Westmeath footballers destined for demotion

Relegation is staring Westmeath in the face after an eight-point defeat to Mayo in wintry conditions at Fr O"Hara Park, Charlestown, last Sunday.This result leaves Westmeath rooted to the bottom of the NFL Division 1 table with 0 points and a scoring difference of -27. Having lost at home to Galway in their opening game, before suffering a drubbing at the hands of Derry, Westmeath badly needed to take something from this game - with matches against 2008 All-Ireland finalists Tyrone and Kerry next on the menu.However, given the number of players missing, a Westmeath victory never seemed remotely likely. With Martin Flanagan and Fergal Wilson still on the long term injured list, Tomás Ó Flatharta"s side were further hampered by the absence of Dessie Dolan, Donal O"Donoghue, Keith Scally and Dermot Bannon (all due to hamstring injuries), in addition to the suspended John Smyth. This game once again underlined Westmeath"s chronic lack of strength in depth when frontline players are absent.The Westmeath team line-up included three NFL debutants - Niall Kilcoyne, Conrad Reilly and Kieran Martin - and, when Conor Lynam was introduced after 20 minutes, there were six under-21 players in maroon and white on the field. Westmeath"s lack of experience and physical strength, particularly in such heavy conditions, was a key factor in Mayo"s overall dominance.The visitors actually made a decent start to this game, but once Mayo centre half-forward Trevor Mortimer scored a 20th minute goal, there was an air of inevitability about the result. Even the dismissal of influential Mayo full-forward Austin O"Malley, a few minutes into the second half, never looked like derailing Mayo"s march to victory.Familiar Westmeath shortcomings were in evidence last Sunday, as some of the match statistics show in stark terms. The forward line which started the game only managed one point from open play, with five of the six starting forwards failing to score. The team"s top scorer from play was outstanding wing-back Michael Ennis, with two points. Given the paucity of options in the half-forward line, moving Ennis into attack is surely worth a try? There"s certainly nothing to lose from trying something different at this stage.Denis Glennon was easily Westmeath"s most dangerous forward, but once again his ratio of scores to chances was very disappointing. This reporter counted at least ten efforts at goal from Glennon (from play and frees), with only four points to his name at the finish. On the other hand, there was probably no other player on the field who could solo the ball with Glennon"s pace and verve and if the Tyrrellspass man could add improve his finishing and decision-making, he"d be among the elite forwards in the game.For their part, Mayo were also short several regulars. Full-back Ger Cafferkey (listed to start but replaced by Kevin McLoughlin), Keith Higgins (abroad), Pat Harte and Barry Moran were all unavailable. Alan Dillon was also unable to start, though he did make a very late appearance as a substitute.A shower of sleet and hail, which fell shortly before the throw-in, probably had visiting supporters questioning the wisdom of their decision to travel west. However, the weather cleared up a little before referee Rory Hickey commenced proceedings, in front of an official attendance of 1,760.Backed by the wind, Westmeath made a reasonably promising start, with Kieran Martin having a goal chance in the fourth minute after he made a good catch close to the Mayo goals. However, Martin"s shot was blocked and Thomas McDaniel hit the rebound wide when a point was on.With the Westmeath half-back line of Michael Ennis, Derek Heavin and Doran Harte winning breaks and covering to great effect, Mayo were finding it hard to achieve any forward momentum. Indeed, it was Ennis who opened the scoring in the 11th minute, with a peach of a point following a surging run down the right wing. After Trevor Mortimer was unlucky to see his shot hit the upright, a slightly dubious free-in gave his brother Conor the chance to open Mayo"s account (16th minute).Conrad Reilly then wasted a good chance after good approach play by Paul Kelly (Castledaly) and Thomas McDaniel. But Reilly made amends shortly afterwards, sending a good ball into Denis Glennon, who pointed superbly after a neat pick-up.Just a minute later, Mayo struck for that vital goal. John Keane failed to hold the slippy ball and former Athlone IT student Trevor Mortimer blasted the loose ball off the crossbar. Conor Mortimer palmed the rebound goalwards and the ball eventually came back to Trevor, who fired to the net.This gave a previously unconvincing Mayo side a major lift and they sent over five unanswered points before half-tine. These scores came from Mark Ronaldson, Conor Mortimer (two, one free), Austin O"Malley and midfielder Tom Parsons, who was set up by Ronaldson after a swift Mayo counter-attack, in what proved the first half"s last action of note.During this spell of the game, there could have been a