McCartan’s goal gets Westmeath over the line in Portlaoise

Tailteann Cup senior football: Westmeath 1-13, Laois 0-13

An early red card for skipper Kevin Maguire was a huge setback for Westmeath’s senior footballers, but they battled manfully in Portlaoise earlier this afternoon, to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup.

Ultimately, a superb individual goal from St Loman’s, Mullingar star Sam McCartan on 44 minutes proved pivotal to this hard-earned victory at MW Hire O’Moore Park.

With John Heslin and Luke Loughlin among the scorers, Westmeath opened up a 0-5 to 0-2 lead, and they could have been further ahead had Laois netminder Danny Bolger not stopped a penalty from Heslin.

However, Maguire’s dismissal for an off-the-ball foul on Eoin Lowry (20) left the Maroons exposed at the back, and Laois went on to outscore the visitors 0-5 to 0-1 by half-time, Donie Kingston’s 34th minute kick edging the hosts in front.

Laois moved three ahead by the 42nd minute, but Westmeath refused to throw in the towel, and McCartan’s wonderful strike came as a real shot in the arm. Two minutes later, Laois defender Sean O’Flynn was sent off for a second booking, restoring parity of numbers.

Westmeath then finished the stronger, their spirits lifted further when goalkeeper Jason Daly used his feet to stop a shot from Laois’s Paul Kingston (54 minutes).

Despite some late Laois pressure, it was Westmeath who had the better of the closing exchanges, with Loughlin (2) and Heslin finding their range ensure a three-point victory.

Westmeath now wait for tomorrow morning’s draw to see who they will face in the quarter-finals next weekend, with Carlow, Offaly and New York all possible opponents in the southern section.

Scorers – Westmeath: J Heslin 0-5 (4f), S McCartan 1-1, L Loughlin 0-4 (1 ‘45’), J Lynam, R O’Toole, R Forde 0-1 each. Laois: M Barry 0-5 (4f), E O’Carroll 0-4 (1f), E Lowry 0-2 (1m), D Kingston, J Finn (f) 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Jason Daly; Jack Smith, Kevin Maguire, James Dolan; Jamie Gonoud, Ronan Wallace, Nigel Harte; Jonathan Lynam, Sam Duncan; Sam McCartan, Ronan O’Toole, David Lynch; Ger Egan, John Heslin, Luke Loughlin. Subs: Robbie Forde for Egan (49), Lorcan Dolan for Duncan (67), Andrew McCormack for Harte (inj., 70 + 4).

Laois: Danny Bolger; Trevor Collins, Mark Timmons, Sean Greene; Sean O’Flynn, Paddy O’Sullivan, Conor Heffernan; James Finn, Danny O’Reilly; Mark Barry, Eoin Lowry, Kevin Swayne; Donie Kingston, Evan O’Carroll, Paul Kingston. Subs: Kieran Lillis for Finn (49), John O’Loughlin for Swayne (55), Ross Munnelly for D Kingston (63), Alan Farrell for Heffernan (67).

Ref: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary).