Royals' attack proves too potent for Westmeath

Westmeath's minor footballers exited the Leinster championship in disappointing fashion when Meath handed out a flattering 13-point semi-final beating to their neighbours in front of approximately 1,300 spectators in Cusack Park on Saturday evening last. The Royals were undoubtedly the better outfit, but the margin would surely have been much closer had Ger Leech converted a 48th-minute penalty when his side trailed by seven points. Leech, whose outstanding three-point haul in the preceding ten minutes had lifted the home crowd, struck a weak spot kick which was easily saved by the winners' goalkeeper Jack Hannigan. Meath went on to win the game with a bit to spare, the main talking point in the closing stages being the sending off of three players (two via straight red cards, Westmeath's Ray Connellan and Meath's Conor O'Brien) after an off-the-ball incident in the 57th minute. The visitors got off to a great start. Rúairí " Coileán's goal attempt in the opening minute was held by Brendan Doyle, but Barry Dardis found the net soon afterwards after being teed up by Jason Daly, and Adam Flanagan added a point with the losers' rearguard still at sea. Ger Leech opened the Lake County's account from a 40-metre free in the fifth minute but Fiachra Ward quickly cancelled this out, also from a placed ball. The play at this juncture was disjointed with the referee pulling a lot for overcarrying, albeit consistent in his interpretation. Aaron Curley's long ball goalward led to a very well-taken goal in the 14th minute from Westmeath's main attacking threat Luke Loughlin, and when the same player added a terrific individual point, the sides were on level terms (1-2 each) at the end of the first quarter. However, Meath dominated the remainder of the first half, as wind-assisted Westmeath struggled at centrefield - as many as six players in maroon and white were tried there throughout the game. Fiachra Ward converted a routine free in the 16th minute and the same player rounded off a great move some four minutes later with a cool low finish past Brendan Doyle, with impressive wing-forward Cillian O'Sullivan tacking on a point in the 20th minute. Meath almost got in for another goal before Anthony McGivney pointed at the other end, with a goal on his mind. Andy McEntee's men added four unanswered points by the 29th minute via Cillian O'Sullivan (two - the second after Fiachra Ward's shot came back off the upright), James McEntee (which could easily have been a goal) and Padraic Harnan. Luke Loughlin rounded off first-half scoring with a classy point in injury-time, leaving the scoreboard at the interval reading 2-8 to 1-4 in favour of Meath. The home team had a half-chance of a goal shortly after play resumed, but it was Meath who increased their lead to nine points by the 35th minute courtesy of two Fiachra Ward frees. However, Tom Carr's troops came much more into the game at this juncture. Lorcan Dolan's goal attempt was blocked at the expense of a '45' which Ger Leech sent well wide of the target. Leech quickly made amends by kicking a brace of great scores from play, one with either foot, and adding another point from a free. The momentum was now with the home team, but a fisted effort for a goal by Theo Watts was wide and both Ryan Caffrey and Luke Loughlin kicked the ball into the grateful arms of Jack Hannigan, who then showed great bravery at the end of a Killian Daly delivery. Barry Dardis kicked a lovely point for Meath before Westmeath spurned a great goalscoring opportunity in the 48th minute when Jack Hannigan was deemed (perhaps harshly) to have committed a foot-block offence on Lorcan Dolan. However, Ger Leech's poor spot-kick was saved and Meath quickly took control again with points from James McEntee, Fiachra Ward (a free) and Barry Dardis. In the 57th minute, while substitute Shane Dempsey was hitting the upright from a great goal chance at the scoreboard end of the ground, an unsavoury off-the-ball incident developed in front of the stand which eventually resulted in three players being sent off - substitutes Conor O'Brien (Meath) and Ray Connellan (Westmeath), both via straight red cards, and Westmeath corner-back Bryan O'Donohoe - who had played well in an often-ragged defence all through - on a second yellow. Meath went on to seal their provincial final place in style with a fine goal in the last minute of normal time from Barry Dardis. Indeed, Jason Daly still had time to unsuccessfully attempt to lob Brendan Doyle in the dying moments. Scorers: Meath: B Dardis 2-2, F Ward 1-5 (5f), C O'Sullivan 0-3, J McEntee 0-2, P Harnan and A Flanagan 0-1 each. Westmeath: L Loughlin 1-2, G Leech 0-4 (2f), A McGivney 0-1. Meath: Jack Hannigan; James O'Malley, Brian Power, Shane Gallagher; Declan Smyth, Conor Carton, Rúairí " Coileán; Padraic Harnan, Adam Flanagan; Cillian O'Sullivan, Jason Daly, James McEntee; Barry Dardis, Stephen Coogan, Fiachra Ward. Subs: Ciaran Gillespie for Carton (42 mins), Conor O'Brien for Coogan (49), Niall Kane for O'Malley (60), Caoimhín " Gríofa for Dardis (60), Alan Garry for O'Sullivan (60 + 1). Westmeath: Brendan Doyle; Rob Gorman, Luke Corless, Bryan O'Donohoe; Ryan Caffrey, Killian Daly, Eoghan O'Reilly; Aaron Curley, David Gaye; Theo Watts, Ger Leech, Anthony McGivney; Luke Loughlin, Lorcan Dolan, Dylan McDermott. Subs: PJ Maguire for Gaye (inj., 11 mins), Ray Connellan for McGivney (27), Justin Barrett for Curley (h/t), Shane Dempsey for McDermott (42), TJ Fox for Watts (60 + 1). Referee: Stephen Johnson (Louth).