Westmeath on target for promotion after deserved win against Antrim

Westmeath maintained their 100 per cent record in Division 3 of the National Football League with a hard-earned win against a wasteful Antrim side in cold but pleasant conditions at Corrigan Park last Sunday afternoon.

Backed again by an admirably large band of supporters who made the long journey to Belfast, Dessie Dolan’s men – who had ten different scorers on the day – always looked marginally the better team. However, yet again they rode their luck somewhat, especially close to the hour mark when Dominic McEnhill spurned a glorious goal opportunity which could have led to a very nervy finish for the men in maroon and white had his ‘unmissable’ shot not thundered off the crossbar.

The net result of this deserved win is that the Lake County are within touching distance of promotion to Division 2, with the result of a mouth-watering clash in TEG Cusack Park on our national feast day against Down likely to decide at least one certain third tier finalist. Dolan will be sweating on the fitness of up to half a dozen players ahead of that encounter, and he took the time afterwards to outline his disappointment at the pressures imposed on amateur players in what is a condensed league format.

Senan Baker, who was largely anonymous thereafter, got in a good defensive tackle in the opening minute. Some four minutes later, full back Eunan Walsh opened up the visiting rearguard, but he was superbly denied a goal by Jason Daly at the expense of an unconverted ‘45’. Similarly, Jonathan Lynam was foiled in the seventh minute at the other end by Michael Byrne.

Ronan Boyle soon nudged Andy McEntee’s men in front but a brace of Baker frees, either side of a neat score from David Lynch, had Westmeath 0-3 to 0-1 ahead by the quarter-hour mark. Two points in quick succession from McEnhill – the first from a free after a turnover – levelled the contest.

Marc Jordan was denied by a combination of Daly and Daniel Scahill when a goal looked likely in the 22nd minute. Lynam was again thwarted by Byrne, with the ensuing ‘45’ by Sam McCartan superbly fielded by Byrne. Kavan Keenan (a wonderful score) and Lynam (a fisted point when teed up by the industrious Ronan Wallace) then traded points. Conor Dillon kicked the winners’ only wide of the first moiety, but Danny McCartan nudged his side in front with the best score of the half in the 35th minute. Westmeath led by 0-5 to 0-4 at the interval.

Westmeath totally dominated the possession stakes in the opening five minutes of the second moiety and were rewarded with a point apiece from Dillon (who had a fine second half) and Ronan O’Toole (again the subject of close scrutiny throughout). Goalkeeper Byrne’s great free from the ground was soon cancelled out by a left-footed point under pressure by Wallace.

Dermot McAleese kicked a terrific point for the saffron and white-clad outfit before the introduction of Kieran Martin generated the usual approving roar from the travelling fans. It got even better for them when the McCartan brothers (Danny from a free, and Sam from open play) both pointed to give Westmeath a four-point cushion at the end of the third quarter.

Conor Hand produced a great block on O’Toole in a dangerous area before McEnhill’s horror miss led to loud groans from the home fans, but a routine free conversion by the latter player and a great point by Declan Lynch halved the deficit (0-10 to 0-8) with seven minutes of normal time remaining.

However, Westmeath finished the game the stronger and they outscored their hosts in the closing stages by three points (Andy McCormack, sub Martin, and Lynam – again with his fist) to one (Hand, from a routine free) to seal a fine win. Connellan twice did very well in the dying moments as Antrim unsuccessfully tried to manufacture a goal from a ‘45’.

Scorers –Westmeath: J Lynam, D McCartan (1f), S Baker (2f) 0-2 each, K Martin, R Wallace, A McCormack, D Lynch, R O’Toole, S McCartan, C Dillon 0-1 each.

Antrim: D McEnhill 0-3 (2f), M Byrne (f), D Lynch, D McAleese, C Hand (f), R Boyle 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Jason Daly; Kevin Maguire, Charlie Drumm, Daniel Scahill; Conor Dillon, Ronan Wallace, Nigel Harte; Ray Connellan, Andy McCormack; David Lynch, Ronan O’Toole, Sam McCartan; Jonathan Lynam, Senan Baker, Danny McCartan. Subs used: Kieran Martin for Baker (49), Matthew Whittaker for Wallace (inj., 55), James Dolan for Harte (55), Eoin Mulvihill for Drumm (inj., 59), Stephen Smith for D McCartan (68).

Antrim: Michael Byrne; John Morgan, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan; Declan Lynch, Joseph Finnegan, Dermot McAleese; Colm McLarnon, Conor Hand; Ronan Boyle, Patrick McBride, Ruairí McCann; Marc Jordan, Pat Shivers, Dominic McEnhill. Subs used: Niall Burns for Shivers (53), Liam McLarnon for McEnhill (70).

Ref: Fintan Pierce (Offaly).