Kelly strike leads Westmeath minors to victory over Dublin

Leinster MFC: Westmeath 1-16, Dublin 1-12

Westmeath showed grit and character to overcome Dublin in the Leinster Minor Football Championship at Kinnegad on Tuesday evening.

Dublin looked set to break Westmeath hearts yet again when they took the lead for the first time in the 50th minute, but an unanswered 1-2 secured a deserved victory for The Lake County. Milltownpass star Dean Kelly produced an outstanding display from midfield and his terrific goal in the 53rd minute was the defining moment. Both he and full-forward Aaron Connaire kicked timely points in the closing stages as Westmeath prevailed.

It’s only the fourth time Westmeath have beaten Dublin at minor level and the first time since their famous Leinster final victory over the Metropolitans in 2000. Westmeath led by 0-11 to 0-4 at half-time.

Mick Dillon’s charges will face Offaly in the third round in a fortnight, the game scheduled for Kinnegad once again.

Scorers - Westmeath: D Kelly 1-2, S McWade 0-5 (1 tp), D Murray 0-4 (1 tp), A Connaire 0-2, C Cleary, T Weir and A Mullen Adamson 0-1 each. Dublin: C Raftery 1-8 (2 tp; 1 tp free); J Heavey (free), C O’Dwyer, J McCaghy and A McDonnell 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Tom McCaul; Tom Weir, Tomás Brennan, Louie Dillon; Cian McKeogh, Eoghan Daly, Gary Staunton; Mark Monaghan, Dean Kelly; Billy Stenson, Daragh Murray, Conor Cleary; Stephen McWade, Aaron Connaire, Alex Mullen Adamson. Subs: Finn Brennan for Monaghan (42), Harry Hughes for Mullen Adamson (52), Josh Murtagh for McKeogh (55), Rhys Brady for Weir (60).

Dublin: Jamie Galvin; David Lombard, Adam Becton, Finn Carroll; Cormac Doran, James McCaghy, Bobby Doyle; Colm O’Carroll, Mobarack Salami; Cian Raftery, Emmett Brannigan, Calvin Reilly; Eoghan Madden, Jamie Heavey, Cian O’Dwyer. Subs: Max Morrison, Andrew Davis and Andy McDonnell for Reilly, Branigan and Carroll (h-time), Cillian Wilde for Salami (inj., 60+2).

Referee: Colm McCullough (Louth).