely new level. We are operating at an elite level now, especially guys in the first division.
"Dublin winning six titles on the back has risen standards – everyone aspires to be there.
"For ourselves, we know we can’t make massive jumps, but we can make those small steps. As for the game I’m intrigued by it, I love looking at opposition teams and I’m in a very privileged position to be out training 30 plus lads who are committed to Westmeath.
"The least we can do is try to stay half a step ahead of them, support them and help them get the best out of themselves."
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Follow the Tailteann Cup semi-finals on Sunday, Sligo v Cavan (1.45pm) and Offaly v Westmeath (4pm), via our live blog on rte.ie/sport or on the RTÉ News app. Watch live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player commencing at 1.30pm with live radio commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
