Westmeath finish league campaign without a point

Creating what may well be an unwanted record by losing all seven National Football League games after dropping a division, Westmeath's senior footballers lost by six points to a more focused Tipperary side in glorious weather at Semple Stadium on Sunday afternoon last. While the official verdict was that 208 spectators were present (reminding those of us of a certain vintage of Radio Luxembourg days), it appeared to many observers that only half that number attended, despite the idyllic conditions. Indeed, it is hard to imagine a smaller crowd ever going through the turnstiles in the 'home of hurling' for a competitive senior inter-county match in either code, irrespective of whether the game was played in hail, rain or snow. The splendid arena was virtually deserted and players' calls were clearly audible, even from the lofty perch of the press box. However, supporters' apathy was understandable in these tough economic times, with both sides already relegated, even if one imagined that Tipperary's marvellous first-ever win in the recent Munster under-21 championship would have generated something of a football buzz in the hurling-mad Premier County. Westmeath featured four newcomers to league action in 2010, Alan Fennell in attack and defenders Conor Jordan, Daniel McDermott, Seanie O'Donoghue, with the latter experienced duo both scoring a point apiece and forming a solid-looking half-back line with that most loyal of Lake County servants, Michael Ennis. The home team looked the sharper in the early exchanges and the man who was set to become the outstanding player on view, corner-forward Barry Grogan, tapped over a straightforward free in the fourth minute, after Kevin Mulryan was fouled. Westmeath took the lead some two minutes later, Michael Ennis and Martin Flanagan combing to set up Philip Gilsenan who took a rare goal chance with aplomb from 12 metres. Tipp almost raised a green flag at the other end in the next passage of play, but Philip Austin's low-trajectory shot flew over rather than under the Westmeath crossbar. Unforced errors were already creeping into the losers' play and the blue and golds deservedly took the lead before the quarter-hour mark, courtesy of a brace of points from Barry Grogan, a routine free and a lovely score from play after a patient Tipp move. Philip Gilsenan was quite prominent in the Westmeath attack but without tangible reward on the scoreboard. However, Daniel McDermott came forward to show the attackers the way, levelling the contest by pointing in style from 40 metres after playing a one-two with Paul Greville. Conor Jordan came closing to marking his debut with a point before Barry Grogan kicked arguably the point of the afternoon from 40 metres, after taking a pass from another impressive Tipperary forward Philip Austin. The winners went two points ahead in the 22nd minute, a fine build-up ending with a great finish from Brian Fox. Stephen Gallagher showed again that he is an able deputy for Gary Connaughton when he was called into action while, at the other end, Martin Flanagan did well to hold the ball under pressure before laying it off to David Duffy, who pointed very well from a tight angle. Tipp had their first wide of the contest in the 27th minute from a 35-metre free by Barry Grogan, but they more than made amends in their next attack, Christopher Aylward picking out midfielder George Hannigan, who turned sharply and buried a low shot from ten metres to the Westmeath net. A number of half-chances for Westmeath came to nothing, including a scoreable free from Martin Flanagan, whose placekicking and all-round play on the day lacked its usual class and composure. However, Seanie O'Donoghue showed the way in the second last minute of normal time, intercepting the ball in style and playing a one-two with Aidan Finnan before slotting over a terrific point from 30 metres. In injury-time, Philip Gilsenan kicked a neat point but the first moiety ended sloppily for the visitors, Paul Greville shooting a wild wide after a laboured move. At the break, the scoreboard read: Tipperary 1-6 Westmeath 1-4. Barry Grogan wasted no time in demonstrating his undoubted class on the resumption of play, this time firing over a classy point with his left foot with just over a minute elapsed. An ambitious effort from Philip Gilsenan was wide of the target, with Gary Flanagan catching the eye from the ensuing kick-out with a splendid catch. In the sixth minute, Tipp opened up significant daylight between the teams with a second goal. Conor Jordan was unable to keep out a through ball from half-time substitute Brian Coen and Barry Grogan slid the ball soccer-style under Stephen Gallagher. To Westmeath's great credit, they responded with five unanswered points between the seventh and 16th minutes to reduce the deficit to the bare minimum. Paul Greville started the mini-blitz with a tap-over free and Gary Flanagan then showed his prowess from placed balls with excellent conversions of a brace of '45's. Fine play by Michael Ennis and Paul Greville respectively proceeded to tee up Fergal Wilson for two fine points from play to leave Tipp ahead by 2-7 to 1-9. However, the losers only managed one more point in the remaining 20 minutes as John Evans' charges took control again. Philip Austin pointed in style and poor defending allowed Brian Fox and wing-back Eoin Kearney in for unchallenged points. Fergal Wilson's 35-metre free rounded off the Lake County's scoring in the 24th minute, Tipp responding instantly courtesy of another Barry Grogan free and a fine score from play by Philip Austin at the end of a flowing move. Martin Flanagan was unlucky to see his shot from an acute angle come back off the woodwork, before the visitors had a very lucky escape when Barry Grogan teed up Philip Austin for what seemed a certain Tipperary goal. However, the number 13's cheeky chip over the advancing Stephen Gallagher drifted narrowly wide. In the 33rd minute, Grogan completed his very impressive afternoon's work with a point from play, moments after Stephen Gallagher had done well to hold a 45-metre free from the same player. Gary Glennon hit the upright in the dying moments and Paul Greville was wide with the last kick of a disappointing game and a bitterly disappointing league campaign overall for Westmeath. Despite Brendan Hackett's admirable attempts to remain upbeat in his post-match press briefing, it has to be said that the signs are not good for an ever-dwindling group of diehard maroon and white-clad fans for the upcoming Leinster Championship. A whopping 14 successive league defeats is an appalling statistic, regardless of retirements (justified or otherwise) and other mitigating factors, ending with a first defeat to Tipperary in almost three decades of league and championship clashes. With strong indications emanating from the camp that star forwards Des Dolan and Denis Glennon will not be returning to the fold, a largely inexperienced squad seems very unlikely to make a positive impact in the main football business of 2010. TIPPERARY: Paul Fitzgerald; Andrew Morrissey, Paddy Codd, Niall Curran; Eoin Kearney (0-1), Robbie Costigan, Christopher Aylward; George Hannigan (1-0), Liam O'Gorman; Brian Fox (0-2), Ryan O'Dwyer, Brian Mulvihill; Philip Austin (0-3), Kevin Mulryan, Barry Grogan (1-7). Subs: Brian Coen for O'Dwyer (h-t); Brian Jones for Morrissey (h-t); John Cagney for Mulvihill (h-t); Hugh Coghlan for O'Gorman (50 mins), Conor Morrissey for Aylward (60). WESTMEATH: Stephen Gallagher; Conor Jordan, Donal O'Donoghue, John Gaffey; Daniel McDermott (0-1), Seanie O'Donoghue (0-1), Michael Ennis; David Duffy (0-1), Gary Flanagan (0-2, 2 '45's); John Smyth, Paul Greville (0-1f), Alan Fennell; Philip Gilsenan (1-1), Martin Flanagan, Aidan Finnan. Subs: Gary Glennon for Duffy (h-t); Fergal Wilson (0-3, 1f) for Finnan (48 mins); Gavin Hoey for Fennell (49); Damien Healy for Hoey (59). REFEREE: Syl Doyle (Wexford).