Live coverage: Westmeath v Laois, Allianz NFL Division 2

Join Paul Hughes here for live updates from Westmeath's crucial Allianz National Football League Division 2 midlands derby clash with Laois at Cusack.

Please refresh the page regularly for latest news from today's game.

The game follows the 12.45pm Allianz NHL Division 2A clash between Westmeath and Derry, which Westmeath won 2-13 to 0-9.

 

-- MATCH COVERAGE --

 

70 + 1 min: Damien Dolan (Caulry) makes a late cameo as a Westmeath sub, as referee David Gough calls time on proceedings. Another win for Westmeath, and promotion is now a very real possibility for Pat Flanagan's charges. 

70 min: John Heslin puts Westmeath two clear with another tremendous free, this time from the right hand side. WM 1-10, LS 1-8 

67 min: Darragh Daly (Westmeath) on for David Duffy. 

65 min: Laois's Brendan Quigley sent off for a second booking; almost immediately, Dessie Dolan puts Westmeath in front with his first point of the game. WM 1-9, LS 1-8 

61 min: A free given to Westmeath in the left corner – disputed by Laois – is converted magnificently by John Heslin, from the tightest of angles. WH 1-8, LS 1-8 

57 min: John Heslin with another superb free, taken out of his hands. Westmeath just not cutting it in attack, and continuing to rely on Heslin's long-range accuracy. LS 1-8, WH 1-7

54 min: Dessie Dolan introduced for Westmeath, in place of Ciaran Curley. 

53 min: A fifth free converted by Laois's M J Tierney. Laois nudge ahead by two. LS 1-8, WH 1-6 

51 min: Booking for Laois's Ross Munnelly.

49 min: Heslin converts a monster of a free after a foul on Denis Glennon. The gap is down to a point. WH 1-6, LS 1-7

48 min: John Heslin reduces the arrears with a handy free. WH 1-5, LS 1-7 

46 min: Yellow card for Brendan Quigley (Laois), foul on David Duffy; Westmeath derive nothing out of the resulting free. 

43 min: Yellow card for Mark Timmons (Laois) after a high challenge on Callum McCormack (WH); Westmeath miss the resulting free.

42 min: Yellow card for Mark McCallon (WH), after a foul on Ross Munnelly during a failed Laois attack.

40 min: M J Tierney converts a free for Laois. 1-7 to 1-4

38 min: Excellent point from John Heslin after a solid Westmeath build-up. 1-6 to 1-4 to Laois.

 

SECOND HALF

 

HALF TIME: Westmeath's David Duffy hobbles off the pitch after getting treatment to an injury, as the Lake County trail by a goal at the break. 

32 min: Another placed ball drops short for Westmeath, not helped by the breeze – but a sweeping move involving Micheál Curley and Callum McCormack sees James Dolan notch up a point for the hosts. 1-6 to 1-3 Laois

27 min: Westmeath pull one back with a free from John Heslin, helped by the wind. 1-6 to 1-2

25 min: Westmeath have a chance to respond immediately, but after a good move involving Denis Glennon and Ger Egan, Denis Corroon wallops a shot off the frame of the goal.

24 min: GOAL for Laois – Billy Sheehan puts Gary Walsh clear, and the Ballylinan forward fires a shot past Gary Connaughton. 1-6 to 1-1 Laois. WH's David Duffy booked for a challenge on Sheehan. 

22 min: Laois forward Ross Munnelly kicks a point under pressure to extend the visitors' lead. 0-6 to 1-1 Laois

21 min: A swift Laois counter-attack after some Westmeath pressure results in a point for Laois's Conor Boyle, despite an earlier effort by Westmeath's Kevin Maguire to block down Billy Sheehan's shot at the posts. 0-5 to 1-1 to Laois.

19 min: Yellow card for M J Tierney (LS) after foul on Ger Egan (WH). 

18 min: Yellow card for Kieran Martin (WH), free to Laois, converted off the ground by M J Tierney. The sides are level. 1-1 to 0-4

15 min: Gary Walsh (Laois) booked after a robust challenge on Westmeath's Mark McCallon.

13 min: Another free from M J Tierney puts Laois within a point of their hosts. 1-1 to 0-3 

11 min: Peter O'Leary with a fine point for Laois to make it 1-1 to 0-2, Laois enjoying a decent breeze on their backs. Moments earlier, a well taken free off the ground from Callum McCormack (WH) just dropped short of the target.

4 min: Callum McCormack with a fine point for the hosts. 1-1 to 0-1 WM

2 min: Penalty for Westmeath: John Heslin steps up and converts after being bundled to the ground himself. 1-0 to 0-1 to Westmeath

1 min: Michael John Tierney gets Laois off to a good start with an early free. 0-1 to 0-0 to Laois.

2.30pm: Laois – E Culliton; C Healy, D Booth, P O'Leary; R Kehoe, M Timmons, C Boyle; J O'Loughlin (capt.), B Quigley; R Munnelly, B Sheehan, C Begley; M J Tierney, P Clancy, C Begley.

2.21pm: Westmeath have just taken to the pitch here at Cusack Park. Team is as follows: Connaughton; McCallon, Gavin (capt.), Maguire; M Curley, Gaffey, J Dolan; Duffy, Heslin; Egan, McCormack, Martin; Corroon, C Curley, Denis Glennon.