Glennon hits winner as Westmeath restore pride with vital victory

Much of the doom and gloom which has made many long-time Westmeath fans disillusioned over a generally-depressing 17 months since the start of 2009 was lifted on Sunday last in a resplendent O'Connor Park, when a wonderfully-spirited display from Pat Flanagan's charges eked out a fully-deserved one-point win over pre-match favourites Wicklow, in a very entertaining Leinster senior football quarter-final. One swallow does not make a summer. And I am sure if Aristotle had lived a couple of thousand years longer and developed an interest in Gaelic games, he would have much the same to say about one championship win. However, this was a massive shot-in-the-arm for football in the Lake County, who came into Sunday's encounter having endured 14 successive defeats in the National League, many of them hammerings, most of the displays insipid in the extreme. But after the same number of league defeats as the Stations of the Cross, Sunday's display signalled a resurrection of sorts for the county, with brilliant goalkeeping, resolute and wholehearted defending, tireless (if still limited) midfield play (where James Stafford was undoubtedly the best midfielder on show) and outstanding scores from a lively forward line, contributing to a tremendous win over the Garden County. After successful club management careers with both his native Clara and with Tyrrellspass, Pat Flanagan has passed the ultimate inter-county managerial test against the game's most celebrated bainisteoir, the legend that is Mick O'Dwyer. And his troops did it the hard way, riding their luck when a rampant Wicklow exploited their numerical advantage (14 to 13) to hit the crossbar twice in quick succession as the minutes ticked away, but still showing the necessary bottle and pride in the jersey to recover from Paul Earls' late goal to win the game with a very coolly-taken point under intense pressure from Denis Glennon in the dying moments. The game was delayed for 15 minutes on the advice of the gardaí due to lengthy queues for tickets by latecomers among the 8,300 crowd outside the ground - some folk just never learn! Westmeath had whatever advantage was accruing from a slight wind blowing towards the electronic scoreboard end of the very impressive Tullamore ground, but it was Wicklow who took the lead in the first minute, Kieran Martin (who had fine debut and battled through undoubted pain for long periods) appearing to be very harshly penalised for an interception on Tony Hannon, with the latter pointing the resultant 40-metre free. In the third minute, Westmeath drew level (and they were never subsequently headed) when Martin Flanagan, looking sharper than for quite some time, turned neatly after receiving the ball from Paul Bannon's quickly-taken free and pointed in style. Denis Glennon was already operating all over the pitch for the winners, thereby depriving the forward division of their most potent scorer, but as it transpired other attackers were on song on the day. Donal O'Donoghue, who was to produce arguably his best display in the maroon and white since 2004, was showing up well in defence, where tigerish tackling was evident all round. Team captain Michael Ennis put Westmeath ahead in the seventh minute with a trademark overlap and point, rounding off a move started by his fellow wing-back, the equally-industrious Doran Harte. After Donal O'Donoghue again did very well to keep out a menacing Seán Furlong, an aimless wide from disappointing debutant Alan Gaughan ensued, before the men in blue and gold registered their first wide from the boot of J.P. Dalton. In the 12th minute, Gary Connaughton produced a magnificent full-length save to keep out a goalbound shot from the ever-dangerous Ciarán Hyland, following a great Wicklow move, at the expense of a '45' which was missed by Tony Hannon. A great shoulder from Kieran Martin was indicative of the spirit in the Westmeath camp and Conor Lynam (who, if anything, improved last Sunday on his excellent championship debut against the same opposition a year ago) set up Paul Greville for a lovely point from 35 metres. Gary Connaughton again came to his side's rescue with a smart save from Seán Furlong. Tony Hannon (who endured a disappointing game, both from open play and his normal speciality, placed balls) was off target from play, before Wicklow suffered a bodyblow when their highly-rated goalkeeper Mervyn Travers had to retire injured after a collision with the inrushing Martin Flanagan. The latter player duly slotted over the resultant '45', ironically his side's only score from a placed ball throughout the entire game. The losers soon recorded their second score when Darren Hayden charged forward to avail of good play from his captain Leighton Glynn to point well from a tight angle. Kieran Martin was injured in a collision, but showed great tenacity to battle on in obvious distress. In the 25th minute, Westmeath fans were treated to vintage play from 34-year-old full-forward, Martin Flanagan, who took Paul Greville's pass before shimmying and tapping over a delightful left-footed point. After Michael Ennis fouled Nicky Mernagh and then disputed the decision, Tony Hannon had the simplest of tasks in tapping over his side's third point and the same player soon reduced the deficit to the bare minimum with a fine 50-metre free, after sloppy play from a yellow-carded John Gaffey. Westmeath's mass defending continued to catch the