Tierney points the way for Laois as Westmeath fall into relegation fight

Replace Steven McDonnell with Michael John Tierney. Replace 1-9 with 0-13. Replace Crossmaglen with Cusack Park. Replace Armagh with Laois. Replace February 13th with March 14th. Yet again, a rampant forward almost single-handedly destroyed a porous Westmeath defence last Sunday, pushing Brendan Hackett's charges perilously close to the relegation trap door with only three games remaining to avoid the Division Three hangman's noose.Just over 1,100 spectators turned up at Westmeath GAA headquarters on Sunday, the majority hoping that Westmeath's promise just over a week earlier in Páirc Tailteann would at last be translated into league points.Alas, it wasn't to be and the home side, despite chalking up a healthy 3-8, can have no complaints about the O'Moore County'sseven-point winning margin, on a day when their full forward division (including former Milltown National School student, Donie Kingston) was in tremendous form, scoring 0-20 between them, 0-14 from play. On the quarter-hour mark, Paul Greville volleyed home a goal to keep his side in touch but, with Brendan Quigley dominating the midfield area, Laois always looked the more likely to add to their total and Westmeath were fortunate to be just two points in arrears at the break (0-10 to 1-5).The winners stretched their advantage on the change of ends before Westmeath pounced for their second goal in the 42nd minute, returning veteran Martin Flanagan rifling the ball to the net from close range. By the 48th minute, the Lake County had drawn level (0-13 to 2-7), but a lively Laois attack added six points without reply. Paul Bannon gave Westmeath hope with a great low shot past Marty Dowling from a 62nd-minute penalty kick.However, the visitors pulled away in the closing stages to greatly ease their own relegation worries, while Westmeath now look firm favourites to drop a division for the second year running.After a minute's silence was observed in memory of deceased former GAA President, Pat Fanning, wind-assisted Westmeath, not the first time, started the game promisingly with an early brace of points from Paul Bannon (a free) and Michael Ennis (a typically good score from play).However, the blue and whites responded in style and whipped over five unanswered points between the seventh and 13th minutes.Michael John Tierney kicked no less than four of these, seemingly at ease off either foot, with two beautifully-struck frees from the ground and two great scores from play. The second of the five came from fellow corner forward, Niall Donoher, with a delightful shot off the outside of his boot. In the 15th minute, Westmeath equalised against the run of play, the hard-working Tommy Warburton and the overlapping John Gaffey combining for Paul Greville to find the net with an improvised volley from close range.However, the winners again rattled off five points without reply - Kevin Meaney, Done Kingston (with two fine efforts) and two more from that man Tierney (the first from a routine free). Indeed, vigilant goalkeeping from Gary Connaughton was needed to stop Laois from getting in for a goal during this latest period of blue and white dominance.Tommy Warburton got the point his hard graft merited in the 25th minute after doing well initially to hold the ball under pressure. Gavin Hoey, John Gaffey and substitute John Smyth all wasted decent possession before Westmeath were almost gifted an own goal when Paul Bannon's innocuous delivery was deflected just past the post by Mark Timmons, but Gary Flanagan was unable to convert the ensuing '45'. In the last minute of normal time, Paul Greville did very well to catch Damien Healy's pass and the Killucan man duly kicked a terrific point.Martin Flanagan had by now been introduced and when the Tyrrellspass maestro was fouled, Paul Bannon rounded off first-half scoring from a 35-metre free.Both sides missed a chance each before the half-time whistle, at which stage the scoreboard read: Laois 0-10 Westmeath 1-5.Shortly after the resumption, Paul Greville's shot was easily held by Marty Dowling, while at the other end recent O'Byrne andSigerson Cup winner, Kieran Gavin