Laois defeat a big blow for Westmeath’s promotion hopes

Laois 3-16, Westmeath 1-13

At first glance, this might appear a shock result and the margin of Westmeath's defeat certainly raised eyebrows in Portlaoise last Saturday night.

Westmeath went into this Division 3 game in second place and were fancied for promotion, with their only defeat coming against table toppers Down. In contrast, Laois were second from bottom with only three points on the board and were perceived as being in relegation danger.

Yet there were warning signs that Westmeath could be vulnerable to an ambush from Laois on their home turf. After all, Laois had defeated a Sligo side that was very unlucky to lose by the minimum margin to Westmeath in the opening round. In addition, there were concerning aspects to Westmeath’s performances against Fermanagh (despite a comfortable win in the end) and Down.

Whatever about losing, it was the alarming manner of the defeat that will concern Mark McHugh and his management team as Laois surged to an emphatic 3-16 to 1-13 victory. Westmeath’s goal was a mere consolation from a 67th-minute penalty by Luke Loughlin at a stage when the O’Moore County men led by 11 points.

A miserable night for Westmeath was compounded near the end when midfielder Ray Connellan was sent off on a straight red card. He is therefore set to miss the next game against Limerick on Sunday week (March 15) through suspension.

Westmeath actually performed reasonably well in the first half and only trailed by three points (1-9 to 0-9) at half-time, despite having played against the strong breeze. But Westmeath really struggled to match the intensity of a fired-up Laois outfit in the second half.

There were mitigating factors for this humbling defeat. Westmeath went into the game without Jonathan Lynam and both of the Baker brothers (Senan and Tadhg) due to injury. On a night when virtually everything went wrong for Westmeath, team captain Ronan Wallace was forced off with an injury during the second half, and Matthew Whittaker also looked hampered before being withdrawn.

Though Luke Loughlin ended up with a tally of 1-6, he also missed two seemingly routine frees, hinting that it just wasn’t going to be Westmeath’s night. It was a performance that showed how dependent Westmeath are on a few key players and if they are not firing on all cylinders, this team could be vulnerable against any opponents.

Westmeath’s Division 3 fate is effectively still in their own hands and wins in the remaining two games (at home to Limerick and away to Wexford) will secure promotion, barring some improbable results elsewhere. But there is no more margin for error and the insipid second-half performance against Laois raises serious questions about Westmeath’s ability to claim the results they need. However, it’s up to Mark McHugh’s charges to show that this was an aberration and if they can prove their true worth in the next two games, promotion can still be secured.

There were encouraging aspects to Westmeath first-half display. Kevin O’Sullivan was impressive in that opening half, during which he scored three points from play. Shane Allen was joining the attack to good effect and Matthew Whittaker was opening up gaps in the Laois defence with some incisive runs. At the other end, though, Westmeath looked shaky against a lively Laois forward line.

On a chilly and breezy night, Sam McCartan opened the scoring after good work from Shane Allen, with Evan O’Carroll quickly replying with an exquisite point. Luke Loughlin put Westmeath back in front after Laois were pinged for a ‘three up’ breach and Kevin O’Sullivan then added to Westmeath’s lead (seventh minute).

Justin McNulty's charges hit back with a 1-3 salvo. After Daragh Galvin’s neat point, Laois created a goal chance but O’Carroll’s effort was superbly saved by Westmeath keeper Jack Connaughton and Galvin’s follow-up effort was also blocked. Referee Chris Maguire brought back play for a free-in which O’Carroll pointed.

Ronan Coffey soon put Laois in front for the first time and, moments later, the same player found the Westmeath net (12th minute). The prominent Patrick O’Sullivan won a Westmeath kickout and played a long ball into Coffey, who did the rest in composed fashion. The goal gave Laois a sense of belief but it came all too easily from Westmeath’s perspective.

As Westmeath responded, Luke Loughlin sent over a brace of points. After Ronan Wallace fired a goal attempt just wide, Loughlin opted to pass a free to his clubmate O’Sullivan, who scored his second point (18th minute). With wind-assisted Laois only ahead by the minimum (1-4 to 0-6), the eventual outcome was difficult to envisage at this stage.

