Spirited Westmeath second string claim notable scalp

A week after a very disappointing second half surrender, albeit to a far less experimental Meath outfit, what was effectively Westmeath"s second team produced a much more spirited display in Buffer"s Alley"s grounds in Monamolin.Truly awful weather, combined with a very arduous trip to the far-from-sunny south east, meant that the Lake County fans stayed away in their droves.However, the handful of diehards who braved the strong wind and driving, heavy drizzle - it was a great pity that a venue with even a basic covered stand could not have been chosen for the fixture - will undoubtedly feel that their long journey was worthwhile, as Tomás Ó Flatharta"s faith in his young charges was justified, with a really tenacious performance over 80 minutes-plus deservedly giving the players a chance to further impress next weekend against Laois.To be fair, Wexford were also short almost all their marquee names and the winners were definitely bolstered by the introduction of a number of established stars as the game progressed. However, the manner of the victory will nonetheless be a great boost for the management team, who are sparing no effort in their attempts to strengthen the squad ahead of seven extremely tough National League Division One fixtures, commencing on February 1.A driving crossfield wind was bound to make scoring difficult for both sides, but it was obvious from the throw-in that both teams were determined to compete in a wholehearted fashion and a very entertaining contest ensued. The visitors started the better and Peter Tormey was the most prominent player on view in the early exchanges, pointing a 40-metre free in the third minute and almost immediately following up with tenacious work to set up Kieran Martin (ironically, a student of his in Moate Community School) for a terrific point. The latter player then almost turned provider himself when he fed Thomas McDaniel (also, still a secondary school pupil in Kilbeggan), but the Ballinagore clubman"s goal attempt was smothered.McDaniel was then narrowly off target from a difficult point opportunity, before Wexford wiped out Westmeath"s early lead (shades of Meath a week earlier) when Pat Naughter got the deftest of touches to Ben Brosnan"s through ball to deflect the ball to the net past the advancing Cathal Mullin. At the other end, Fiachra Spellman was showing up well and he was prominent in a move which ended in a goal chance for Peter Tormey, but the Bunbrosna man was forced to take a point under pressure, the ball going over via the upright.Fiachra Spellman restored the maroon and whites" lead with a composed point in the 13th minute before Paul O"Leary was yellow-carded for a high challenge on Paul Kelly, the dismissed player"s apologetic demeanour clearly showing that there was no intended malice in his challenge in progressively-slippier conditions. But new rules are new rules! Two almost identical points from Peter Hughes, the ball landing on top of the net on both occasions in circumstances which usually result in Gary Connaughton"s trademark catches, edged Wexford ahead and Ciarán Deeley put the Slaneysiders 1-3 to 0-4 to the good in the 18th minute with a lovely point, the ball falling kindly for him despite Joe Clarke" great block on Pat Naughter.McDaniel goalHowever, a minute later, the visitors got a lucky break when a quickly-taken free from Eoin Farrell was fumbled by Wexford custodian Aidan Cullen and an alert Thomas McDaniel was left with the easiest of chances and he duly rolled the ball into the unguarded net.With their justifiably-lauded young manager, Jason Ryan in full voice on the line, Wexford responded in style and they reeled off four unanswered points in the ensuing seven minutes, to open up a three-point lead. Jason Murphy, James Holmes, Peter Hughes and Ben Brosnan were the men on target for the scores, all taken with aplomb despite the horrible weather.The nearest that Westmeath came to increasing their tally during this period was when an intuitive flick by Thomas McDaniel almost diverted Paul Bannon"s lob into the net. As the first half came to a close, Paul Kelly missed a scoreable free for the winners but the Castledaly man soon made amends with a great individual point. Thomas McDaniel rounded off the scoring in the first moiety with a lovely left-footed point, to leave his side trailing by the bare minimum at the interval, on a scoreline of Wexford 1-7 Westmeath 1-6. It was inevitable given the deteriorating weather (including fading light) that scores would be at a premium on the change of ends, and so it proved.Enda Leonard was twice a little unlucky with his point-scoring efforts before Kieran Martin equalised with a wonderful left-footed shot from 35 metres, with exactly six minutes gone in the second moiety. The tit-for-tat nature of the exchanges continued with two substitutes, Collie Byrne (Wexford) and Francis Spollen (Westmeath) swapping points, sandwiched between which George Sunderland produced a great block