The following is a summary of Westmeath county football team's 2026 season.
Personnel changes Mark McHugh was appointed as manager. Jamie Gonoud came in as a selector.
Kieran Martin announced his retirement from inter-county football on the morning of Friday, 21 November 2025.
John Heslin returned from inter-county retirement this season following an injury to Luke Loughlin. Heslin had been working as an analyst with GAA+.
Competitions O'Byrne Cup
Westmeath won for the first time since 2019.
Match 5 not played due to frozen pitch. Match was decided via coin toss.
National Football League
Westmeath played in Division 3, ending the season in third position after achieving four wins and sustaining three losses. In March 2026, just before the last two league games, manager Mark McHugh took his panel on a training camp in Kilcar and Killybegs.
Fixtures
Table
Leinster Senior Football Championship
Westmeath won for the first time since 2004.
Brían Cooney attempted a two-pointer in the 2026 Leinster Senior Football Championship final, only for the ball to sail over Dublin goalkeeper Evan Comerford and into the net for a goal and three points. His was the first goal that Westmeath had scored in a Leinster Senior Final for 95 years. This was only a second Leinster Final defeat of the century for Dublin and a second Leinster Championship loss of any type since 2010.
Also in that game, John Heslin scored a two-pointer and a free on his return from inter-county retirement. He surpassed the expectations of manager Mark McHugh, who did not expect Heslin to be ready to play until the Leinster Championship was finished.
Fixtures
Bracket
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
For the first time ever, Westmeath won five championship games in the same season, this was accomplished with an extra-time victory over Cavan on Saturday 30 May. Tickets for that sold out instantly.
References