Heartbreak for Westmeath as O'Connor snatches victory for Louth

Lady Luck (and the match officials) may have cruelly deserted them two years ago in their infamous provincial final defeat, but the Wee County had more than a wee bit of luck in Páirc Tailteann last Sunday when they edged out a superior Westmeath side by the narrowest of margins in a pulsating Leinster senior football first round tie. Even the most diehard Louth fans were quick to admit leaving Navan after 5pm on Sunday that the better team had lost, but one of Bruce Forsyth's catchphrases, "scores on the board", is also the name of the game for many generations in Gaelic football. The losers' 13 wides (in truth, some of them awful) to their opponents' seven proved very costly for this largely youthful Westmeath side. The men in maroon and white played great football for long periods and can consider themselves most unfortunate to be facing the treacherous Qualifiers route rather than preparing for a very glamorous fixture in Croke Park on June 3 against All-Ireland champions Dublin. Westmeath had decent support (albeit in the minority) in the 4,500-plus attendance in Páirc Tailteann and lined out as expected with Michael Ennis and Paul Sharry switching roles from their respective 6 and 15 jerseys. The losers had the aid of a slight wind blowing from the scoreboard end of the resplendent ground and they started brightly. Denis Glennon - who won a lot of possession but had a real off-day with his distribution and shooting - hit the first of his side's ten first-half wides after only 25 seconds, but a brace of points from John Heslin (a 30-metre free and a great finish from play after a patient move) had his side two points ahead by the third minute. Sandwiched between two points from Darren Clarke (a free and an opportunist score from play), Ger Egan pointed neatly, following good work by Kieran Martin. Heslin (a free) and Derek Crilly (after playing a one-two with Derek Maguire) traded points before Louth's first wide arrived in the 13th minute, Mark Brennan's low shot for a goal being narrowly off target. At the other end, James Dolan's shot for a goal was blocked by Neil Gallagher, with Jamie Carr keeping out the rebound from Dolan. Louth counterattacked and equalised via Ronan Carroll, who outshone his marquee midfield partner Paddy Keenan on the day. Impressive wing back, Ray Finnegan edged Louth ahead in the 21st minute and a timely interception from Doron Harte precipitated Westmeath's equaliser from the boot of the hard-working Kieran Martin. In the 26th minute, Mark Brennan teed up Ronan Carroll who composed himself in style to fire a great shot past Gary Connaughton. Daniel McDermott (after a fine pass by Harte) and Derek Crilly, whose shot was superbly tipped over the crossbar by Connaughton, then exchanged points. But a late point from Paul Sharry had the gap down to two points at the break, the scoreboard reading: Louth 1-6 Westmeath 0-7. Pat Flanagan's men excelled during the third quarter, outscoring Peter Fitzpatrick's troops by 0-5 to 0-0 with John Heslin, ably assisted by Paul Bannon, ruling the roost in and around centrefield. A converted '45' from Paul Sharry, a great left-footed score from Heslin, a neat finish from Bannon, a fabulous point with the outside of his right boot by David Glennon and a terrific point from James Dolan were fitting reward for the maroon and whites' dominance. Rare Louth attacks were generally repulsed, with Kevin Maguire particularly prominent in a defiant Westmeath rearguard, but two converted frees by Darren Clarke, either side of a brief skirmish, had the deficit down to the bare minimum by the 59th minute. Then came the collision between Gerard Hoey and David Glennon with Westmeath fans baying in vain for a free in. The Tyrrellspass man received lengthy treatment before being sportingly applauded by all spectators as he was stretchered off. After play resumed, impressive 51st-minute substitute, Callum McCormack rattled the Louth crossbar, but on the stroke of 70 minutes he had better luck with a sublime shot for a point. Ronan Carroll soon pointed in style for Louth, before eight minutes of added-time was signalled by the fourth official. And what drama the injury-time yielded. A trademark catch by Gary Connaughton prevented a potential point from a free by Darren Clarke. A patient move was then finished with aplomb by John Heslin. However, with 40 minutes elapsed in the second moiety, Ronan Carroll's hard work near the small rectangle was rewarded when a posse of Westmeath defenders failed to clear their lines. Daniel McDermott tried to toe-poked the ball away, but substitute Daniel O'Connor prodded in what proved to be the winning goal. Some two minutes later, John Heslin was well wide from a free near the 45-metre line and a relieved Louth side wisely played 'keep ball' in the two minutes remaining, which proved agonising for all Westmeath Gaels. Scorers - Louth: R Carroll 1-2, D Clarke 0-4 (3f), D O'Connor 1-0, D Crilly 0-2, R Finnegan 0-1. Westmeath: J Heslin 0-5 (2f), P Sharry 0-2 (1'45'), G Egan, D McDermott, K Martin, P Bannon, David Glennon, J Dolan and C McCormack 0-1 each. Louth: Neil Gallagher; Padraig Rath, Liam Shevlin, Gerard Hoey; Ray Finnegan, Jamie Carr, Declan Byrne; Paddy Keenan, Ronan Carroll; Derek Crilly, Mark Brennan, Adrian Reid; Derek Maguire, Jim McEneaney, Darren Clarke. Subs used: Andy McDonnell for Maguire (44), Danny O'Connor for Brennan (48), Ronan Greene for Shevlin (52), Conor Rafferty for Byrne (59), J.P. Rooney for Crilly (67). Westmeath: Gary Connaughton; Micheal Curley, John Gaffey, Kevin Maguire; Doron Harte, Paul Sharry, Daniel McDermott; John Heslin, Paul Bannon; Kieran Martin, Ger Egan, James Dolan; Denis Glennon, David Glennon, Michael Ennis. Subs used: Callum McCormack for Ennis (51), Ronan Foley for David Glennon (inj., 66), Alan Giles for McDermott (70 + 6). Referee: Martin Higgins (Fermanagh).