Impressive Westmeath U-21s dispose of Laois

Making light of John Heslin's absence through suspension, Westmeath put Laois to the sword in emphatic style in this Leinster U-21 FC first round at Portlaoise last Wednesday night. Indeed, Westmeath's margin of victory could have been even more comprehensive such was the number of goal chances that they created and spurned. Westmeath could afford to he profligate against a disappointing Laois outfit, but similar wastefulness could be punished in the quarter-final against Offaly which, at the time of writing, is due to take place on Wednesday, March 9, at a Westmeath venue. There was much to enthuse about in a Westmeath display filled with enterprising play and quick movement of the ball. The midfield pairing of David Keenan and Darragh Daly combined to great effect which meant John Heslin - one of the stars of Westmeath's run to last year's Leinster U-21 final - wasn't missed on this occasion. Conor Lynam was the conductor of the Westmeath orchestra from the centre-forward position and, in addition to scoring five points, the St Loman's player was central to almost all of his side's best work in attack. Lynam linked very well with Tubberclair's Ian Coffey, especially in the first half, and it was Coffey's goal from a penalty (20th minute) that really set Westmeath on their way. The Westmeath defence were on top of their opponents to such an extent that the Laois forwards only managed one score from open play - Barry Kelly's consolation goal six minutes from the end. Laois had used their full allocation of substitutes by the 42nd minute as team manager Pat Roe searched in vain for a way to turn the tide. By contrast, Pat Flanagan could afford to give other players a chance to impress at a stage when victory was already in the bag. With O'Moore Park looking resplendent under the floodlights, Laois took an early lead when Luke Doyle's free went over via the crossbar. Wing-back Mark McCallon (Garrycastle), whose excellent passing was a feature of the first half, then freed Ger Egan and his incisive run drew a free, which Conor Lynam pointed. In the sixth minute, Ian Coffey managed to point a free from off the ground, despite slipping as he kicked the ball, following an off-the-ball foul on Lynam. Shortly afterwards, a Ger Egan pass inside found corner-forward Thomas McDaniel and when he was fouled, Lynam did the needful from the free. In the 8th minute, Laois midfielder Kieran Lillis lofted over a fine left-footed point, which was the game's first score from open play. With both sides moving the ball quickly on the wide expanses of O'Moore Park, the entertainment value was high for the spectators as Westmeath gradually got on top. The visitors went two ahead with a point from Lynam, after good work from James Dolan and Coffey. On 15 minutes, Lynam seemed somewhat fortunate to be awarded a free-in which referee Brian O'Shea moved closer due to dissent from the Laois defence. Lynam duly pointed to give Westmeath a 0-5 to 0-2 lead. A hitherto subdued Callum McCormack then suddenly burst into life with a forceful run towards the Laois goal. The Maryland attacker had a chance of a goal but opted to fist the ball over the bar for a 'point', only for the referee to disallow the score because of a supposedly illegal handpass. As wastefulness began to creepy into Westmeath's play, a couple of wides from McCormack and Darragh Daly followed. But these were soon forgotten as an absolute peach of a pass from Ian Coffey set up attacking wing-back James Dolan for a goal chance. Dolan was dragged to the ground and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Coffey drove the spotkick low into the corner to put Westmeath six points up. Dolan was off target following another precise pass from Coffey, but Thomas McDaniel then got his name on the scoresheet after David Keenan had won possession from a kick-out. At the other end, Westmeath then had something of a let-off after goalkeeper Eoin Carberry was penalised for 'steps' but, as this offence appeared to take place inside the small square, a penalty rather than a 13-metre free should have been awarded. In any case, Gary Walsh popped the free over to leave the score 1-6 to 0-3, which was how things stood at half-time. Westmeath could so easily have enjoyed a bigger lead at the interval, but Laois 'keeper John Dunphy pulled off a superb double save to deny Ian Coffey, after Lynam had set up the chance. The men in maroon and white also missed a couple of point opportunities before the half-time whistle was sounded. Within 10 seconds of the restart, Kieran Lilliis kicked his second point but a Laois onslaught failed to materialise. Conor Lynam responded with a terrific point after a Ger Egan fetch and pass. A minute later, a perfectly judged pass by Lynam set up a point for wing-forward Adam Corroon, who had been very quiet during the opening half. In the 41st minute, a necklace of passes involving the entire Westmeath half-back line and the irrepressible Lynam led to a fisted point by McCormack, with a goal again a distinct possibility. As Westmeath continued to create chances, Ger Egan was off target when a pass inside to an unmarked Thomas McDaniel would have been a better option. A quickly-taken free by Lynam then set up a goal chance for McDaniel. The Ballinagore man rounded the 'keeper but fired over the bar as despairing Laois defenders tried to protect their net. James Dolan continued to join the attack at every opportunity and he bisected the posts in the 45th minute. Eoin Carberry was then called into action and he pulled off a terrific save to deny Laois substitute James Finn; on the counter-attack, Lynam and Daly set up Dolan for his second point. Westmeath were now leading by 1-12 to 0-4, with their passage into the quarter-finals already assured. Laois centre-back Ciaran Farrell tried to rally his side with a fine point in the 49th minute, but the O'Moore County were unable to generate any real momentum and Adam Corroon quickly replied at the other end. That was Corroon's last involvement in the game as Darren Malynn entered the fray as his replacement. McDaniel's third point gave Westmeath a 1-14 to 0-5 lead, but Laois managed to put a more respectable look on the scoreboard with a 54th-minute goal. An exquisite ball over the top by Luke Doyle caught out the Westmeath rearguard, and fellow wing-forward Barry Kelly gave Carberry no chance with a clinical finish. This was merely a consolation score. Westmeath full-back Kieran Sheridan could afford the luxury of coming forward and he clipped the ball over from close range. In the dying moments, Westmeath had yet another gilt-edged chance of a goal, but substitute John Gilligan fired high and wide with an unmarked team-mate available for a pass inside. Such misses mattered little on the night as Westmeath marched on, but the next outing will surely provide a far more searching examination. SCORERS - Westmeath: C Lynam 0-5 (3f); I Coffey 1-1 (1-0pen, 0-1f); T McDaniel 0-3; J Dolan, A Corroon 0-2 each; C McCormack, K Sheridan 0-1 each. Laois: B Kelly 1-0; K Lillis 0-2; C Farrell 0-1; L Doyle 0-1f, G Walsh 0-1f. WESTMEATH: Eoin Carberry; Ben Moran, Kieran Sheridan, Kevin Maguire; Mark McCallon, Kieran Martin, James Dolan; David Keenan, Darragh Daly; Adam Corroon, Conor Lynam, Ger Egan; Ian Coffey, Callum McCormack, Thomas McDaniel. Subs: Darren Malynn for Corroon (50 mins); Shane Flanagan for Keenan (51); John Gilligan for Daly (59); John Egan for Martin (60). LAOIS: John Dunphy; Alan Whelan, Ciaran Booth, Sean George; Shane Murphy, Ciaran Farrell, James Nerney; Stuart Nerney, Kieran Lillis; Luke Doyle, James Doyle, Barry Kelly; Daryl Hayden, Donie Kingston, Gary Walsh. Subs: Kevin Campion for George (21 mins); Barry Mitchell for J Nerney (25); Ruairi O'Connor for S Nerney (h-t); Jamie Farrell for J Doyle (h-t); James Finn for Hayden (42). REFEREE: Brian O'Shea (Dublin).