Superb second half sees Westmeath reach semi-final

Any day that a Westmeath football team defeats Meath in competitive action is special. However, the manner of last Saturday's under-21 win in the Cusack Park particularly special, with a really tremendous second-half display qualifying Brendan Hackett's charges for a Leinster semi-final tilt with Laois. In truth, the lads in maroon and white were quite fortunate to be level at the break (2-3 to 0-9), Royals' full forward Brian Sheridan having scored seven points (including two from play) and proving to be a real handful for the home defence. Indeed, it took well-taken goals from Paul Sharry (tenth minute) and James Durkan (23rd minute) to keep Westmeath in touch, both moves starting with wonderful pieces of fielding from midfielder John Heslin. A goal from substitute Michael Newman less than five minutes after the resumption handed the initiative to the visitors and Colm O'Rourke's troops led by three points when Mark Collins followed up with a fine point on the run. However, with midfielder Heslin excelling in open play and from placed balls, and Paul Sharry calling the shots further forward, Westmeath strung together ten unanswered points between the eighth and 27th minutes, many of them of the very highest quality. While the losers were unlucky to be reduced to 14 men midway through the second half, Kevin McCann having received a second yellow card, there is no doubting the merit of this much needed shot-in-the-arm for football in the Lake County. The visitors had whatever slight wind advantage was on offer in the opening half. Brian Sheridan was the game's dominant figure in the first moiety and he opened the scoring with a great point after a mere 45 seconds. Westmeath levelled through a Conor Lynam free. Brian Sheridan then doubled his tally from a converted free from 20 metres. With exactly five minutes on the clock, a sweeping Meath move ended with a lovely point from Mark Collins. Another brace from Brian Sheridan - a 40-metre free and a superb score from play - had the Royals ahead by 0-5 to 0-1 by the eighth minute. The maroon and whites got right back into contention in the 13th minute, when a fabulous catch from John Heslin precipitated a sweeping move which ended with a cool finish from Paul Sharry, who initially seemed like he might have wasted the opportunity. Meath responded with two quickfire points, the first from Sean Dalton and the second from another Brian Sheridan free to lead by 0-7 to 1-1 at the midpoint of the half. Ian Coffey's goal attempt was saved by Paddy O'Rourke at the expense of an unconverted '45', before that man Sheridan slotted over a difficult free in the 20th minute. John Egan reduced the deficit with a fine point, but better was to follow for the home fans in the crowd of almost 500 when another tremendous catch by John Heslin led to Westmeath's second goal, with great approach play from Callum McCormack teeing up James Durkan who finished to the net with aplomb. Another well-taken point from John Egan ensued and, all of a sudden, an often-outplayed Westmeath side was a point to the good, with six minutes of normal time remaining in the first half. Brian Sheridan equalised before the break, tapping over a free for his seventh point in the 30th minute. This left the scoreboard at the interval reading: Westmeath 2-3 Meath 0-9. If Brian Sheridan was the dominant player in the opening half, the second moiety was one of John Heslin's finest half-hours for many a long day, his display being truly remarkable for one so young - he is still eligible for the minor grade. Heslin kicked a sublime point from a lineball in the second minute, but soon after Meath substitute Michael Newman pounced for a fifth-minute goal after Brian Sheridan's initial shot was kept out. Mark Collins followed up with a point and the Royals were three points to the good. However, the 20 minutes which ensued will live long in the minds of Westmeath fans, all too familiar with their neighbours inflicting similar pain over the years. An excellent 50-metre free from John Heslin and a neat effort from Ian Coffey reduced the deficit to the bare minimum. Conor Lynam equalised from play in the 14th minute, his shot creeping in via the upright. In the 17th minute, a pivotal moment arrived when Kevin McCann was dismissed on a second yellow card after Conor Lynam was deemed to have been fouled in a somewhat innocuous challenge. John Heslin converted the resultant free and the UCD Freshers star rifled over a more difficult free moments later. Westmeath were on a roll now and substitute Lorcan Smyth kicked a lovely point from play. Conor Lynam, with a very well-worked score, and John Heslin, from a routine free, put the winners five points to the good with just five minutes remaining on the countdown clock. James Durkan and Smyth again rounded off the home side's scoring blitz - a whopping ten points without reply - and Craig Berrigan's last-minute point for the losers was effectively a mere consolation score. Scorers: - Westmeath: J. Heslin 0-5 (0-4 from frees, 0-1 from a lineball), J. Durkan 1-1, P. Sharry 1-0, C. Lynam 0-3 (0-1 from a free), J. Egan and L. Smyth 0-2 each, I. Coffey 0-1. Meath: B. Sheridan 0-7 (0-5 from frees), M. Newman 1-0, M. Collins 0-2, C. Berrigan and S. Dalton 0-1 each, Westmeath: Darren Quinn; Ben Moran, Kevin Maguire, Ronan Doyle; Ger Egan, Kieran Martin, James Dolan; Denis Corroon (capt), John Heslin; Paul Sharry, John Egan, Conor Lynam; Ian Coffey, Callum McCormack, James Durkan. Subs: Timmy Mescall (for Doyle, 21 mins), Lorcan Smyth (for Egan, 37 mins), Tommy McDaniel (for Lynam, 59 mins). Meath: Paddy O'Rourke; Ciaran Lenihan, Sean Curran, Gerry Sheridan; Tommy Johnson, Bryan Menton, Kevin McCann; Conor Gillespie, Craig Berrigan; Alan Douglas, Mark Collins, Graham Reilly; Damien Carroll, Brian Sheridan, Sean Dalton. Subs: Michael Newman (for Reilly, 20 mins), Stephen O'Brien (for G. Sheridan, 39 mins), Bobby Lyons (for Carroll, 50 mins).Referee: Brian O'Shea (Dublin).