Storming Westmeath finish not enough to stop Louth

Louth 3-16, Westmeath 3-12

Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Football Championship Quarter Final

Louth football is riding on the crest of a wave at present and cheered on by the vocal home support, their minor footballers overcame Westmeath to secure their place in the Leinster semi-final following a thrilling game at Hunterstown GAA grounds on Thursday.

Westmeath produced a gutsy performance and pushed the Wee County all the way in a high scoring encounter, but ultimately Louth were deserving winners even though they were made to sweat a little in the closing stages. It was their more impressive third quarter that provided the platform and when they opened up a seven-point lead with 12 minutes remaining, Westmeath were facing the abyss.

An untimely ankle injury to star forward Will Scahill was a major blow to the visitors at this stage and the deficit increased to 10 points before Cian Fleming and Stephen McWade scored two excellent goals to drag Westmeath off the floor. Five minutes of added time saw them apply further pressure but Louth steadied the ship and navigated a route to the last four. They might be forgiven for thinking it would be plain sailing with such a considerable lead, but Westmeath made them work to earn a crack at Dublin in the semi-final and they must keep maximum focus for the duration of the game if they are to win and join their senior side in the Leinster final.

Westmeath will reflect on a positive season, overall, and with better defending could well have upset the odds in this quarter-final, but the concession of two quick goals near the end of the first half proved very costly in the end. Westmeath were leading by a point, 1-5 to 1-4 after 19 minutes, but Louth full forward Jack Martin flicked in a goal from a high delivery and moments later, another high ball into the danger area was fisted to the net by Cian Rooney. Both goals were sloppy from a Westmeath perspective and ultimately very costly.

Despite a storming finish Westmeath suffered the disappointment of defeat but manager David Geoghegan, in his first season at the helm, is hoping the experience stands to his young charges.

“We had a very positive league campaign; we topped a group that included Louth and Laois just beat us narrowly in a semi-final. I felt we played within ourselves against Meath; some players got stage fright and that will happen at U17 level. They came here this evening and gave it their all against a strong Louth outfit; they’re young players and hopefully they will go on to represent Westmeath at U20 level because that is the next step,” he said.

Louth made a flying start with a point after just 30 seconds from wing back Conor Marron, and doubled their tally in the second minute when full forward Jack Martin clipped over after a flowing move involving Cillian McQuillan and Tom Mannion. Westmeath responded with a fine score from wing forward Finn Higgins after William Geraghty’s incisive pass, and they soon took the lead when Will Scahill converted a two-point free, awarded after a breach of the 4 v 3 rule. Scahill showed composure and accuracy having elected to take the ball outside the 40-metre arc.

Captain Andrew O’Reilly levelled for Louth on ten minutes with a superb point and moments later struck for the game’s opening goal. Breaking through the centre, O’Reilly saw his initial shot saved by John Paul, but he reacted quickest to bury the rebound low to the net. Centre back Tadhg Devaney added a point as Louth pushed three clear.

Westmeath nearly hit back with a goal on 14 minutes after a surging run from Ross Tully, but his shot was well saved by Senon Connolly and Scahill somehow failed to convert the loose ball. Scahill did settle for a pointed free from a tight angle before raising a green flag of his own with a palmed finish after Geraghty’s final pass. The referee consulted with his umpires before awarding the goal, ruling that Scahill was not infringing inside the small square - the final pass played by Geraghty who may have been inside the square at the time.

Stephen McWade then edged Westmeath in front with a superb point from distance, the ball clipping the crossbar on its way over. But Louth hit back emphatically. First, McQuillan’s high delivery was flicked to the net by Martin – poor defending from Westmeath, who failed to track McQuillan after a short '45'. Moments later, Connell Kelly sent a high ball into the square and Cian Rooney applied the finishing touch for a third Louth goal after Kelly intercepted a loose Westmeath free.

McWade replied with a point before Seán Whittaker converted a '45' and McWade again split the posts to reduce the deficit. At half-time, Louth led by two points.

Westmeath had a glorious chance to cut the gap straight after the restart but McWade’s flick from Scahill’s high ball went narrowly wide. Scahill did add a point after Whittaker’s clever assist, but Louth hit back through Devaney and then McQuillan, whose two-pointer from outside the 40 was a standout score. Cian Fleming kept Westmeath in touch with a point shortly after Connolly once more denied Scahill a goal.

Louth extended their lead with a brace from the lively Kelly, both fine efforts from the left boot. McWade responded with a point before Martin again punished slack Westmeath marking. Substitute Dillon Burke was next to be denied by Connolly as Louth’s goalkeeper continued his excellent display.

O’Reilly pushed Louth further ahead with another quality two-pointer before Whittaker’s reply kept Westmeath in range. Tom Maguire, influential around the middle, added a point, and further scores from Marron and two more from the excellent Kelly saw Louth move ten points clear.

Westmeath, to their credit, finished with a flourish. On 28 minutes, Seán Byrne picked out Fleming, who finished clinically to the net. A minute later, McWade struck for a brilliant goal, rifling the ball to the top corner after a quick free from Dean Kelly.

However, the spirited comeback arrived too late and it was Louth who held firm, soaking up some late pressure to advance to the semi-final.

Scorers – Louth: A O’Reilly 1-3 (1 2pt), J Martin 1-2, C Rooney 1-1, C Kelly 0-3, T Devaney, C Marron, C McQuillan (2pt) 0-2 each, T Maguire 0-1. Westmeath: W Scahill (1 2ptf), S McWade 1-4 each, C Fleming 1-1, S Whittaker 0-2 (1 ‘45’), F Higgins 0-1.

LOUTH: Senon Connolly; Finn McEneaney, Ciaran Titley, Rian Hickey; Michael McGlew, Tadhg Devaney, Conor Marron; Tom Maguire, Cillian McQuillan; Oisin Reidy, Andrew O’Reilly, Conal Mannion; Cian Rooney, Jack Martin, Connell Kelly. Subs: Ewan Hoban for Reidy (46), Niall McCreesh for Mannion (46), Senan Hoey for Rooney (49).

WESTMEATH: John Paul; Anthony King Carroll, Eoin Donoghue, Seán Keegan; Conor Casey, Seán Byrne, Ross Tully; Cian Fleming, Rory McCaul; Finn Higgins, Dean Kelly, William Geraghty; Stephen McWade, Will Scahill, Seán Whittaker. Subs: Oisin McCauley for Geraghty (41), Dillon Burke for Higgins (41), Jack Duignan for Scahill (inj., 49), Tom O’Brien for Keegan (56).

Ref: Kevin Williamson (Offaly).