Westmeath minors out of contention for second tier title
All-Ireland MFC Tier 2 preliminary Q-F: Monaghan 2-12, Westmeath 0-17
By Colm Shalvey
Westmeath exited the All-Ireland Tier 2 MFC when they were pipped by Monaghan at Gaelic Park in Corduff on Saturday last.
A topsy-turvy first half saw Monaghan wipe out a six-point deficit to lead by two, courtesy of goals by Cillian McKenna and Caoilte Kelly. Mick Dillon’s side kept going right to the end and they had chances to turn it around during the final quarter, but they couldn’t quite find the goal they were searching for.
Westmeath got off to a flying start with the breeze at their backs, racing into a six-point lead after 13 minutes. Harry Hughes fired over from the right wing for what proved to be the only two-pointer for either side, while he then won a pinpoint kickout from Tom McCaul to set up Louie Dillon to add a point.
Further scores from Mark Monaghan (at the end of a strong run) and Zak Bates stretched Westmeath’s lead, while a one-two with Shandonagh's Josh Scahill released Hughes to continue his impressive start.
Phelim Brady had sent a goal chance wide for Monaghan, who eventually got off the mark in the 15th minute when a ‘three-up’ breach by Westmeath gifted Alex McGinnity a 20-metre free.
A stylish outside-of-the-boot effort by Aaron Connaire restored the six-point gap, but Westmeath missed an opportunity to extend that to nine when a raking shot from Hughes dropped into the square and fell for Josh Murtagh, who fired wide.
A nice score by McGinnity gave Monaghan their first from play and they got right back into it in the 20th minute with a clinically-taken goal by Cillian McKenna.
McGinnity added two points (one from a free) to bring Monaghan level, but Scahill replied with a brace of scores. Conor McCluskey got one back for Monaghan, before turning provider for Caoilte Kelly to drill a low shot to the net and edge them ahead for the first time.
A lovely dummy solo bought McKenna space to add a point and although Bates doubled his tally on the half-hour mark, Westmeath trailed by two at the break: 2-6 to 0-10.
Westmeath dominated the early stages of the second half, with substitute Billy Stenson (Moate All Whites) making an impact and helping his side to win the first four kickouts. Points from Stenson and Alex Mullen-Adamson (free) tied it up, but Monaghan responded through McCluskey and one of their own subs, Aidan McFarland.
McGinnity had a goalbound shot cleared off the line by Rhys Brady, starting a Westmeath counter-attack that finished with a point from Hughes. Luke Kelly and Adam Borsje put Monaghan three points up midway through the half, but Westmeath stayed in touch via Eoghan Daly.
McKenna and Borsje split the uprights to move Monaghan closer to victory, but there was still plenty of action at either end, with both teams spurning goal chances. Mark Monaghan was unlucky to rattle the crossbar with a rasper, while he later dragged another effort wide and Dillon blazed a goal-attempt over.
A couple of overhit passes to the back post saw Monaghan end up empty handed from promising attacks, but despite not scoring in the last eight minutes, they held on.
Mullen-Adamson tapped over two frees in the closing stages to bring Westmeath back within one, but although they regained possession from the next kick-out, a timely interception by Darragh Feeney proved crucial in seeing Monaghan through to a Paul McGirr Cup quarter-final meeting with Offaly.
Scorers – Monaghan: C McKenna 1-2; A McGinnity 0-4 (2f); C Kelly 1-0; C McCluskey and A Borsje 0-2 each; L Kelly and A McFarland 0-1 each. Westmeath: H Hughes 0-4 (1tp); A Mullen-Adamson 0-3 (3f); J Scahill, L Dillon and Z Bates 0-2 each; E Daly, M Monaghan, A Connaire and B Stenson 0-1 each.
Monaghan - Shane Moloney; Cormac Mac Cionnaith, Niall Fanthorpe, Ciarán Farrelly; Darragh Feeney, Cormac Kelly, Phelim Brady; Aodhán Lawless, Peter Gilmartin; Seán Mac Cinna, Cillian McKenna, Conor McCluskey; Alex McGinnity, Caoilte Kelly, Luke Kelly. Subs used: Adam Borsje, Aidan McFarland, Paddy McDonald.
Westmeath - Tom McCaul; Tom Weir, Tomás Brennan, Rhys Brady; Eoghan Daly, Josh Scahill, Daragh Murray; Dean Kelly, Zak Bates; Mark Monaghan, Harry Hughes, Louie Dillon; Josh Murtagh, Aaron Connaire, Darragh Deegan. Subs used: Billy Stenson, Alex Mullen-Adamson; Cian McKeogh, Colm Clinton; Tristan Boyce-Jordan.
Referee - Neil McGeown (Armagh).