Cooney swoops for crucial goal as Westmeath secure second victory
Allianz NFL Division 3: Westmeath 2-19, Clare 1-17
Westmeath strengthened their Division 3 promotion credentials with a gritty second successive league win as they held off Clare in front of 1,389 spectators at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg, Ennis.
Coming off an opening-round victory over Sligo, Mark McHugh’s side were far more assured than a Clare outfit still searching for form after their defeat to Down.
Level at 0-4 apiece by the 26th minute, the game finally sparked into life as a wind-assisted Westmeath surged clear with a five-point burst, including Sam McCartan’s second two-pointer.
A crucial goal on the stroke of half-time proved decisive, as Luke Loughlin’s effort came back off the crossbar and Matthew Whittaker teed up Ronan Wallace to finish from close range, sending the visitors in 1-10 to 0-5 ahead.
Westmeath stretched their advantage to nine early in the second half before Clare responded with wind-assisted two-pointers from Aaron Griffin and Mark McInerney, followed by a goal from Alan Sweeney to cut the gap to four - 1-13 to 1-9.
Each Clare surge was met with a reply, and when Eoin Cleary’s two-pointer reduced the margin to two, Westmeath struck decisively, scoring 1-3 without reply.
Substitute Brían Cooney capitalised on a rebound off the upright to fire home a late goal and effectively settle the contest at 2-18 to 1-13. Clare rallied again, halving the deficit late on, but Westmeath managed the closing stages comfortably to maintain their perfect start and leave a winless Clare facing a period of reflection.
Westmeath: Jack Connaughton; Danny Scahill, Charlie Drumm, Boidu Sayeh; Brian Guerin, Tadhg Baker, Ronan Wallace (1-2); Jonathan Lynam, Ray Connellan (0-2); Matthew Whittaker (0-2), Sam McCartan (0-5, 2tp), Kevin O’Sullivan (0-2); Senan Baker, Luke Loughlin (0-3, 1f), Danny McCartan. Subs: TJ Cox (0-2) for Guerin (29), Brian Cooney (1-0) for S. Baker (HT), Tom Molloy for D. McCartan (56), Robbie Forde (0-1) for O’Sullivan (70), Shane Allen for Connellan (73).
Clare: Stephen Ryan; Alan Sweeney (1-0), Ronan Lanigan, Manus Doherty; Dermot Coughlan, Ikem Ugwueru, Cillian Brennan; Brian McNamara (0-2), Darragh Bohannon; Brendy Rouine, Eoin Cleary (0-3, 1tp), Aaron Griffin (0-7, 2tp, 1f); Joe Rafferty, Mark McInerney (0-3, 1tp, 1f), Cormac Murray (0-1). Subs: Connor Meaney for Rafferty (47), Caoilfhionn O’Dea for Rouine (56), Gavin Murray for C. Murray (61), Morgan Garry for Brennan (62), Jamie Stack (0-1) for Cleary (67).
Referee: David Murnane (Cork).