Jackson’s late heroics spare Westmeath blushes

Westmeath 1-20, Derry 3-13

By Paul Hughes

Westmeath had top scorer David Williams and goalkeeper Seán Jackson to thank for surviving a late Derry surge that might have killed their Allianz NHL Division 2 campaign stone dead at TEG Cusack Park last Sunday afternoon.

A late goal from Williams and a point-blank save from Jackson in the dying embers of Sunday’s clash were crucial to ensuring the Lake County, who looked to be heading out of sight at half time, held on for a one-point victory.

Kevin O’Brien’s charges led 0-15 to 0-6 after an uninspiring first half dominated by freetakers and while the Maroons were fancied to push on after the restart, they were rocked by a 46th-minute dismissal of Rory Keyes for a second booking.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Westmeath looked home and hosed with 69 minutes gone but in a frenetic six-minute spell that followed, the visitors found the net three times. Mercifully, skipper David Williams also netted in stoppage time to ensure Westmeath claimed the two points.

The win leaves the Lake County’s promotion hopes intact and while they are expected to beat Mayo in their final game, they will have to hope Meath upset the odds and come up trumps against Kerry to seal a path to Division 1B.

After a slow start, the Maroons took a two-point lead thanks to a long-range free from David Williams and an excellent score by Eamonn Cunneen from far out on the left flank. However, Derry showed their mettle and Fintan Bradley was well positioned for a goal but had his shot deflected out for a ‘65’.

Top scorer Cormac O’Doherty pucked this with ease and after some good stickwork on the left, Conor Coyle fired the equaliser for Derry after nine minutes.

Despite this showcase from the visitors, it was pretty much all Westmeath for the next 20 minutes, with Derry’s discipline found wanting as they struggled to function in attack. That said, the fare was generally poor and much of what Westmeath generated was from dead balls.

David Williams restored their advantage with a free and moments later, Darragh McCormack connected with a long ball from Jack Kearney, drawing a save out of Derry netminder Seán Kelly. The resulting ‘65’ was routine for Williams, as was another minutes later, the result of some sloppy Derry defending.

Westmeath led 0-8 to 0-2 after 20 minutes, with Jack Kearney pointing in space down the right flank before Dean Ennis had his effort tapped over the bar by Kelly, and Williams followed with another free.

O’Doherty tacked on another placed ball for the Oak Leafers before the hosts added another three on the trot. Two more frees from Williams were followed by a second point from play by Ennis, who latched onto a cross-field ball from Peter Clarke.

As the half-hour expired, Derry showed that they could still threaten. Deaghlan Foley found his range from an almost impossible angle in the right corner – arguably the score of the game – before Eamon Conway charged down the middle and shot over from distance.

However, Westmeath, playing with the breeze, closed out the half on top with three quality scores breathing life into what was an otherwise disappointing first half. Jack Gillen, Eamonn Cunneen (doing well to beat his marker to strike from a tight angle) and Peter Clarke did the honours, answered only by a free from Derry’s Cormac O’Doherty.

On the restart, Rory Keyes and Jack Kearney picked up yellow cards as the hosts emerged in combative fashion, and after six minutes of play they led 0-17 to 0-7, with Kevin Regan and Shane Williams responding to a free from O’Doherty. Williams, looking underused at corner back in the first half, began to push forward to great effect.

On 42 minutes, Darragh McCormack had a glorious chance to wrap up the win for Westmeath after being teed up by David Williams, but after hesitating the first time, the sliotar came back to him moments later and he fizzed a low shot wide of the post.

O’Doherty reduced the arrears to nine with another free and Westmeath’s inability to decisively kill off the game became of more concern on 46 minutes, when Rory Keyes was sent off after picking up a second yellow for a foul on Derry’s Joseph Mulholland. With Jack Kearney also on a yellow, Kevin O’Brien wisely subbed him moments later but Turin star Darragh Smith filled the gap admirably.

From there, Derry began to click and O’Doherty divided the posts with a superb point from play on 48 minutes. At the other end, Westmeath still needed that crucial goal to end the contest and an unmarked Dean Ennis had another gilt-edged chance on 51 minutes, but drove his shot straight at the ‘keeper.

Derry took advantage and continued to chip away, reducing the arrears to five (0-17 to 0-12) by the 59th minute thanks to further scores from O’Doherty (0-2, one from play) and Deaghlan Foley (a superb score over the shoulder from out left).

Scores from David (a free) and Shane Williams (after a lung-bursting run) settled Westmeath’s nerves and on 61 minutes, Conor Shaw intervened to block a goalbound shot from Derry’s Cormac O’Doherty, who converted the resulting ‘65’.

By the time Williams had tacked on yet another free, Westmeath led comfortably by seven points (0-20 to 0-13) but with a minute to go, things started to happen for Derry, with no shortage of entertainment for the neutrals in the crowd.Eamon Conway had a shot saved by Westmeath custodian Seán Jackson after being teed up by Darragh McGilligan, and in the ensuing scramble, Meehaul McGrath managed to force the sliotar over the line. Derry now trailed by four.

Their joy was short-lived, however, because at the other end, Andrew Shaw did well to win a poor Derry clearance before setting David Williams through on goal. Unmarked, the Lough Lene Gaels forward drove a powerful shot past Seán Kelly.

Back came Derry again though, and, two minutes into stoppage time, McGilligan won a breaking ball in the right corner before turning Jack Gillen and driving a low shot to the Westmeath net.

The Foylesiders, sensing Westmeath’s vulnerability, kept pouring forward and Seán Jackson followed up one timely intervention with a superb 73rd-minute save from Meehaul McGrath, who found himself galloping clear of the Lake County rearguard after a ball from McGilligan.

There was more drama in the fifth minute of time added on when McGilligan collected a last-ditch free, controlled the sliotar well and netted after driving a spectacular shot through a forest of players.

Now only a point ahead, Westmeath had real cause to panic – but they were saved by the final whistle.

Scorers - Westmeath: D Williams 1-10 (0-8f, 0-2 ‘65s’), E Cunneen, D Ennis and S Williams 0-2 each, J Kearney, P Clarke, K Regan and J Gillen 0-1 each. Derry: C O’Doherty 0-9 (4f, 2 ‘65s’), D McGilligan 2-0, M McGrath 1-0, D Foley 0-2, C Coyle and E Conway 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Seán Jackson; Shane Williams, Conor Shaw, Naoise McKenna; Jack Gillen, Rory Keyes, Adam Bate; Andrew Shaw, Jack Kearney; Eamonn Cunneen, David Williams, Kevin Regan; Peter Clarke, Darragh McCormack, Dean Ennis. Subs used: Darragh Smith for Kearney (50), Matthew Cunningham for Ennis (53), John Fry for Bate (63).

Derry: Seán Kelly; Patrick Turner, Joseph Mulholland, Cathair McGilligan; Conor Coyle, Meehaul McGrath, Eamon Cassidy; Thomas Brady, Fintan Bradley; Eamon Conway, Deaghlan Foley, Darragh McGilligan; Cormac O’Doherty, Jamie Lee McGlade, Tiernan Melaugh. Subs: Christy McNaughton for Melaugh (h-t), Eunan Boylan for Brady (55), Ryan McGarvey for Mulholland (64), Seán Quinn for Conway (69), Aimon Duffin for Cassidy (60+5).

Referee: Matthew Farrell (Roscommon).