Westmeath U20s advance as final fixture is confirmed
Westmeath 3-20 Leitrim 0-17
Three first-half goals paved the way for Westmeath to overcome Leitrim at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park last night (Wednesday), thereby securing their place in the All-Ireland U-20 'B' football final.
Shane Corcoran scored two of the goals, the St Malachy's player exploiting a poor Leitrim kickout for his first, with Rosemount's Adam Keane raiding forward from defence to raise the other green flag.
While Corcoran led the way in the scoring stakes with a tally of 2-5, Milltown's Jack Duncan pulled the strings impressively from centre-forward and contributed six points from play.
Although the scoreline ultimately shows a comprehensive victory for Westmeath by 12 points, it could have been quite a different story had Leitrim taken their goal chances.
Kenny McKinley's charges led by 3-10 to 0-9 at half-time but within seconds of the restart, lively Leitrim attacker Darren Cox was unlucky to see his shot crash off the Westmeath crossbar. Play quickly moved to the other end of the field and Tubberclair's Kealan Connell sent over a point. It was the type of 'Sliding Doors' moment that Leitrim found themselves on the wrong side of on more than one occasion.
On a lovely evening in Roscommon, there was a small crowd in attendance for this game. A total of ten Westmeath players got on the scoresheet including goalkeeper Luke Nicholson (Athlone) and substitutes Conor O'Callaghan (Coralstown/Kinnegad) and Tiarnán O'Donovan (Caulry).
The All-Ireland final against Monaghan has been confirmed for Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan next Wednesday evening, May 21, throw-in 7.30pm.
It will be the second year in a row for Westmeath to contest this final and, having lost out to Down last year, the Lake County outfit will be hoping to emerge victorious this time. Monaghan defeated Limerick in the other semi-final last Sunday.
Scorers - Westmeath: S Corcoran 2-5 (1 2pt); J Duncan 0-6; A Keane 1-0; C O'Callaghan and R Murray (1f) 0-2 each; K Connell, B Moffatt, T Baker, T O'Donovan and L Nicholson ('45') 0-1 each. Leitrim: J Kelly 0-7 (2 2ptf); B Guckian 0-4 (2 pt); D Cox 0-3; O'Rourke 0-2 (2pt); E McNamara 0-1.
Westmeath - Luke Nicholson; Sean Dillon, Adam Keane, Seanaí Bracken; Aodhan Curran, Billy Moffatt, Gareth Mullaniff; Shane Ormsby, Tadhg Baker (captain); Peter Murphy, Jack Duncan, Ronan Murray; Shane Corcoran, Kealan Connell, Finn Duffy. Subs used: Conor Callaghan for Duffy (26 mins); Matthew Thornton for Moffatt (42); Ryan Kelly for Connell (48); Tiarnán O'Donovan for Murray (53); Taylor Slevin for Curran (56).
Leitrim - Brian Cull; Oran Foley, Jack Rowley, Oscar Reynolds; Liam Chandler, Eanna McNamara, Bailey McBride; Jack Foley (captain), Colm McLoughlin; Naoise McManus, Jack Kelly, Ruairi O'Rourke; Ben Guckian, Tom Plunkett, Darren Cox. Subs used: Dessie Wisley for O Foley (22 mins); Mattie Murphy for Plunkett (half-time); Dara Greenan for Rowley (inj., 55); Aaron Gardiner for McLoughlin (60); Patrick Gilgunn for Chandler (62).
Referee - Diarmuid Boylan (Monaghan).
Dalata Hotel Group All-Ireland Under-20 'B' football final - Wednesday, May 21: Westmeath v Monaghan, 7.30, Kingspan Breffni Park.