on Thomas McDaniel, after he had skilfully scooped the ball up in full flight.Wexford"s Jason Murphy then had a "goal" disallowed for a "square ball" offence, after Cathal Mullin had smothered Pat Naughter"s original effort. Francis Spollen put the winners a point to the good from a left-footed free in the 18th minute, but Westmeath proceeded to miss a number of decent chances to wrap up the game, allowing Wexford to level an absorbing contest via a Ciarán Deeley free in the 24th minute. One of Westmeath"s best-known players, Denis Glennon was now in the fray but he spurned a gilt-edged point chance, with his fisted "goal" being correctly disallowed.Indeed, it was the purple and golds who had the best opportunities to seal a win from placed balls, but late efforts from the ground by Jason Murphy (free) and Pat Naughter ("45") failed to reach the target. In the final analysis, both sides deserved a chance to play extra-time after a 1-9 apiece outcome, even if the soaked spectators (and reporters!) would probably have relished the chance to head for drier pastures.Within 30 seconds of the resumption of play, Rory McGowan got his name on the scoresheet with a fine point, after receiving Paul Kelly"s pass. A little over a minute later, Aidan Cullen spilled Denis Glennon"s free and Francis Spollen toe-poked the rebound to the net. A delay ensued as the Wexford goalkeeper was attended to, having come down awkwardly on his ankle and he was duly replaced. However, the gift was soon reciprocated at the other end when Francis Boyle spoiled a tremendous catch by letting the ball drop and Jason Murphy had the simple task of guiding the ball into the net.Level peggingJames Holmes levelled the tie yet again deep into added-time in the first period of extra-time with a neat point, but the men in the by-now muddied maroon and white strip finished the half strongly with points from Dermot Bannon (a fine score in the conditions) and Denis Glennon (from a free, prior to which Brian Malone was yellow-carded for a challenge on the lively Dermot Bannon). This left Westmeath ahead by 2-12 to 2-10 at half-time in extra-time.Another sub who took the opportunity to make a decent impression was Conrad Reilly and the young St. Loman"s, Mullingar clubman atoned for a near-miss in the opening seconds with a great point in the second minute. While this proved to be his side"s last score, a three-point lead was significant and Wexford"s only response was a terrific point from Pat Naughter in the sixth minute. Having run out of subs, the home mentors were unable to replace a third yellow-carded player, Graeme Molloy and Collie Byrne"s two attempts from placed balls (the second a "45") unsurprisingly fell short given the appalling underfoot conditions. The last action of note saw a fine effort by Dermot Bannon drift just wide.As the fans headed to the comfort of nearby hostelries to watch Manchester United take on Chelsea, there was a notable lack of players" Ferraris in the Buffer"s Alley carpark and the amateur men who trooped off the rain-sodden pitch deserve enormous credit for producing a very entertaining contest in the worst weather imaginable. Both managers will be pleased to have had a chance to further check out budding talent. In the circumstances, both Tomás Ó Flatharta and Jason Ryan will be totally satisfied with the commitment to the maroon and white and purple and gold jerseys respectively. Naturally, Ó Flatharta will be the happier and his conundrum now is how many established players he will ease back in next week against old rivals Laois, ahead of the arrival of Galway in Cusack Park on February 1.Westmeath: Cathal Mullin; Mark Dalton, Francis Boyle, Joe Clarke; Keith Scally, David Kilmartin, Eoin Farrell; Aidan Browne, Paul Bannon; Fiachra Spellman (0-1), Enda Leonard, Paul Kelly (0-1); Peter Tormey (0-2,0-1 from a free), Thomas McDaniel (1-1), Kieran Martin (0-2). Subs: Francis Spollen (1-2, 0-1 from a free) (blood sub, for Tormey, 35 mins), Donal O"Donoghue (for Browne, half-time), Denis Glennon (0-1, from a free) (for Martin, 49 mins), Doran Harte (for Farrell, 49 mins), Conrad Reilly (0-1) (for Leonard, 54 mins), Rory McGowan (0-1) (for Spellman, 63 mins), Dermot Bannon (0-1) (for McDaniel, 67 mins), Alan Claffey (for Dalton, 70 mins), Thomas McDaniel (for P. Bannon, 76 mins).Wexford: Aidan Cullen; Conor Murphy, Dylan Kehoe, Brian Malone; George Sunderland, Graeme Molloy, Andreas Doyle; Paul O"Leary, David Bradley; Ciarán Deeley (0-2, 0-1 from a free), Peter Hughes (0-3), Jason Murphy (1-1); Pat Naughter (1-1), James Holmes (0-2), Ben Brosnan (0-1). Subs: Collie Byrne (0-1) (for O"Leary, yellow card, 14 mins), Brendan Doyle (for Bradley, half-time), Walter Cosgrave (for Brosnan, 51 mins), Adrian Flynn (for Holmes, 56 mins), Jody O"Shaughnessy (for Kehoe, injured, 62 mins), Ben Brosnan (for Molloy, start of extra-time), Tom Hughes (for Morris, injured, 71 mins), James Holmes (for Doyle, 75 mins), Graeme Molloy (for Malone, yellow card, 79 mins).Referee: Eddie Craul (Wicklow).