eye, while youthful substitute Ger Egan (whose 40-minute cameo was hugely impressive) immediately showed his worth after replacing Alan Gaughan. Westmeath were narrowly ahead at the break, leading by 0-5 to Wicklow's 0-4. The men in maroon and white increased their advantage some 35 seconds into the second half, Paul Greville taking David Duffy's pass and rifling over a sweet left-footed point from 30 metres. Tony Hannon then kicked a terrific point from a difficult free on the 20-metre line and Seán Furlong equalised from a tap-over free from his hands in the fifth minute. However, Westmeath then proceeded to play some of their best football in many a long day. Conor Lynam finished a great move with a very well-taken point and Michael Ennis produced an inspirational block on Paul Earls which precipitated a move superbly finished off under pressure by Paul Greville. A huge roar then greeted the arrival of Des Dolan in place of John Smyth and the Garrycastle maestro was soon to the fore setting up Paul Bannon for a great point in the 11th minute. Martin Flanagan then superbly set up Doran Harte for a neat point, to put Westmeath four points ahead. The winners had a 'goal' disallowed (which would have counted in the league) for a 'square ball' offence after Paul Greville found the net from close range, following Kieran Martin's long delivery. With a quarter-of-an-hour on the clock, Tony Hannon converted a 35-metre free for the losers. The two marquee league absentees, Des Dolan and Denis Glennon then combined for the latter to open his account, albeit on a rare occasion when he was close to the opposition's goalmouth. His opposite number, Paul Earls also opened his account, fisting over after a fine Wicklow move. Des Dolan pointed neatly in the 21st minute, after some loose Wicklow defending and Conor Lynam followed up with a tremendous point under pressure, to open up a five-point gap, with 13 minutes of normal time remaining. Seán Furlong reduced the deficit with a well-taken left-footed point after a patient build-up. Gary Connaughton then produced one of his trademark 'over-the-crossbar' catches from Furlong, before Westmeath were reduced to 14 men when John Gaffey received a second yellow card. Darren Hayden's point attempt came back off the upright, but the Garden County were dealt a blow when Leighton Glynn followed Gaffey to the line, also for a second yellow. In a matter of a minute, it was a 14-13 numerical advantage to Wicklow, David Duffy foolishly tripping J.P. Dalton and also being brandished with a second yellow, followed by a red card. Nicky Mernagh's point in the 29th minute left three points between the sides, but Conor Lynam responded instantly with a marvellous individual point. Ciarán Hyland chipped in with a point his efforts deserved as Wicklow went all out in search of an equalising goal. With the tension mounting, that goal nearly arrived, with J.P. Dalton somehow contriving to hit the crossbar when a goal seemed certain after being set up by Paul Earls and, within a minute, Nicky Mernagh also seeing his effort come back off the crossbar. Just when it seemed Lady Luck was belatedly helping out Westmeath, the losers struck for a goal, Paul Earls reacting sharply to first-time the ball to the net from a tight angle, after Seán Furlong's initial effort had been kept out in a frantic goalmouth scramble. With the game well into injury-time, extra-time looked certain for the second year in-a-row, but cometh the hour cometh the man and Denis Glennon coolly landed the winning point, after great work from his Tyrrellspass clubmate Ger Egan. Less than a minute later, Michael Collins blew the full-time whistle and a swarm of Westmeath fans raced onto the pitch to acclaim their heroes. Louth now stand between Westmeath and only a fourth-ever appearance in a Leinster senior football final. The Wee County produced arguably the display of the entire championship to date, and certainly their best in many a long day, when surprising Kildare last Saturday evening in Navan. Having waited an astonishing 50 years since their last appearance in a provincial decider (and that only three years after the late Dermot O'Brien lifted the Sam Maguire Cup), Peter Fitzpatrick's charges will take a lot of beating on June 26th/27th. However, a return of 14 points from play is hugely encouraging for Westmeath, with a number of debutants complementing the more experienced players very impressively in a really heartwarming display. Footnote Prior to the game, a minute's silence was observed in memory of the late Dr John Fitzpatrick (Athlone) and retired Garda Mick Burke (Stradbally and Mullingar). WESTMEATH: Gary Connaughton; Francis Boyle, Donal O'Donoghue, John Gaffey; Michael Ennis (capt) (0-1), Kieran Martin, Doran Harte (0-1); David Duffy, Paul Bannon (0-1); John Smyth, Conor Lynam (0-3), Alan Gaughan; Paul Greville (0-3), Martin Flanagan (0-3, 0-1 '45'), Denis Glennon (0-2). Subs: Ger Egan for Gaughan (33 mins), Des Dolan (0-1) for Smyth (45 mins), Tommy Warburton (for Martin, inj, 53 mins), Gary Flanagan (for Bannon, 70 + 3 mins). WICKLOW: Mervyn Travers; Ciarán Hyland (0-1), Dara " hAnnaidh, Steven Kelly; Alan Byrne, Brian McGrath, Darren Hayden (0-1); James Stafford, J.P. Dalton; Leighton Glynn (capt), Tony Hannon (0-5, 5f), Nicky Mernagh (0-1); Paddy Dalton, Seán Furlong (0-2, 1f), Paul Earls (1-1). Subs: John Flynn (for Travers, inj, 19 mins), Stephen Canavan (for McGrath, 62). REFEREE: Michael Collins (Cork).