goal at both ends. In the 28th minute, Denis Glennon was unlucky when his intuitive flick from a Doran Harte delivery went narrowly wide of the post, while Mayo had a strong claim for a penalty after Michael Sweeney seemed to have been fouled. In any case, Mayo led by 1-6 to 0-2 at the interval, and the two league points already looked secure.Within three minutes of the resumption, Michael Sweeney extended Mayo"s lead with a fine point. After Conor Mortimer hit two wides in quick succession, Westmeath centre-back Derek Heavin was eventually fouled after a driving run and Denis Glennon popped over the close-range free. John O"Mahony"s charges restored their eight-point lead in the 45th minute, wing-back Peadar Gardiner getting forward to score after a one-two with Tom Parsons.In the 49th minute, Francis Boyle came forward and fisted the ball over the bar, after taking a pass from Conor Lynam, but Denis Glennon then missed a very kickable free, which Derek Heavin had earned with another forceful run. After Trevor Mortimer landed a good point, Westmeath subs Francis Spollen (Tubberclair) and Conor Lynam combined to set up Michael Ennis for his second point, the Ballinagore man fisting the man over.Denis Glennon was now operating in a deeper role with McDaniel and Spollen inside and Glennon"s electric solo runs were making a big difference to his side, even though there was no prospect of a genuine comeback. Glennon pointed a free in the 58th minute to leave six points between the sides (1-9 to 0-6), but the next four points were scored by Mayo, putting the result beyond all doubt.On 59 minutes, Tom Parsons (playing on his home pitch), caught a Gary Connaughton kickout, soloed forward and drove the bar over the bar. Mayo centre-back Tom Cunniffe then came rampaging through the middle and passed to Mark Ronaldson, who blasted the ball over. And Mayo substitute Aidan Kilcoyne announced his arrival with a point from a long-range free, just moments after his introduction. In the 66th minute, Cunniffe got his name on the scoresheet, leaving Mayo leading by 10 points.Westmeath managed to avoid a doubt digit defeat by scoring two consolation points in the closing stages. The first of those scores came after Denis Glennon sent the ball in the direction of Athlone"s Paul Bannon, who was now at full-forward, and Francis Spollen pointed the loose ball. A foul on Conrad Reilly gave Glennon the opportunity to point a free as the game petered out to a tame conclusion.All of Westmeath"s better performers on the day were in defence. Francis Boyle battled valiantly and managed to attack on a few occasions in the second half, while the half-back line of Michael Ennis, Derek Heavin and Doran Harte was easily Westmeath"s most effective unit. Harte bravely fought for the ball and put in some great tackles, in a display which suggests that wing-back (where he generally operates for Garrycastle) might be his position for the rest of the season. Michael Ennis was surely his side"s best player on the day, while Derek Heavin covered well and initiated numerous attacks, although his marker Trevor Mortimer was also quite influential.Midfielder David Duffy, a pre-match doubt, did not look fully fit and he failed to impose himself on proceedings and his use of the ball was often sloppy. Debutant Niall Kilcoyne (a son of Westmeath"s only hurling All-Star, David Kilcoyne) faded after a promising start, but he could be worth considering in the problem area of the half-forward line as the season goes on. Westmeath fans will be hoping that the young forward line on duty last Sunday can learn from the experience.Mayo are not motoring as well as Connacht rivals Galway at the moment, but this win gives them a good chance of avoiding the drop to Division 2. They had good performers in debutant Kevin McLoughlin, Donal Vaughan, Peadar Gardiner, Tom Cunniffe, Tom Parsons, the Mortimer brothers and diminutive corner-forward Mark Ronaldson.SCORERS - Mayo: T Mortimer 1-1; C Mortimer 0-3 (2f); M Ronaldson, T Parsons 0-2 each; A O"Malley, P Gardiner, M Sweeney, T Cunniffe 0-1 each; A Kilcoyne 0-1f.Westmeath: D Glennon 0-4 (3f); M Ennis 0-2; F Boyle, F Spollen 0-1 each.MAYO: David Clarke; Liam O"Malley, Kevin McLoughlin, Donal Vaughan; Peadar Gardiner, Tom Cunniffe, Andy Moran; Tom Parsons, Ronan McGarrity; Barry Kelly, Trevor Mortimer, Michael Sweeney; Conor Mortimer, Austin O"Malley, Mark Ronaldson.Subs: Aidan O"Shea for A O"Malley (yellow card, 39 mins); Aidan Kilcoyne for Sweeney (61); Seamus O"Shea for McGarrity (64); Alan Dillon for Ronaldson (70); Colm Boyle for Moran (71).WESTMEATH: Gary Connaughton; Francis Boyle, Kieran Gavin, John Keane (capt.); Michael Ennis, Derek Heavin, Doran Harte; Niall Kilcoyne, David Duffy; Enda Leonard, Paul Kelly, Conrad Reilly; Kieran Martin, Thomas McDaniel, Denis Glennon.Subs: Conor Lynam for Leonard (20 mins); Paul Bannon for Kelly (41); Francis Spollen for Martin (51); David Kilmartin for McDaniel (61); Alan Claffey for Duffy (69); Barry Murphy for Heavin (71).REFEREE: Rory Hickey (Clare).