Westmeath GAA which they were nevertheless promoted from Division 2, the team was knocked out of the Leinster Senior Football Championship in the first round by Offaly. However wins over London, Limerick, Sligo and then a historic defeat of Galway in Pearse Park in Salthill set up a third All-Ireland Quarter Final for the team in six years - this time against Dublin. Westmeath did not live up to expectations in the Quarter Final meeting against Dublin and lost by 10 points. Westmeath staged a strong second half display to capture the 2008 Division 2 National Football League title for the third
Geography of the Gaelic Games hurling territory with very little football activity. Most of County Wexford is in the hurling region along with Counties Carlow, Laois and Offaly. The rest of the Leinster Counties are considered footballing counties. Connacht is almost entirely Gaelic football territory with only Galway competing in the Liam MacCarthy Cup. In County Galway the hurling-football divide draws a line from Galway City to Ballinasloe. The divide in Galway probably stands out more than the other counties. The hurling territory in Galway stands out so strongly from the rest of the province which results in the Galway team playing in the Leinster