After claiming a long overdue Leinster football championship win earlier this month, Fiona Leavy says Westmeath are determined to make sure it does not turn out to be a false dawn.
Westmeath launched their provincial campaign with a seven-point defeat of Laois – their first victory at senior level in Leinster since 1995. That was also the year when Westmeath last got to the final and the Lake County now stand just 60 minutes away from bridging that 20-year gap.
They know they will go through if they take at least a point from the last game of the round-robin phase against Meath on Sunday. And forward Leavy insists Westmeath are not prepared to settle for just one win in this year's TG4 Leinster Championship.
"If we do not get the minimum of a draw then it will turn the whole thing into a lottery and it might not go our way."
She said: "It was fantastic to finally get a win in Leinster after such a long wait.
"We enjoyed it as it was a new experience for all of the players and the management. But having said that, we did not get carried away because it was just one win and all it did was take us a little closer to the final.
"If we do not build on it and manage to go on to the final then the result against Laois will count for little."
Westmeath could still end up in the decider even if they lose to Meath, who were beaten by Laois last Sunday.
Such an outcome at Mullingar would leave the three teams in the group level on points and the Leinster Council would then pick out two of the sides in a draw. The earlier head-to-head result of that pairing would then decide who would finish top.
The runners-up would then meet holders Dublin in a Leinster semi-final with the third team to take part in the first round of the All-Ireland qualifiers.
But Leavy is keen for Westmeath to defeat neighbours Meath, who they overcame in the Tesco Homegrown National League in March, to make sure they go straight into the final.
Leavy added: "The good thing for us facing into the Meath game is that we have our destiny in our own hands.
"If we do not get the minimum of a draw then it will turn the whole thing into a lottery and it might not go our way.
"I know we beat Meath in the league but that was a game where we really only managed to get on top in the last quarter. They are quite a strong and physical side and we will have to fight for the right result.
"Remember Meath lost to Laois so they know they have to win if they are to possibly get to the final."
This is Westmeath's fourth term back in the top flight of the Championship after they won the All-Ireland intermediate title.
Leavy is satisfied with their progress and points to the strides made over the last two years by Galway as a source of encouragement for Westmeath as they strive to make a real impact.
"I think it is fair to say we have settled well at senior level since we came up," she added.
"We have found our feet and consistently taken steps to show we have been improving. For me we have developed and grown as a squad and hopefully we can push on some more.
"The win over Laois can give us more confidence to do this and I feel we can take inspiration from what Galway have been doing.
"Last year they beat us in the Division Two league final and went on to reach the All-Ireland semi-finals later in the season. They have been impressive this year too and we would like to think that, as a team playing at the same level as Galway in the league not too long ago, we can move forward in a similar way."
Meanwhile, Leavy hailed the approach of Westmeath boss Niall Williams, who was appointed to the hot-seat following the close of last season.
Williams took the reins after the end of a two-year stint as joint-manager of the Kilkenny camogie side, who he helped to reach last year’s All-Ireland final.
Leavy said: "Niall has been excellent since he came on board and has brought real freshness to the set-up.
"He is exceptionally thorough in getting us ready for games and is great at giving the players confidence, which can be so important in getting the best out of everyone."
