Corcoran and Duncan show way as Westmeath advance

Westmeath 3-20, Leitrim 0-17

Westmeath are now one win away from securing the All-Ireland U-20 ‘B’ football title after what was an emphatic semi-final victory over Leitrim at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park last Wednesday evening.

Three first-half goals paved the way for Westmeath to overcome their Connacht opponents, thereby securing a place in the All-Ireland U-20 ‘B’ final against Monaghan.

The All-Ireland decider against Monaghan has been confirmed for Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan tonight (Wednesday), May 21, throw-in 7.30pm.

Shane Corcoran scored two of the Westmeath goals, the St Malachy’s player exploiting a poor Leitrim kickout for his first, with Rosemount’s Adam Keane raiding forward from defence to raise the other green flag.

While Corcoran led the way in the scoring stakes with a tally of 2-5, Milltown’s Jack Duncan pulled the strings impressively from centre-forward and contributed six points from play.

Although the scoreline ultimately shows a comprehensive victory for Westmeath by 12 points, it could have been quite a different story had Leitrim taken their goal chances.

Kenny McKinley’s charges led by 3-10 to 0-9 at half-time but within seconds of the restart, lively Leitrim attacker Darren Cox was unlucky to see his shot crash off the Westmeath crossbar. Play quickly moved to the other end of the field and Tubberclair’s Kealan Connell sent over a point. It was the type of ‘Sliding Doors’ moment that Leitrim found themselves on the wrong side of on more than one occasion.

On a lovely evening in Roscommon, a total of ten Westmeath players got on the scoresheet including goalkeeper Luke Nicholson (Athlone) and substitutes Conor Callaghan (Coralstown/Kinnegad) and Tiarnán O’Donovan (Caulry).

Corcoran’s early goal, who showed composure to finish off the chance, set the tone for Westmeath. The same player had already posted the opening point after about 15 seconds.

Adam Keane surged forward in the fifth minute and lobbed the ball over Brian Cull and into the net. With the Leitrim goalie off his line, it looked like the Rosemount man spotted a gap and went for a goal rather than getting lucky with a point attempt.

By the 20th minute, Westmeath led by 2-8 to 0-5, thanks to points from Billy Moffatt, Jack Duncan (three), Corcoran (a two-pointer) and Tadhg Baker. In general, Baker wasn’t as influential as in previous games, with his commitments with the senior perhaps a factor in this regard.

Points from Darren Cox, Jack Kelly, Ben Guckian (including a two-pointer via the crossbar) had kept Leitrim just about in touch. Corcoran struck for his second goal when beating Cull at his near post after an incisive run forward.

Kelly responded to Corcoran’s second green flag with a two-pointer from a free and a single from play. Guckian, just one of the Leitrim forwards to impress, then moved the Connacht side closer.

But points from Conor Callaghan, who once again made an impact off the bench, and Duncan (a fisted point) gave Westmeath a ten-point lead at half-time.

As mentioned previously, Cox hit a shot which had Luke Nicholson beaten shortly after the resumption, but the crossbar came to Westmeath’s rescue. Kealan Connell then pointed at the other end to rub salt into Leitrim’s wounds.

Cox sent over a two-pointer to keep Leitrim interested, but Barry McWeeney’s men needed either a goal or a succession of points to put Westmeath under real pressure.

Instead, Westmeath hit a necklace of three points from Duncan, Callaghan and Ronan Murray (a free) to push their lead out to 12 points (3-14 to 0-11).

The men in green and gold replied by raising another couple of orange flags, Ruairi O’Rourke and Kelly (a free) the scorers, in between a Westmeath point from Murray. Corcoran tried his luck for a goal in a bid to complete a hat-trick but, given the scoreline, he took the wiser option of a point in the next attack.

After Shane Ormsby set up substitute Tiarnán O’Donovan for a fisted point, Leitrim centre-back Eanna McNamara, an influential figure in the second half, registered his side’s last score.

With all doubt now removed about the outcome, the scoring was completed by the always threatening Corcoran (who blasted over), the classy Duncan and Luke Nicholson, the goalkeeper pointing a ‘45’.

Scorers - Westmeath: S Corcoran 2-5 (1 2pt); J Duncan 0-6; A Keane 1-0; C O’Callaghan and R Murray (1f) 0-2 each; K Connell, B Moffatt, T Baker, T O’Donovan and L Nicholson (‘45’) 0-1 each. Leitrim: J Kelly 0-7 (2 2ptf); B Guckian 0-4 (1 pt); D Cox 0-3 (1 2pt); R O’Rourke 0-2 (2pt); E McNamara 0-1.

Westmeath - Luke Nicholson; Sean Dillon, Adam Keane, Seanaí Bracken; Aodhan Curran, Billy Moffatt, Gareth Mullaniff; Shane Ormsby, Tadhg Baker (captain); Peter Murphy, Jack Duncan, Ronan Murray; Shane Corcoran, Kealan Connell, Finn Duffy. Subs used: Conor Callaghan for Duffy (26 mins); Matthew Thornton for Moffatt (42); Ryan Kelly for Connell (48); Tiarnán O’Donovan for Murray (53); Taylor Slevin for Curran (56).

Leitrim - Brian Cull; Oran Foley, Jack Rowley, Oscar Reynolds; Liam Chandler, Eanna McNamara, Bailey McBride; Jack Foley (captain), Colm McLoughlin; Naoise McManus, Jack Kelly, Ruairi O’Rourke; Ben Guckian, Tom Plunkett, Darren Cox. Subs used: Dessie Wisley for O Foley (22 mins); Mattie Murphy for Plunkett (half-time); Dara Greenan for Rowley (inj., 55); Aaron Gardiner for McLoughlin (60); Patrick Gilgunn for Chandler (62).

Referee - Diarmuid Boylan (Monaghan).