Healy's last-gasp point sends Westmeath crashing out

Wicklow 2-18, Westmeath 2-17

By Gerry Buckley

A one-point defeat at the hands of a wasteful Wicklow side, which was as avoidable as it was heart-breaking, at a well-attended Aughrim last Sunday afternoon signalled the end of a largely frustrating 2025 for Westmeath’s senior footballers.

Widely considered to be one of the favourites to regain the Tailteann Cup so joyously won in its inaugural season three years ago, the Lake County men added Oisín McConville’s troops to a painful list of narrow and preventable defeats accumulated over the past five months. In an era where stats are ten-a-penny, the cold reality is that Dermot McCabe’s undoubtedly very fit and committed charges, despite playing some delightful football, have merely taken the scalps of Antrim (seventh in Division 3), London (seventh in Division 4), and Laois (sixth in Division 3).

Of all the near-misses this year, the admirably-large contingent of Westmeath fans will be particularly galled by the loss on a pristine surface (achieved, we were told, by the use of a new-fangled robotic machine) in Echelon Park two days ago, as their heroes led by seven points after 23 minutes, eight points after 42, and a sufficient one with less than a minute left before the final hooter. Indeed, the winning point coolly scored by veteran Dean Healy (who was also outstanding in the Garden County’s shock Leinster SFC win in Portlaoise just 14 months ago) came at the end of a counterattack when the losers really ought to have sealed victory.

The many maroon and white-clad fans who made the long journey to a ground renowned for giant-killing feats by the locals could hardly have dreamed of a better start with the Athlone duo of Ray Connellan and Shane Allen (deputising for the injured Matthew Whittaker) combining for the latter to find the net with aplomb after a mere 90 seconds. However, a fisted point by impressive wing back Joe Prendergast, and a preventable goal scored by corner forward Oisin McGraynor, had the home team a point to the good with seven minutes elapsed. Remarkably, Wicklow never led again until the last kick of the game.

Playing some terrific football in the process, Westmeath scored 1-5 without reply between the tenth and 23rd minutes. Points from Nigel Harte, Connellan (two in-a-row), and Luke Loughlin (availing of great work by the ever-improving Sam Smyth), preceded a 16th-minute goal from a close-range flick by Sam McCartan (after a probing delivery by Loughlin), and a fisted point from team captain Ronan Wallace. Wicklow had accumulated seven wides – some of them poor – to their opponents’ zero at this stage.

McGraynor (a free) and Stephen Smith (a fisted score) traded points either side of the winners spurning two glorious goal chances in quick succession which fell to Darragh Fee and Mark Kenny. However, the wind-assisted men in blue and gold finished the first moiety strongly with five unanswered points – a huge two-pointer free and a ‘45’ (after a smart save by Conor McCormack) from goalie Mark Jackson, a routine free from McGraynor, and a well-worked score from the boot of Kenny. Westmeath still led by 2-6 to 1-7 at the interval.

The visitors started the second half in impressive fashion, extending their lead to eight points in the opening seven minutes courtesy of Robbie Forde (a tricky one-point free and a great two-pointer from open play), and Loughlin (also, a one-point free and a two-pointer from play). Many Westmeath fans’ thoughts were already turning to Croke Park next weekend, but Wicklow for their part clearly hadn’t prematurely dismissed a rare trip to GAA headquarters, with regular forward Kevin Quinn already influential having been sprung from the bench.

A routine free conversion by Eoin Darcy (moved closer to the target for dissent) was followed by another booming two-point free from Jackson. Connellan kicked Westmeath’s first wide of the afternoon in the 49th minute. A point apiece from Christopher O’Brien and Fee left them just a goal in arrears (2-12 to 1-12). Forde (a dipping shot) and Darcy (a free) exchanged points before Wicklow got the lifeline they required when Joe Moran fouled Healy inside the large parallelogram. The Downs' man was black-carded and McGraynor expertly converted the resultant spot-kick to tie up the scoring at 2-13 apiece with 12 minutes remaining before the hooter.

A quickfire brace of two-pointers – a Loughlin free and Sam McCartan from play – seemed to put the pre-match favourites in pole position, but Westmeath weren’t to trouble the scoreboard operator again. Points from sub Conor Fee and Jackson (a two-point free after a 4 v 3 breach by the losers) – either side of Sam McCartan being denied what seemed a blatant free at the other end – allowed midfielder Padraig O’Toole the chance to level the contest with just seconds remaining (Westmeath having been unable to play down the clock).

It was now a case of ‘next score wins’ and Westmeath looked favourites to do so after a fine interception by sub Tadhg Baker. However, Loughlin was blocked by Malachy Stone and a patient build-up by Wicklow enabled Healy to fittingly emerge as the local hero. Seconds later, the demeanour of the respective players, mentors and supporters could not have been more contrasting, with Wicklow confidently marching on to a tier two championship penultimate round next weekend as Westmeath lick their wounds.

Scorers –

Wicklow: O McGraynor 2-2 (1-0pen, 0-2f), M Jackson 0-7 (3 2ptf, 1‘45’), E Darcy 0-2 (2f), J Prendergast, M Kenny, D Healy, P O’Toole, C O’Brien, C Fee, D Fee 0-1 each.

Westmeath: L Loughlin 0-6 (1 2pt, 1 2ptf, 1f), S McCartan 1-2 (1 2pt), S Allen 1-0, R Forde 0-4 (1 2pt, 1f), R Connellan 0-2, R Wallace, S Smith, N Harte 0-1 each.

Wicklow: Mark Jackson; Tom Moran, Matt Nolan, Malachy Stone; Joe Prendergast, Patrick O’Keane, Darragh Fee; Dean Healy, Pádraig O’Toole; Christopher O’Brien, Eoin Darcy, Cathal Baker; Oisín McGraynor, Craig Maguire, Mark Kenny. Subs used: Kevin Quinn for Kenny (46), Andy Maher for Baker (46), Conor Fee for McGraynor (63), John Paul Nolan for O’Brien (67).

Westmeath: Conor McCormack; Jack Geoghegan, Sam Smyth, Jamie Gonoud; Joe Moran, Ronan Wallace, Sam McCartan; Ray Connellan, Brian Guerin; Shane Allen, Kevin O’Sullivan, Nigel Harte; Luke Loughlin, Stephen Smith, Robbie Forde. Subs used: Tadhg Baker for Smith (50), Danny McCartan for Allen (60).

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois).