Disappointing second half display sees Westmeath lose to Louth

Gerry BuckleyAn inability to build on a deserved two-point lead at the start of the second half cost Westmeath dearly in Haggardstown last Sunday afternoon, with a Paddy Keenan-inspired Louth winning their opening National Football League Division Two game of 2012 by an unflattering three points.A variety of circumstances (the only positive one being Garrycastle's Leinster club championship win) contributed to Westmeath fielding an under strength team at Páirc Seamus Mhic hEochaidh on the outskirts of Dundalk last Sunday. Over the 70 minutes plus, there was no doubting the wholehearted effort of the visiting team, but a 33-minute spell without a score in the second half was always going to prove fatal for the experimental side and it will take a serious increase in firepower up front (Des Dolan et al won't be back until, at the earliest, the third round) to garner the necessary points to avoid an instant return to Division Three in 2013. However, it is too early to be writing off our chances and the spirit in the squad, who have committed themselves to Pat Flanagan for the campaign, is not in question.More in this week's paper.