By Damien Maher
Westmeath’s under 20 footballers put in a brave display at sun-kissed TEG Cusack Park last Thursday evening, but ultimately lacked the quality to stop Offaly advancing to their second successive Leinster final at this grade.
With 11 of last year’s team, Offaly came in with serious potential and it was easy to appreciate that, as the game unfolded, but their profligacy in front of goal almost cost them dearly.
In that context, Westmeath will be kicking themselves that they failed to take advantage, but they lost nothing in defeat here and manager Damien Gavin certainly succeeded in getting his troops to go the well. The problem was that they had to do so too often in a hectic contest.