Westmeath: 1-11
Louth: 2-5
In what was a mixed performance, Westmeath recorded a three-point win over Louth in the Leinster Minor Football Leag-ue at TEG Cusack Park last Saturday.
Coming one week after their defeat by Meath in the same competition, it was a welcome victory for a side that worked hard throughout and created plenty of chances. With a more ruthless streak in front of goal, they could have won more handsomely.
Westmeath were like the curate’s egg, good in spots. They started well, but finished the first half in tentative fashion; the opening stages of the second half were hugely positive but again they faded and it took a strong final quarter to deny a determined Louth side.
There was plenty for Westmeath manager, Ian Bradley to ponder and he will be aiming for another positive performance when his side take on Kildare next Saturday. The loss of James Maxwell with a shoulder injury was a clear blow and Westmeath will be anxiously awaiting news on the severity of the injury as the wing back is a key man going forward.
STARTED BRIGHTLY
Louth had the advantage of a useful breeze in the first half and the Wee County led by a point (1-6 to 0-5) at the break. The goal came after 16 minutes when Louth worked the ball forward in slick fashion and Conor Nicholson set up the impressive John Gallagher, who blasted home. Moments earlier Westmeath wasted a good goal chance when Eoghan Bracken blazed wide from close range.
The goal was an obvious setback for a Westmeath side that started brightly with points from Dan Heavin (free), Mattie Rowden and Kieran McCullough (free) – the latter a lovely strike off the ground. Trevor Martin’s third minute save thwarted Nicholson’s early effort.
When Gallagher scored a fine point after 20 minutes – Nicholson again the provider – it was level; another great Colclough free from 45 metres off the ground restored Westmeath’s lead before Gallagher’s free had it level once more. In added time, Conor Morgan set up midfielder Fergal Malone for the lead point and the visitors were in control at the interval.
NOLAN GOAL
A determined Westmeath side made a storming start to the second half, their midfield dominance giving them the platform. The impressive Ned Cully slotted over a free off the hands to equalise after a minute and the lively Ciaran Kelly fisted a pass to Joe Moran and the centre back opted for a fisted point, a clever decision with the angle rapidly narrowing.
The Louth goalie, Adam Molloy was excellent, but Westmeath were dominating the kick-outs and Ned Cully was prominent; the latter’s pass set up Nolan for a goal in the fifth minute, pushing the Lake County four points clear. It was 1-8 to 1-3 when Colclough converted a free, but Westmeath went a further 17 minutes without a score as Louth found their rhythm.
On 40 minutes Shane Hickey’s delivery found Nicholson (there was an element of fortune in the pass as the centre forward was going for his own score but the ball held up in the breeze) and he took advantage of the generous room afforded to him to drill a low shot past ‘keeper Trevor Martin. When Gallagher clipped over a neat left-footed effort, Louth were just a point adrift (2-4 to 1-8) with 18 minutes to play.
The visitors had all the momentum at this stage, but Westmeath responded and almost pulled a goal back only for Bracken to be denied. Heavin then saw his shot come off the crossbar and the corner forward was denied by another solid save from Molloy in the 46th minute.
A terrific team score came when Luke Price, Enda Cully and Nolan all combined for the latter to kick a fantastic point. And Colclough’s 45-metre free off the turf had the home side three clear by the 54th minute.
Louth substitute Conor Gillespie pulled a point back (free) with five minutes remaining, but Colclough’s 40-metre free ensured the home side of a decent victory. Deserved, too, and while Meath (who comfortably defeated Kildare last Saturday) look likely winners of this group, the Lake County can now build for another very useful game against Kildare next week.
SCORERS – Westmeath: K Colclough 0-5 (5 frees); C Nolan 1-1; J Moran, N Cully (free), E Cully, D Heavin (free) and M Rowden 0-1 each.
Louth: J Gallagher 1-3 (0-1 free); C Nicholson 1-0; F Malone and C Gillespie (free) 0-1 each.
WESTMEATH – Trevor Martin; Conor Gavin, Paul Gorman, Robbie Keegan; James Maxwell, Joe Moran, Padraig Geoghegan; Fola Ayorinde, Ciaran Kelly; Ciarán Nolan, Kieran Colclough, Enda Cully; Daniel Heavin, Ned Cully, Mattie Rowden. Subs used: Eoghan Bracken for James Maxwell (inj., 5 minutes); Shane Boyce for Heavin (45); Luke Price for Kelly (B/Card, 46); Lee Kane for Geoghegan (54); Jamie Stone for E Cully (61).
LOUTH – Adam Molloy; Ben Markey, Phillip Traynor, Dan Corcoran; Leonard Gray, Eoghan Callaghan, James O’Reilly; Ben Mooney, Fergal Malone; Gerry Garland, Shane Hickey, Keelan O’Neill; Conor Morgan, Conor Nicholson, John Gallagher. Subs used: Conor Gillespie for Morgan (40); Jack Murphy for Garland (48); Nicky Browne for Markey (54); Ben McKenna for Hickey (54); Conor Shevlin for Gallagher (56); Sam Kenny for Fergal Malone (B/Card, 56).
REFEREE – Fintan Pierce (Offaly).