Darren Brennan and Kevin O’Sullivan exchanged points, before McCartan’s perceptive pass gave Loughlin the chance to level matters. Laois needed a lift and they got one when goalkeeper Killian Roche drove over the game’s only two-pointer, a booming effort in open play from about 45 metres. A terrific point by Rioghan Murphy added to the home’s side momentum.

Robbie Forde did well to send over a fisted point from a tricky angle, but a needless Westmeath turnover eventually led to a free-in which O’Carroll converted to put three between them at half-time.

Early in the second half, two Westmeath point attempts dropped short which appeared to drain confidence in the visitors’ ranks, simultaneously offering encouragement to Laois.

Galvin and Loughlin swapped points before Westmeath had a let-off when Patrick O’Sullivan fired a goal chance wide. Westmeath were not putting enough pressure on Laois players in possession and the home side went five up courtesy of substitute Pa Kirwan and the impressive Kevin Swayne. |

Shane Allen came forward to deliver a needed riposte but it was one of only two white flags raised by Westmeath when backed by the wind, albeit the breeze seemed to slacken in the second period.

A crucial moment arrived when Laois were awarded a penalty after Westmeath defender Danny Scahill instinctively handled the ball on the ground inside the small square after Brennan had threatened a goal. Sub Paul Kingston, not long on the pitch, made no mistake from the penalty.

Buoyed by that second goal, Laois added to their lead with points from Galvin (set up by O’Carroll’s lineball) and Kingston. In an effort to get back into the game, Westmeath forced things at times with a couple of two-pointer attempts from Loughlin (often a fruitful source of scores) not working on this occasion.

The only additions to Westmeath’s tally in the time remaining came from frees by Sam McCartan and Loughlin, and the latter’s late penalty. But Loughlin’s penalty goal was of consolation value only as it came after O’Carroll raised his side’s third green flag with a splendid left-foot finish (65th minute).

With Laois realising that Westmeath needed goals, the men in blue committed some cynical fouls in the closing stages, with one of them leading to black card for Jack Lacey and the penalty which Loughlin converted.

Both sides finished the contest with 14 men as Ray Connellan received a red card for what appeared to be an incident after Laois were awarded a free. In any case, Roche swept over the free from an acute angle on the right to cap off a memorable night for Laois and one that Westmeath fans will want to quickly erase from their memory banks.

Scorers – Laois: E O’Carroll 1-3 (0-2f); P Kingston 1-2 (1-0pen, 0-1f); R Coffey 1-1; D Galvin and K Roche (1tp, 1f) 0-3 each; K Swayne, R Murphy, D Brennan and P Kirwan 0-1 each. Westmeath: L Loughlin 1-6 (1-0pen, 0-2f); K O’Sullivan 0-3; S McCartan 0-2 (1f); R Forde and S Allen 0-1 each.

Laois - Killian Roche; Jack Lacey, Trevor Collins, Jake Darcy; Paddy O’Sullivan, Simon Fingleton, Aaron McEvoy; Robert Tyrell, Conor Heffernan; Kevin Swayne, Ronan Coffey, Darren Brennan; Rioghan Murphy, Daragh Galvin, Evan O’Carroll. Subs: Pa Kirwan for McEvoy (45 mins), Paul Kingston for Coffey (48), Ciaran Burke for Tyrrell (58), Niall Corbet for Brennan (64), Mikie Dempsey for Murphy (68).

Westmeath - Jack Connaughton; Danny Scahill, Charlie Drumm, Sam Smyth; Ronan Wallace, Shane Allen, Matthew Whittaker; Ray Connellan, Harry Niall; Kevin O’Sullivan, Sam McCartan, Brían Cooney; Shane Corcoran, Luke Loughlin, Robbie Forde. Subs: Danny McCartan for Corcoran (h-t), Brian Guerin for Niall (48 mins), Tom Molloy for Forde (49), Brandon Kelly for Wallace (inj., 55), Jack Duncan for Whittaker (57).

Referee - Chris Maguire (Clare).