did very well to thwart a well-positioned Peter O'Leary.Michael John Tierney then resumed his scoring exploits with a lovely free from the ground from 40 metres and Niall Donoher tapped over another minor in the sixth minute.However, when Martin Flanagan is on the scene a goal is always a distinct possibility and the veteran forward pounced a minute later from close range after Michael Ennis' effort wasn't cleared. The former's ambitious free from his hands then tailed off wide, but a foul on Michael Ennis gave Paul Bannon the chance to increase his tally from a routine free to tie up the scores.Michael John Tierney's rare underhit free still turned into a point when Niall Donoher added to it in midair, but Gary Flanagan again levelled the contest with a well-taken point after a patient move.Laois then upped it a gear and totally dominated the next 12 minutes with six unanswered points. A needlessly-conceded free gifted Michael John Tierney another point from a placed ball. When Tommy Warburton was dispossessed, a Laois counterattack enable wing back Colm Begley to get on the scoresheet.Further points ensued from Peter O'Leary (who clearly had a goal on his mind), Done Kingston (a great score under pressure),Tierney (one of the best of his 13 on the day) and substitute Craig Rogers (with a tidy finish).However, the home side got another unexpected lifeline in the 27th minute of the half when, shortly after his introduction, Aidan Finnan picked out Martin Flanagan and a foul by Darren Strong (for which he received a second yellow card) resulted in a Westmeath penalty. As he had done eight days earlier in Navan, Paul Bannon dispatched his low spot-kick with aplomb to the back of the net.However, yet again the winners almost effortlessly rattled off points when required.A class point from a class player started the latest Laois scoring spree, Michael John Tierney dissecting the posts to reach personal double figures. Donie Kingston, also a top quality forward, then kicked his fourth of the afternoon and three more from Tierney, the first two from play, remarkably having time and space almost to decide with which foot to shoot. Tierney's third from a free, in the third minute of injury-time, was preceded by a tap-over free from Paul Bannon, after John Smyth was fouled. Indeed, five minutes before the final whistle, John Gaffey added to Westmeath's woes when he was dismissed for a second yellow card offence.Brendan Hackett's ambition to rebuild a senior team in Westmeath is a noble one and patience will certainly be required from County Board officials and fans alike.However, there would appear to be a number of new players getting regular games under the new regime who are not up to inter-county standard.A weeding out process, with the addition of some more of his very promising under-21s, seems necessary if early Leinster Championship and Qualifier exits are to be avoided. It also remains extremely frustrating for maroon and white-clad fans to see Westmeath line out without marquee forwards, Des Dolan and Denis Glennon, irrespective of their perceived gripes. A potentially even more horribilis annus than 2009 has surely now to be nipped in the bud, even if drastic on and off-field action is required.Laois: Marty Dowling; John Scully, Denis Booth, Padraig McMahon; Darren Strong, Mark Timmons, Colm Begley (0-1); Brendan Quigley, Cathal Óg Greene; Billy Sheehan, Peter O'Leary (0-1), Kevin Meaney (0-1); Michael John Tierney (0-13, 0-6 from frees), Donie Kingston (0-4), Niall Donoher (0-3). Subs: Darren Rooney (for Greene, 55 mins), Craig Rogers (0-1) (for O'Leary, 56 mins), Paul Lalor (for Kingston, 70 + 1mins).Westmeath: Gary Connaughton; Francis Boyle, Kieran Gavin, John Gaffey; Doran Harte, Donal O'Donoghue, Damien Healy; Gary Flanagan (0-1), Stephen Bracken; Ronan Doolin, Michael Ennis (0-1), Paul Bannon (1-3, 1-0 from a pen, 0-3 from frees); Tommy Warburton (0-1), Paul Greville (1-2, 0-1 from a free), Gavin Hoey. Subs: John Smyth (for Doolin, 24 mins), Martin Flanagan (1-0) (for Hoey, 30 mins), Mark Dalton (for Bracken, half-time), Aidan Finnan (for Warburton, 60 mins), Willie Coyne (for Healy, 65 mins).Referee: Vincent Neary (Mayo).