Heslin's Fairytale Return: Westmeath Dethrone Dublin

John Heslin spoke of a dream fulfilled after coming off the bench to help Westmeath storm past Dublin and claim only their second ever Leinster SFC title, a moment he says he never doubted was coming.

The St Loman's forward had retired from inter-county duty in January 2025, having first pulled on the Lake County jersey back in 2011. Yet when manager Mark McHugh came calling, there was only ever one answer. Heslin believed this group was destined for provincial glory, and his conviction proved well founded.

Rumours had swirled in the lead-up to the decider that the 33-year-old had returned to training, and those rumours were confirmed when his name appeared on the matchday panel. The fairytale script was written when Heslin entered the fray in the 61st minute, chipping in with three vital points as Westmeath pulled clear of the Dubs in extra-time to win on a scoreline of 2-28 to 0-26. It is their first provincial crown since 2004.