Westmeath minors produce gritty second half recovery to deny Carlow

Leinster MFC: Westmeath 1-14, Carlow 1-12

Westmeath secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Leinster Minor Football Championship on Tuesday evening at Tubberclair.

The Lake County had to work hard to see off the challenge of Carlow in this preliminary quarter-final tie and the home side had just two points to spare at the end. Carlow led by 1-9 to 0-5 at half-time, but despite being seven points adrift, the Lake County found a new lease of life to score 1-9 in the second half and limit the visitors to just 0-3.

The Downs’ star Aaron Connaire impressed with 1-5 - his goal coming four minutes into the second half - and Stephen McWade of Shandonagh scored 0-3, along with Rosemount’s Darragh Deegan.

It was 1-11 apiece after 50 minutes, but substitute Dean Kelly (Milltownpass) kicked a superb two-pointer for Westmeath and they were assured of victory with Connaire’s late point.

Westmeath seem to have lost a lot of momentum since that victory over Dublin some weeks back and their defeat against Offaly certainly left a scar, but they found a way to win in the second half and that will give them encouragement.

Mick Dillon’s charges will now face Kildare in the quarter-finals and while it’s a major challenge, Westmeath will be delighted to have the opportunity to test themselves at the highest level.

Westmeath: Tom McCaul, Tom Weir. Tomás Brennan, Rhys Brady, Louie Daly, Eoghan Daly, Aaron Claffey, Mark Monaghan, Billy Stenson, Stephen McWade, Darragh Murray, Alex Mullen Adamson, Darragh Deegan, Aaron Connaire, Hugo Corroon. Subs used: Conor Cleary, Dean Kelly, Cathal Keena, Cian McKeogh, Josh Murtagh.