Westmeath minors prove too strong for Carlow in opener

Ger Heavin's Westmeath minor football side have advanced to the quarter-finals of this year's Leinster Championship, by virtue of a facile nine-point win over a weak Carlow team in Dr Cullen Park last Saturday evening. The game was played in glorious conditions before a small attendance, the majority from the Lake County, but it never reached any great heights. Indeed, it wasn't until the dying moments that John Heslin (who is surely on a par with any player in the under-18 grade in Ireland this year) made the trip ultimately worthwhile with a truly stunning goal. One spectator present texted this reporter on the way home to say that the St. Loman's, Mullingar teenager's goal was worthy of Lionel Messi and (handball aside!) it was hard to argue. But this was far from a one-man show, with two of Heslin's club-mates, imperious full-back Stephen Gilmore and skilful centre half-forward Kelvin Reilly, also outstanding throughout, as was Tubberclair corner-forward David Fagan, while wing-backs Jamie Gonoud (Tyrrellspass) and David Lynch (St. Malachy's/Ballinagore) got through a lot of very useful work. However, it is timely to repeat that the home team was very limited indeed. The Barrowsiders had whatever advantage was accruing from a slight wind in the first moiety, but they never managed to take the lead. A great Westmeath move in the second minute ended with Dean McNicholas astutely teeing up Kelvin Reilly for a classy point. Some two minutes later, Colvin Kehoe equalised from a 25-metre free taken from his hands. The respective number 9s then traded points, John Heslin superbly rifling over a 50-metre free and Mark Fitzgerald following suit from the same distance from play. A fine run from Darren Ruane set up David Fagan for his first point of the evening, but Carlow's lively corner-forward Daryl Roberts responded instantly with a lovely score from 35 metres. The standard of play from both sides deteriorated over the ensuing ten minutes, with poor passing and shooting the only fare on offer. In the 16th minute, John Heslin pointed a 25-metre free from an acute angle to give his side a lead they never looked likely to relinquish. At the other end, Stephen Gilmore continued to mop up every ball that came his way in impressive style. Great work from Jamie Gonoud soon precipitated a flowing Westmeath move which ended with David Fagan kicking a fine point, a goal briefly looking an option. Colvin Kehoe reduced the deficit from a 30-metre free and the ensuing kick-out was fielded majestically by John Heslin. With two minutes of normal time remaining, David Fagan pointed a 20-metre free with his left foot. Sandwiched between a miss from Carlow's Darragh O'Brien (from a '45') and a last-gasp point from Westmeath's Darren Ruane (from play), Heslin again demonstrated his superb fielding ability. At the break, Westmeath led by 0-7 to 0-4. Heslin was wide after a solo run within ten seconds of the resumption, but David Fagan made amends a minute later when he availed of quick thinking by Dean McNicholas from a free to put the maroon and whites ahead by double scores. Robbie Henshaw, wearing number 8 but deputising at centre half-back for injured dual star Davy Gavin, did very well to curb a home attack, before John Heslin again soared skywards to pluck the ball out of the air. Jason Cully was harshly penalised as he bore down on goal, but Westmeath's wastefulness was epitomised by a sixth wide in eight minutes. Goalkeeper Darren Brady made up for some earlier mishandling with a fine catch from Jamie Kenny in a rare Carlow foray and a Lake County counterattack yielded a neat point from Kelvin Reilly. The losers' substitute Eric Molloy was doing well since his introduction and a foul on the number 26 gave Colvin Kehoe a simple freetaking chance, which he duly availed of. Sloppy Carlow play set up David McCormack for the winners' tenth point and John Heslin made it 0-11 to 0-5 in the 21st minute, when he converted a free from the 45-metre line. The same player was then wide from another free from a similar range as Westmeath's all-round play became quite careless throughout the field. When Darren Ruane's shot was half blocked, Kelvin Reilly pounced with a thunderous volley which flew just over Barry Doyle's crossbar. Colvin Kehoe replied with his fourth successful free, but the best wine was left to the end, John Heslin producing a stunning left-footed finish to the roof of the net from 20 metres, after David McCormack knocked David Lynch's long ball forward down into the path of the inrushing St. Loman's maestro. Since winning the provincial title as part of a minor/under-21 double a decade ago, Westmeath have only defeated Kilkenny (who suffered a truly humiliating defeat by Meath last Saturday), Wexford and Carlow in the Leinster championship. Ironically, the latter two (along with Longford) are Westmeath's potential opponents when the losers' section is sorted out, but a repeat of the profligacy in the second half in Dr Cullen Park would be fatal against a quality team. However, the overall signs are quite promising. Westmeath: Darren Brady; Diarmuid Garvin, Stephen Gilmore, Luke Kelly; David Lynch, Robbie Henshaw, Jamie Gonoud; David McCormack (0-1), John Heslin (1-3, 0-3f); Darren Ruane (0-1), Kelvin Reilly (0-3), Jason Cully; Dean McNicholas, Trevor English, David Fagan (0-4, 1f). Subs: Cathal Burke (for Garvin, inj, 13 mins), Enda Kincaid (for Cully, 52), Neil Folan (for Ruane, 57), John Maguire (for English, 59). Carlow: Barry Doyle; Philip Manning, Sean Wogan, Brian Hourihane; Mark Curry, Richard Jeffers, Niall Lawler; Sean Murphy, Mark Fitzgerald (0-1); Jamie Kenny, Gary Owens, Jack Kennedy; Daryl Roberts (0-1), Colvin Kehoe (0-4, 4f), Darragh O'Brien. Subs: Eric Molloy (for Jeffers, 26 mins), Paul Farrell (for Lawler, 40), Frankie Dowling (for Kennedy, 40), Cathal O'Toole (for O'Brien, 50), Donal Kelly (for Owens, 57). Referee: Con Costelloe (Offaly).