Qualter leads minors to All Ireland final

Four months ago, Westmeath minor hurlers received a rude awakening when they travelled to play Meath in the round robin series of the Leinster Championship. On that occasion, in April, they ended up with a 3-11 to 0-7 drubbing from their Royal neighbours in Pairc Tailteann. On Saturday last, Seamus Qualter"s charges had revenge on their minds and producing a manful display of entertaining hurling, they turned the tables on Meath in the semi-final of the All-Ireland "B" Championsip and duly advanced to face Kildare in the decider. Saturday"s game was switched at the eleventh hour, due to the prevailing weather conditions and it was played in Lakepoint Park, the home of St. Loman"s, Mullingar as Westmeath won the toss of the coin for the venue. It was remarkable to see the game going ahead on a perfectly playable pitch when the adjoining, original pitch at the ground was awash with water. The game had originally been scheduled as a double-header at Tullamore with the other semi-final between Roscommon and Kildare, but the Offaly venue was unplayable. Both teams made some changes in both personnel and positions compared to the initial clash. However, Meath retained the same midfield pairing of Ger Murphy and Willie Mahady, at least until half-time. At the stage, with Meath adrift by 0-3 to 0-9, manager Paul Reilly moved Conor O"Shea from centre-back in a direct switch with Mahady. Meath"s fortunes improved briefly, but Westmeath found another gear for the closing stages and were full value for a five-point winning margin. On a day when field games of any sort appeared unlikely, the. St Loman"s pitch was in perfect condition. Despite the torrential rain, there was hardly a mark on the pitch at the end of a keenly fought contest during which Meath were second in almost every department. The visitors would have been familiar with a few of the Westmeath faces in their set-up as trainer, James Heffernan previously trained Rathmolyon while Lough Lene Gaels player Stephen Bardon at midfield lined out for St Oliver"s PP, Oldcastle in the Leinster Vocational Schools" championship and helped Meath to the Leinster inter-county title. Bardon scored a fine point from play, and his midfield compatriot, another Stephen Bardon (Castlepollard), who sent over four points, ruled the roost on Saturday and contributed enormously to Meath"s demise. Another key figure for Westmeath was corner back Derek Healy who certainly looks like a promising prospect. Frequently, he broke up Meath attacks and his clearances helped create opportunities for his own side. Westmeath had three points on the board through top scorer Barry O"Meara, Bardon (Lough Lene gaels) and Darren Kilcoyne before Padraig Kelly opened Meath"s account from a 65-metre free at tghe end of the first quarter. Amazingly, that was as close as Meath could get and they really laboured through the remaining 45 minutes. Mark O"Sullivan and Kelly added another point apiece before the break, but by stage Westmeath were almost out of sight. Further points from O"Meara (three), Daniel Riggs, who had an outstanding game, and the other Bardon more of less finished the game as a contest. Meath flattered briefly in the second-half and closed the gap to three points (0-7 to 0-10) by the end of the third-quarter, but they really needed a goal to kick-start a late flourish. The nearest the got to that was when full-back Shane Troy got forward and unleashed a ferocious shot, but Conor Sleator deflected it out for a fruitless "65" with eight minutes remaining. That signalled the end of Meath"s bid for a final ticket and Westmeath finished strongest and can now look forward to the decider with confidence. Scorers: Westmeath - B. O"Meara 0-5, four frees; S. Bardon (Castlepollard) 0-4, two "65s"; D. Riggs 0-2; S. Bardon (Lough Lene Gaels) and D. Kilcoyne 0-1. Meath: P. Kelly 0-2, frees; R. Massey 0-2 frees; M. O"Sullivan, K. Keoghan, G. Murphy and M. Doyle 0-1 each. Westmeath: M. Boyle; M. Conroy, C. Sleator, D. Healy; C. Boyle, A. McGrath, S. Savage; S. Bardon (Castlepollard), S. Bardon (Lough Lene Gaels); D. Riggs, D. Kilcoyne, K. Murphy; M. Heffernan, P. Burke, B. O"Meara. Sub G. McGovern for Burke 35 mins. Meath: S. McCann; S. Moran, S. Troy, R. Hatton; D. Tormey, C. O"Shea, P. Kelly; G. Murphy, W. Mahady; K. Keoghan, R. Massey, M. O"Sullivan; D. Carty, G. McGovern, M. Doyle. Subs: C. Flaherty for Carty, T. Meyler for McGovern (both half-time), A. Healy for Keoghan 53 mins. Referee: Declan O"Driscoll (Limerick).