Second half goal blitz gives Lake County victory

A second-half goal blitz propelled Westmeath minor footballers to an emphatic victory over Longford in the opening round of the Leinster Minor Football Championship at Allen Park, Newtownforbes, on Thursday night last.

From the moment Daragh Murray raised the first of the green flags in the 40th minute, when his shot was almost stopped from crossing the line by the Longford ‘keeper, Jack Cassidy, the writing was on the wall as Westmeath asserted their superiority.

Influential substitutes Finn Brennan and Josh Murtagh then broke through to score further goals in quick succession, and the visitors ended up winning by the wide margin of 12 points in a very positive start to their championship campaign.

Westmeath will take on Dublin this evening (Tuesday) in Kinnegad in the second round, in what is sure to be a tougher assignment and a bigger test of their true potential. But the manner of this victory certainly augurs well for the challenge ahead.

Westmeath manager Mick Dillon praised the mentality of the players and the great progress that has been made. “These are exciting times and the players are very keen to make further progress. We have worked hard with them and their response has been excellent. It’s a very positive start for us,” he remarked.

Featuring attackers Conor Cleary and Stephen McWade from the Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar team that won the All-Ireland Schools Senior ‘A’ title (Hogan Cup) on St Patrick’s Day, Westmeath were generally in control from the start of this local derby. The Lake County got some fine scores to drive home that superiority as the second half progressed.

Westmeath led by 0-10 to 0-7 at the break after the home side recovered in gritty fashion late in the first half. After the visitors took an early two-point lead, Longford nudged ahead twice and were leading by 0-4 to 0-3 at the end of the first quarter, but Daragh Murray’s superb point from play brought Westmeath level, and they never looked back once Alex Mullen Adamson put them in front.

Played in difficult, wet conditions at the Newtownforbes venue (home ground of Clonguish GAA), Longford trailed by just a couple of points (0-10 to 0-8) when full-forward Eoin Beattie converted a free with three minutes gone on the changeover. But the home side then faded right out of contention.

The accurate McWade fired over four points (two frees), along with a brace apiece from Alex Mullen Adamson and Daragh Murray, with the latter landing a couple of terrific scores. Also on the mark in the first half were Dean Kelly and Cian McKeogh.

Westmeath led by 0-10 to 0-5 approaching the break, but Longford closed the gap with Troy Tiernan and Daire Toher on target in stoppage time.

Losing wing-back Rian Hogan, who was forced to retire injured in the 20th minute, was a blow for Gary Toher’s side, with their other scores in the first half coming from Eoin Beattie (two, one free), Niall O’Donnell, Oisin McHugh, and Cillian Fagan.

Longford were restricted to five points in the second half after shooting a few wides, and the scores came from Beattie (two frees) and Leon Madden, along with consolation efforts in stoppage time from defenders O’Donnell and Oren McNerney.

Centre-half-back McNerney was Longford’s best player, and his point from a tight angle just before the final whistle was a terrific effort, while substitute Conor Shannon had a goal attempt brilliantly saved by the opposing ‘keeper, Tom McCaul, in the closing stages of the game.

Apart from the killer goals, Westmeath added another five points to their tally through Aaron Connaire (two), Conor Cleary, Josh Murtagh, and another substitute, Harry Hughes, while full-forward Connaire had a goal disallowed for a square ball infringement in the 38th minute.

For their part, Longford will now be under extra pressure to qualify for the knockout stages. There is no margin for error in their next game away to Offaly on Tuesday, April 7, with the remaining fixture in the group at home to Dublin a week later.

Scorers – Westmeath: D Murray 1-2; J Murtagh 1-1; F Brennan 1-0; S McWade 0-4 (2 frees); A Mullen Adamson and A Connaire 0-2 each; C Cleary, D Kelly, Cian McKeogh, and H Hughes 0-1 each.

Longford: E Beattie 0-4 (3 frees); N O’Donnell 0-2; O McNerney, C Fagan, D Toher, T Tiernan (free), O McHugh, and L Madden 0-1 each.

Westmeath - Tom McCaul; Tom Weir, Tomas Brennan, Louie Dillon; Cian McKeogh, Eoghan Daly, Gary Staunton; Dean Kelly, Billy Stenson; Conor Cleary, Daragh Murray, Alex Mullen Adamson; Stephen McWade, Aaron Connaire, Hugo Corroon. Subs: Finn Brennan for McKeogh (half-time); Josh Murtagh for Corroon; Harry Hughes for McWade; Mark Monaghan for Stenson; Darragh Deegan for Mullen Adamson.

Longford - Jack Cassidy; Sean Hagan, Jack O’Farrell, Brayden Francis; Niall O’Donnell, Oren McNerney, Rian Hogan; Cillian Fagan, Robert Rowan; Ruairi Flynn, Senan Buckley, Daire Toher; Troy Tiernan, Eoin Beattie, Oisin McHugh. Subs: Shane Hannify for Hogan (injured), Conor Shannon for Flynn, Leon Madden for Toher, Mark Keegan for Tiernan, Charlie Reilly for McHugh, Sean Finlass.

Referee - Fergal Smyth (Offaly).