The Downs full-forward Niall Mitchell is revelling in the club's run to the Leinster club final but the dual star is not yet contemplating ditching hurling for football at county level.
The Westmeath side, located a few kilometres to the east of Mullingar, are back in a provincial club final exactly 50 years after their last - and only - appearance in the decider, when they were dispatched by an imperious St Vincent's team, boasting a number of future Sam Maguire winners.
Having won a first Westmeath crown in 17 years, they navigated the challenge of St Mary's Ardee in the quarters before holding off a late rally from Ratoath in a thrilling, televised semi-final in Croke Park.
Heading into a first Leinster final in a half-century, once again against daunting, powerhouse opposition from the capital, Mitchell indicates that the club don't intend to compromise on their open, attacking approach.
"(There's) a huge amount of excitement. We're expecting a big crowd from The Downs and hopefully Westmeath on Sunday," Mitchell told RTÉ Sport.
"Because of the brand of football we play, every game you go to watch The Downs it's an exciting game. Which is great for our supporters, we keep them on the edge of their seats every day they go out.
"We play that brand of football where it's up and down the whole time. Yeah, we're looking forward to Sunday and hopefully putting in a performance and a big show for our supporters."
The Downs have a second goal as Niall Mitchell finishes to the net. An exciting Leinster clash live now on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player - https://t.co/j90jEuzRU2. pic.twitter.com/V4kdn926vI
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) November 19, 2022
The club are seeking to emulate Garrycastle, the last Westmeath outfit to win a Leinster crown back in 2011-12. Anthony Cunningham's side subsequently lost the All-Ireland final after a replay to Crossmaglen but Mitchell says it was a quest which attracted support the whole county - even to a relative football agnostic like himself at the time. He's hoping The Downs journey will encounter similar goodwill across Westmeath.
"I remember they got to the All-Ireland final against Crossmaglen and there was always a good few at their games. Even myself, and I wouldn't really have supported much football back in the day but I still went to their games. I think in Westmeath people will get behind us because we haven't won the Championship in a while.
"I can see already the support coming from people from other clubs. It would be encouraging to get. The last couple of games we played our supporters really got behind us. In the last couple of minutes against Ratoath it was very tight and I've never heard a crowd of that little be so noisy.
"So, I think it's important at the weekend that we do have a strong Westmeath following out there supporting us."
While a central figure in The Downs campaign in 2022, the 25-year-old Mitchell is primarily regarded as a hurler, as a mainstay of a county side since 2015.
Mitchell - who plays his club hurling for nearby Clonkill - rustled up 1-04 from play in Westmeath's win over Kerry in 2021 Joe McDonagh Cup final. He also grabbed a goal - albeit a somewhat fortuitous one - in their landmark draw with Wexford in their hugely impressive 2022 Leinster championship campaign.
The following week, he fired home a brace of goals as Westmeath dispatched Laois to secure their status in the championship top tier for 2023.
"I was up at the AIB (promotional) thing (this week) and Eoin Cody from Ballyhale was there. I was chatting to him and saying that I didn't think I'd be up here for football. I suppose Westmeath is one of the most even counties when it comes to hurling or football. There are a lot of dual players here.
"I would have played football with The Downs and hurling with Clonkill all the way up. I suppose then around U16 and minor, I chose to play county hurling. We had some successful years with the underage with Westmeath and we had some great results at minor and U21.
"In Westmeath, there's not a huge amount of hurlers coming through. There might be one or two from minor or U21 called in. There was a group of us who were called into the senior team and from there on in, I concentrated on hurling. We were improving and Michael Ryan came on board that year that I came onto the panel and added a huge amount to it.
"Once the hurling is over, I always try to spit between The Downs and Clonkill 50/50. There's great communication between the two clubs, a lot of dual players and has been down through the years. The two clubs accommodate each other fairly well but I suppose you don't get that football during the winter that club players are getting, and you're not playing county football either so your skills when you do come back aren't as good.
"It's a different game strength and conditioning-wise as well. We've been lucky this year, I suppose we had a big gap. We were knocked out quite early with the hurling and didn't get out of the Leinster championship. So, there was a nice gap there, the footballers went relatively far with the Tailteann Cup so there were a good few months there where we were able to go with football and brush up on skills a bit more while previously, it would have been a week or two and you're into championship.
"You'd barely remember the rules of football!"
Given his prominence in The Downs run, it was natural that Dessie Dolan would make contact. But Mitchell says he has no plans to swap hurling for football at the inter-county grade.
"We had a chat. But it was brief enough. I had kind of made my decision before he texted me.
"I want to play the best teams in whatever sport it is. If we weren't in the Leinster championship, Division 1, maybe my decision might change then.
"But it would be silly to leave the hurling at a really important time for them. A time where we can progress.
"I don’t think it would be good for Westmeath GAA also. There are a couple of players on the football team that could play with the hurlers too but I think the best thing is to keep it the way it is.
"I sound like Roy Keane the way I go on but loyalty is a big thing for me.
"The last couple of years, we [Westmeath hurlers] have made huge progress. We're Division 1 of the league, the Leinster championship, we’re playing top teams week-in week-out.
"I’d love to play for Westmeath footballers for a year or two down the line, just not at the minute.
"Another thing is, there's no guarantee I would get on the Westmeath football team. But I’m lucky enough at the minute that if I keep playing the way I am, I’m probably good enough to start on the hurling team.
"So, to transition to football and not be guaranteed a place… I don’t want to sit on the bench either."
"I sound like Roy Keane the way I go on but loyalty is a big thing for me.
As for the immediate business of Kilmacud Crokes this weekend, Mitchell bluntly acknowledges that the Dublin champions will be heavy favourites, though the memory of Mullinalaghta in 2018 still gives people pause.
"I think they're hot favourites and deservedly so. They have super players, match-winners all over the field. Inter-county players. They're probably that bit ahead of us regards age.
"Their average is probably 26/27 so they're that bit ahead of us in terms of their age profile being in their prime. Of course, they're going to be favourites, but we're confident too.
"I would like to think we didn't really perform fully to our capabilities against Ratoath. We played well in patches, 10 and 15 minutes here and there. I think if we can get an all-round performance we can cause an upset.
"Mullinalaghta, I don't know how many years ago that is, but I think the game has moved on a bit. Teams are getting more professional. Teams have a more professional mindset now and KIlmacud Crokes will be tuned in from the start. They'll expect a big battle from us so I think from the start we're going to have to be well tuned in too.
"I do believe we'll need 15 on the field at all times to be honest. No matter what way the game at the end is going to be, there's going to be one team chasing to try to get back to level the score or that.
"It's going to be an incredibly tough game but we're looking forward to the challenge and seeing can we get a win out of it."
