Westmeath minors end league campaign with draw against Tipp

Westmeath 1-13 Tipperary 3-7 By Gerry Buckley Westmeath bowed out of the Leinster Minor Football League with the small consolation of picking up their first point of the campaign when they drew with Tipperary at Lakepoint Park last Wednesday evening. The visitors have been a strong force in the U18 grade in recent years, which included a dramatic All-Ireland win less than 18 months ago. Their inclusion in a Leinster competition may seem a peculiar geographic decision, but they are undoubtedly a good yardstick for teams with ambition in any province. Accordingly, Tom Carr is likely to be relatively pleased with a share of the spoils last Wednesday, albeit his side's ongoing concession of soft goals continues to be a major worry. In contrast with the hours leading up to the throw-in, the game was played out free of rain and a very competitive encounter took place, with some liberal rule interpretations by the referee leading to an amount of needle. Just one red card was issued (to a Westmeath player), a total which could have been higher with stricter officials in situ. The always-lively Luke Loughlin opened the scoring with a fisted point after just 30 seconds, but Stephen Quirke pulled on the loose ball some three minutes later to score Tipp's first goal. Westmeath proceeded to play some outstanding football in the quarter-hour which ensued, rifling over six unanswered points via Rob Hickey (two), Luke Loughlin (including a solo score which could have yielded a goal), Ciaran Shanley and Darren Keena. Niall McKenna (a dipping shot) and Andy McCormack (a routine free) soon traded points, as did Josh Keane (free) and Darren Keena. A series of stoppages led to a lengthy period of injury-time during which the young men in blue and gold kicked three points without reply, courtesy of Tom Kirwan (a great score under pressure), Stephen Quirke and Josh Keane (free). This left Westmeath ahead at the break by 0-9 to 1-5. Westmeath quadrupled their advantage within a minute of the restart when Shane Clavin finished neatly to the net, while Ciaran Shanley was unlucky not to score another goal in the maroon and whites' next attack. However, Tipp pounced for their second goal in the 41st minute when Tom Kirwan astutely flicked the ball the way of Michael Maher who duly rifled the ball to the net. At the other end, Rob Hickey was cynically fouled as he bore down on goal and Loughlin tapped over the resultant free. A nasty undercurrent had been allowed creep into the game and the referee belatedly lost his patience when he issued a second yellow and a red card to Shane Clavin towards the end of the third quarter. Within seconds of his introduction in the 51st minute, John Corbally kicked a terrific point for the Lake County lads. However, a quickfire 1-1 from the visitors soon had them a point to the good - Ciaran Lowry's point being followed by a palmed goal by defender Kevin Fahy after a goalkeeping error. With two minutes of normal time remaining, Luke Loughlin equalised with a tremendous point at the end of a patient move. In added-time, substitutes Paul Shanahan and John Corbally (who had a goal on his mind) exchanged points leaving the sides on level terms after an absorbing hour. Scorers - Westmeath: L Loughlin 0-5 (2f), S Clavin 1-0, D Keena, R Hickey and J Corbally 0-2 each, A McCormack (f) and C Shanley 0-1 each. Tipperary: S Quirke 1-1, K Fahy and M Maher 1-0 each, J Keane 0-2 (2f), T Kirwan, N McKenna, P Shanahan and C Lowry 0-1 each. Westmeath: Darren O'Connell; Boidu Sayeh, Israel Ilunga, Peter Murray; Andy McCormack, Darren Giles, Gavin Murray; Ruairí Cunningham, Darragh Lyons; Ciaran Shanley, Shane Clavin, Theo Watts; Rob Hickey, Luke Loughlin, Darren Keena. Subs used: Liam Varley, Alan Hughes, Jeremiah Scully, John Corbally, Shane Keenan. Tipperary: Paul O'Leary; Danny Owens, Shane O'Connell, Pearse Murphy; Luke Boland, Kevin Fahy, Faoláin Linnane; Mark Russell, Gerry Cronin; Michael Maher, Niall McKenna, Mikey O'Connor; Josh Keane, Tom Kirwan, Stephen Quirke. Subs used: Ciaran Lowry, Willie Connors, Michael Connolly, Paul Shanahan, Paudie White, John Lonergan. Referee: Sean McCarthy (Dublin).