Westmeath power on to Tailteann Cup quarter-final

Westmeath 3-26, Laois 1-15

Westmeath will face Kildare, Fermanagh or Wicklow in the quarter-final of the Tailteann Cup, following their impressive 17-point victory over a poor Laois team at TEG Cusack Park today.

Westmeath imposed their style on the game from an early stage and led at half-time by 2-12 to 0-7, a superbly crafted goal that was finished off by Ronan Wallace in the closing stages among the highlights. Laois never threatened a revival and Westmeath’s third goal from the lively Matthew Whittaker put a gloss on a comprehensive victory.

Manager Dermot McCabe said he was delighted for the players who have given wonderful commitment all year and were keen to respond after last week’s defeat by Limerick. His side racked up what is one of the county's highest ever scores in championship football with an excellent display - Sam McCartan, Ronan Wallace, Shane Allen and Matthew Whittaker among those to shine.

“I'm delghted for the players. We really were disappointed with last week's performance. We weren't sort of on it and we had two very good training sessions this weekend. It doesn't always translate, but we felt the boys were up for it today,” he remarked after the final whistle.

“There's no easy games at this stage; nothing easy at all. I suppose that's the difficulty of not topping your group - it means you have the extra week, so we have a lot of recovery to get in, a lot of tight legs in there. Laois were coming off a big win last week and we needed to be on it, and we were today.”

Westmeath’s loss against Limerick means they must now face an away quarter-final tie and it’s on the road to Enniskillen, Newbridge or Aughrim next weekend.

Westmeath: Conor McCormack; Jack Geoghegan, Sam Smyth, Jamie Gonoud; Joe Moran (0-1), Ronan Wallace (1-5; 1 2pt), Sam McCartan (0-8; 2 2pt); Brian Guerin, Shane Allen (0-1); Matthew Whittaker (1-1), Kevin O’Sullivan (0-2), Nigel Harte (0-1); Luke Loughlin (1-2; 1-0 pen, 2ptf), Stephen Smith (0-2; 0-1f), Robbie Forde (0-2; 0-01f).

Subs: Danny Scahill for Gonoud (44), Tadhg Baker for Guerin (46), Danny McCartan (0-1) for Smith (46), Eoghan McCabe for Whittaker (53), Shane Ormsby for Wallace (60).