Westmeath minor footballers denied by Longford

Longford 1-15

Westmeath 3-7

Westmeath minor footballers were denied a victory over Longford in the Seamus Heaney Cup, at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Wednesday evening.

In the special competition confined to the counties who do not qualify for the Leinster Minor Championship semi-finals, Westmeath failed to convert a penalty in the 18th minute when Daire O’Connor had his shot well saved by the Longford 'keeper Darragh Egan.

The Lake County came agonisingly close to scoring a winning goal following a goalmouth scramble deep in added time, but instead play continued and Longford got the insurance point moments later at the opposite end.

A case of when your look is down from a Westmeath perspective as the season ended with another disappointing defeat.

Two quick-fire Kealan Connell goals in the 24th & 25th minutes put the Lake county back in control of this entertaining match and they were leading by four points (3-4 to 1-6) at the interval. However, it was a resurgent Longford side who produced a fine second half display having conceded three goals in the first half to eventually deny their neighbours.

James Mitchell’s opening goal after eight minutes gave Westmeath a terrific start and they were five points to the good early on, with Longford very much on the back foot.

Extra-time was looming with the sides all square going into stoppage time but Longford took the lead when substitute Cormac Flynn shot over the bar after he was fouled by Westmeath defender Aodhan Curran who was sent-off for the tough tackle.

While the visitors were now down to 13 players after another one of their players was branded with a black card in the 57th minute, it looked like they had snatched a dramatic last gasp winning goal, but the umpires were adamant that the ball had not crossed the line in the sixth minute of additional time.

Westmeath were outraged as the danger was cleared and Longford made absolutely certain of the victory when Cormac Flynn scored a point on the counter attack, as if to rub salt into the visitors' wounds.

It has been another hugely disappointing year at minor level for Westmeath, who suffered defeats by Meath, Louth and Dublin the Leinster championship.

LONGFORD - Darragh Egan; Ryan Keogh, Patrick Clancy, Daniel Lee; Kevin Baskett (0-1), Alex Nugent, Jack Fitzpatrick (0-1); Shane Donohoe, Sean Egan; Jamie Dorr, Davin Donnelly (0-3), Cormac K Flynn (0-1); Patrick Mollahan (0-5, all frees), Luke Donnelly (1-0), James Hagan (0-2, frees). Subs: Tommy Killian for S Donohoe (half-time); Conor Doherty for K Baskett (half-time); Cormac Flynn (0-2, 1 free) for J Dorr (40 mins); Daniel Carey for J Hagan (48 mins); Marc Cooney for J Fitzpatrick (injured, 54 mins).

WESTMEATH - Luke Nicholson; Aidan Maguire, Cian Whitney, Ruairi Doonan; Neale Pierson, Jack Murtagh, Aodhan Curran (0-1); Ryan Kelly (0-1), James Mitchell (1-0); Callum Rigney (0-1), Daire O’Connor (0-1), Cillian Geary; Shane Cully (0-2), Kealan Connell (2-0), Matthew Thornton. Subs: Paul Keegan (0-1) for C Geary (26 mins); Conor Leech for R Doonan (42 mins); Daire O’Brien for C Rigney (60 mins).

Referee: Kieran Olwell (Meath).