Late Watts goal seals victory for Lake boys over Meath

A last-gasp goal from Theo Watts secured a hard-earned win for the Westmeath under-16 footballers in their first game of the Gerry Reilly Memorial Tournament against the host county Meath, in Oldcastle on Saturday night last. In truth, the winners should not have needed this score to edge out their age-old rivals, as a power-packed display in the first half had the maroon and whites eight points to the good at the break. However, in time-honoured tradition, the Royals staged a gutsy comeback and looked likely to garner at least a draw when the sides were level in the dying moments of normal time. It then took a point from Luke Loughlin and Watts' aforementioned goal to give Thomas McDonnell's side victory in this prestigious annual tournament, now held at the Millbrook ground on the outskirts of the town. Last Saturday's contestants, who top the roll of honour with seven wins apiece, had a number of switches (both positional and in personnel) from the match programme, with Westmeath particularly guilty in this regard. A good-sized crowd was present on an ideal evening for football for the first match of the 2011 tournament, which also features long-time participants Dublin and relative newcomers Louth. Reigning champions Westmeath lined out in their usual maroon and white strip, while Meath togged out in their changed gear of gold with a green trim. The visitors should have opened the scoring in the first minute, but Shane Corcoran blazed the ball wide from a great goal opportunity. The Milltownpass lad atoned for this miss with a fine all-round display, ultimately winning the official man of the match award, albeit Meath's Robbie McDonnell is likely to have pushed him all the way in the voting. In the third minute, sloppy Westmeath defending allowed Shane Gallogly to open the scoring, the right half-forward pointing with aplomb. Some two minutes later, a great move by the Lake County lads ended with Ryan Maher rifling home a tremendous shot. However, directly from the kick-out, Meath cancelled this out when Robbie McDonnell finished low to the net, to restore the Royals' one-point advantage. A converted free apiece from Luke Loughlin and Darragh Lyons edged the winners ahead by the 11th minute, but the hosts responded immediately with a brace of points - Freddie Newman and Ruairí O'Grady firing over two terrific scores. Approaching the midpoint of the first moiety, Dylan Keena tied up the scoring, after an initial shot from the very lively Aaron Glynn was blocked. A glorious three-minute period for the winners ensued. Luke Loughlin should have goaled on the quarter-hour mark, but The Downs' lad hit the side netting. However, there was no denying Aaron Glynn in the next passage of play, the young man nicknamed 'Gooch' scoring an individual goal of which Colm Cooper would have been proud. A classy point from Luke Loughlin followed, before Jeremiah Scully pounced for an opportunist goal, the Shandonagh lad pulling on the loose ball as the Meath defence dithered. A fine point under pressure by Robbie McDonnell settled Meath's nerves, but rapid-fire points from Luke Loughlin (free) and Shane Corcoran (a great score) put Westmeath eight points to the good (3-6 to 1-4), with eight minutes of normal time remaining in the first half. The losers reduced the deficit with three unanswered points from Robbie McDonnell (a free), Stefan Kelly and Shane Gallogly (one of the scores of the contest). At the other end, Luke Loughlin spurned another great goal chance, but he soon made amends when he picked out Theo Watts and the Rosemount lad finished delightfully by side-footing the ball to the net, to leave the scoreboard at half-time reading: Westmeath 4-6 Meath 1-7. The home team was straight out of the traps on the change of ends, Robbie McDonnell pointing following a quickly-taken free in the opening minute. Some five minutes later, Westmeath's Aaron Glynn pointed at the end of a well-worked move. However, it was to be a whopping 24 minutes before the Lake County registered another score as Meath, whose trio of half-time substitutes all made significant contributions, staged a great comeback. Indeed, the Royals looked like they might steal the game late on. Stefan Kelly started the fightback with a great point under pressure and this was quickly followed by a well-taken goal from substitute Nathan O'Brien. It took fine defending from Andrew McCormack on O'Brien to prevent another Meath goal, but the home side continued to dominate and were rewarded with a neat point from O'Brien, after Robert Hickey had done well to keep out Shane Gallogly's initial effort. Further points followed from Robbie McDonnell and Niall Kane and the margin was now down to the bare minimum, with 11 minutes remaining. A great run from Luke Loughlin set up Westmeath sub John Corbally, but the Moate All Whites player was denied by a great save from Cian Farnan. Westmeath paid the price for some profligacy when Robbie McDonnell equalised with a superb individual point. The game was now up for grabs and Luke Loughlin was narrowly wide after a one-two with substitute Philip Ganley. However, to their great credit, the lads in maroon and white dug deep in the closing moments to score 1-1 without reply, courtesy of a point from Luke Loughlin and a well-taken goal from Theo Watts, who emerged from a scramble to fire the ball to the net, much to the delight of his fellow-players and the Westmeath mentors. Westmeath will face Dublin on Sunday, July 17 and Louth six days later, as they attempt to win the tournament for a record eighth time. The Lake County lads will unquestionably be spurred on by last Saturday's noteworthy win over their near neighbours. WESTMEATH: Robert Hickey; Jack Gorman, Andrew McCormack, Dylan Keena (0-1); Bryan O'Donohue, Ryan Caffrey, Conor Marlowe; Andrew Purcell, Theo Watts (2-0); Jeremiah Scully (1-0), Shane Corcoran (0-1), Darragh Lyons (0-1f); Ryan Maher (1-0), Luke Loughlin (0-4, 2f), Aaron Glynn (1-1). Subs: John Corbally for Maher (41 mins), Jack Quinn for Keena (41), Philip Ganley for Scully (54), Dean Daly for Glynn (59). MEATH: Cian Farnan; James O'Malley, Mark Sheridan, Sean Fitzpatrick; Kevin Traynor, Anthony Neary, Jack McCarney; Evan McGovern, Ruairí O'Grady (0-1); Shane Gallogly (0-2), Freddie Newman (0-1), Eamon Sheridan; Robbie McDonnell (1-5, 0-1f), Stefan Kelly (0-2), Niall Kane (0-1). Subs: Ronan Mooney for Fitzpatrick (21 mins), Christy Meade for McGovern (h-t), Liam Ferguson for McCarney (h-t), Nathan O'Brien (1-1) for Newman (h-t). REFEREE: Gerry Sheridan (Cavan).