# John Heslin

John Heslin (born 27 June 1992) is a former Gaelic footballer who played for the Westmeath county team between the 2011 and 2024 seasons, and also an Australian rules footballer for the Irish Warriors. Heslin was drafted by Australian Football League club Richmond in 2011, with Pick #90 of the Rookie Draft, but left after just three months, without playing a single game.

## Playing career
### Gaelic football

The St Loman's clubman represented University College Dublin in the Sigerson Cup and Westmeath at all levels and starred as Westmeath reached the Leinster Under-21 Football Championship final. He also played in two games of the 2011 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and went on to become a permanent fixture in the Westmeath team.
Heslin scored 1–9 in the 2015 Leinster Senior Football Championship semi-final victory over Meath, his team winning the game despite having to make up 11 points and not having beaten Meath for a long time.
He was a playing member of the team when Westmeath won the 2019 National Football League Division 3 league title by a goal against Laois at Croke Park.
In the 2022 Tailteann Cup final he overtook Dessie Dolan as Westmeath's all-time championship top scorer.
He retired from inter-county football in January 2025.

### Australian football

Heslin represented the Ireland national Australian rules football team, that won the 2011 Australian Football International Cup and kicked four goals in the tournament.

### Richmond Football Club

Heslin joined the Tigers as a rookie in the 2012 Pre-season Draft. After only three months on the Tigers' rookie list, homesickness proved too much for the St Loman's clubman, and he resumed his inter-county career with Westmeath.

## Career Statistics

As of match played 15 June 2024
| Team | Year | National League | National League | National League | Leinster | Leinster | All-Ireland | All-Ireland | Total | Total |
| Team | Year | Division | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score |
| Westmeath | 2011 | Division 3 | | | 1 | 0-01 | 1 | 0-04 | | |
| Westmeath | 2012 | Division 2 | | | 1 | 0-05 | 2 | 0-09 | | |
| Westmeath | 2013 | Division 2 | 7 | 2-32 | 2 | 0-10 | 1 | 1-05 | | |
| Westmeath | 2014 | Division 1 | 4 | 0-21 | 1 | 0-03 | 1 | 0-04 | | |
| Westmeath | 2015 | Division 2 | 7 | 0-32 | 4 | 1-26 | — | — | | |
| Westmeath | 2016 | Division 3 | 7 | 1-31 | 3 | 0-15 | 1 | 0-10 | | |
| Westmeath | 2017 | Division 4 | 8 | 3-60 | 3 | 1-14 | 1 | 0-06 | | |
| Westmeath | 2018 | Division 3 | 6 | 1-36 | 1 | 0-00 | — | — | | |
| Westmeath | 2019 | Division 3 | | | 1 | 0-01 | 2 | 0-01 | | |
| Westmeath | 2020 | Division 2 | 7 | 1-22 | 1 | 0-03 | — | — | | |
| Westmeath | 2021 | Division 2 | | | 2 | 0-13 | — | — | | |
| Westmeath | 2022 | Division 3 | | | 2 | 1-09 | — | — | | |
| Westmeath | 2023 | Division 3 | 6 | 3-32 | 1 | 0-03 | 3 | 0-16 | | |
| Westmeath | 2024 | Division 3 | | | 1 | 0-02 | 2 | 0-08 | | |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | | | 24 | 3-105 | 14 | 1-63 | 35 | 4-158 |

## Honours
### Westmeath

* Tailteann Cup (1): 2022
* National Football League Division 3 (1): 2019

### Individual

* Tailteann Cup Team of the Year (1): 2022