The Westmeath U-20 football team after their win in the Philly McGuinness Cup final last month. Photo: Eamonn McMunn.

Westmeath U20s advance to Leinster quarter-finals

EirGrid Leinster U20 football championship: Westmeath 4-12, Wicklow 2-13

Kieran Galvin

Published: Fri 8 Apr 2022, 10:29 AM

Last updated: Fri 8 Apr 2022, 10:45 AM

Westmeath emerged victorious in a thrilling battle with Wicklow in their EirGrid Leinster U20 football championship clash in Baltinglass last night (Thursday).

Sean Leech (Killucan) scored two goals for Westmeath with Caulry's Senan Baker and Tubberclair's Matthew Whittaker netting the others, but the visitors had to work hard for the win.

JP Nolan's goal helped Wicklow into a seven-point lead by the 18th minute, but Baker raised a green flag to get Westmeath right back in contention.

Leech and Whittaker found the net early in the second half as Damien Gavin's charges took command of proceedings.

But the home side was not prepared to bow out without a fight, and it took Leech’s second goal to seal Westmeath's victory late on.

Westmeath will now face Dublin in the Leinster quarter-finals next Thursday evening, April 14, with the Dubs having home advantage.

Elsewhere, defending Leinster and All-Ireland champions Offaly survived a tough test from Louth to progress to a quarter-final meeting with Carlow.

The other quarter-finals are Meath v Longford (who had an emphatic opening-round win over Wexford) and Laois v Kildare.

Westmeath scorers: S Leech 2-3, B McGauran 0-6 (4f, 1m), S Baker 1-2, M Whittaker 1-0, C Daly 0-1.

Westmeath panel v Wicklow: Michael Lynam (St Joseph's), Ronan Hanley (Tang), Sam Smyth (Killucan), Daniel Scahill (Shandonagh), Darragh Seery (Ballinagore, captain), Josh Gahan (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Jack Geoghegan (St Loman's, Mullingar), Sean Claffey (Tubberclair), Ciaran Daly (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Danny McCartan (St Loman's, Mullingar), Senan Baker (Caulry), Sean Leech (Killucan), Devin Hill (Killucan), Ben McGauran (Milltown), Matthew Whittaker (Tubberclair), Sean Martin (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Adam Treanor (Shandonagh), Jack Keenan (Tang), Tom Cloonan (Caulry), Jamie Corcoran Tyrrellspass), Ciaran Clear (Tang), Podge Quinn (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Dylan Murtagh (Milltown), Peter Pierson (Tyrrellspass).