Westmeath falter as Meath take the spoils in Leinster minor football encounter

Damien Maher

Westmeath minor footballers suffered a six-point defeat at the hands of Meath, in the Leinster Minor Football Championship, at Kinnegad GAA ground last Wednesday evening.

Meath swooped for two decisive goals, one in either half, and despite the heroic efforts of Eoin Kevlihan's Westmeath side, they failed to turn this game around. Ironically, it started brightly for the Lake County with the opening two points of the evening, but once Meath scored the first goal in the ninth minute, they took a lead they were never to relinquish.

At half-time the visitors led by 1-3 to 0-3 and just when Westmeath appeared to have gained momentum with three unanswered points from Shane Cully (one free) and another from substitute Kealan Connell, Meath pounced for the decisive score after 50 minutes. Corner forward Ben Corkery ghosted inside the opposing cover to score his second goal of the evening. It was a sucker punch from which Westmeath failed to recover and they now face a tough battle in this competitive group, with away games looming against Louth (Wednesday in Ardee) and Dublin.

Meath's substitutes made a major impact, with John Harkin (who scored 0-3) quite impressive and Michael McIvor (who was lined out to start at midfield but actually came on in the second half) also making a telling contribution.

The final scoreline may seem a little harsh, but Meath scored the final three points of the evening (Westmeath managed just a pointed free in the final 15 minutes, including added time) and in truth looked the stronger side as the game wore on. Westmeath will now face Louth on Wednesday evening in Ardee and with three teams qualifying from the group, they still have every chance, but they will need to recover from this setback.

In terms of performance, Westmeath competed very well, overall, but just fell short on execution which made for a frustrating evening, overall and there were simply too many unforced errors on the home side's part. Meath were physically stronger and their slick counter attacking game constantly had Westmeath in trouble: they were more efficient when on possession and it's an area Westmeath will have to work on if they are to close the gap at this grade.

ERRORS

There was a good crowd present in Kinnegad, with 700 paying customers and the visiting side brought a decent level of support on the evening. Westmeath took the lead with just 20 seconds on the clock as outstanding wing back Aodhan Curran curled over a lovely score with the left boot. Westmeath were content to sit back and give their opponents the kickout in the early stages, but it didn't seem that significant as they pushed two points clear after four minutes: Conor Leech and Shane Cully combined to set up wing forward Cillian Geary for a lovely point.

Meath got off the mark a minute later. Billy Smith found Cian Commons, who pointed with the left boot and the chance came after Westmeath coughed up possession rather softly. A fine mark in midfield by James Mitchell failed to lead to a chance, but poor shooting on Meath's part let Westmeath off the hook as a 13-metre free was dropped into Callum Butler Dolan's hands. Ryan Kelly found the Meath defence in defiant form after a move from Jack Murtagh, Leech and Callum Rigney created an opening, but then a slick Meath counter attack unhinged the home side's defence.

Ben Corkery was at the end of a fine Meath move and his piercing run took him through the opposing cover (helped, ironically by a slight push at the end) before he finished clinically past the stranded Dolan. Meath added a point through Corkery again following a tap down by Cian Commons on the edge of the square and already their attacking prowess and use of possession were looking slightly superior.

A fine mark earned by Mitchell led to him pointing in the 14th minute to close the gap, while Neale Pierson earned a free that was converted by Daire O'Connor, leaving just two points between the teams (0-3 to 1-2). Westmeath had a chance to narrow the gap further, but Pierson's shot was dropped short (after Eoin Conlon's pass) and Meath's Billy Smyth set up Oisín Yore for a well-taken score.

At the break, the visitors were three points clear but this game was very much in the melting pot.

PRESSURE

The opening half, Westmeath began brightest when play resumed and Mitchell notched a point after 30 seconds, following a high delivery by Kelly from a free. But Meath replied with a point from Commons, after Mitchell's effort was charged down.

Leech set up Geary for neat point in the 37th minute, but again Meath responded and maintained that three-point cushion as Billy Smyth converted a free. When a 45' was played short, Meath's Cian Commons showed his strength to surge through and kick a fine score for the visiting side.

Meath were now four points clear (1-6 to 0-5) and it was difficult to see how the home side could turn this around. However, a three-point blitz by Cully gave the home side renewed belief: he started with a terrific solo effort off the left boot and followed up with a converted free; Curran's fine fielding led to Cully's third in this mini period of pressure and Meath's lead was now just a solitary point.

The visitors responded as Pat Crawley earned and converted a mark, following David Donnelly's catch and Yore's delivery. Westmeath again came within a score as Murtagh's pass found Kealan Connell, who shot over in the 49th minute, but pretty soon Meath put the game to bed.

Again it came when the ball was played through to Corkery, who cut inside the opposing cover and finished low to the net, re-establishing his side's four-point advantage. Westmeath battled and a pointed free from Cully kept it interesting, but Meath scored the final three points of the contest to seal an emphatic victory.

Substitute John Harkin emerged as a pivotal figure and he scored each of those late points (two from frees) to give his side a rather flattering six-point victory.

SCORERS - Meath: B Corkery 2-1, C Commons, J Harkin (2f) 0-3 each, D Donnelly, P Crawley (m), B Smyth (f) 0-1 each. Westmeath: S Cully 0-4 (2f), J Mitchell 0-2 (1m), A Curran, C Geary, D O'Connor, K Connell 0-1 each.

Meath: Brayden Colfer; Oliver Maloney, Oisín O'Neill, John Gormley; Cormac Liggan, Thomas Sheridan, Patrick White; Cian Commons, Oisín Yorke; Billy Smyth, Eamon Armstrong, Cian Duggan; Pat Crawley, David Donnelly, Ben Corkery. Subs: Michael McIvor for Duggan (34), Naoise Maguire for White (38), John Harkin for Smyth (43), Andrew Gormley for Crawley (60+1), Manny Magno for Commons (inj., 60+2).

Westmeath: Callum Butler Dolan; Jack Murtagh, Cian Whitney, Aidan Maguire; Conor Leech, Neale Pierson, Aodhan Curran; Eoin Conlon, James Mitchell; Cillian Geary, Daire O'Connor, Callum Rigney; Shane Cully, Ryan Kelly, John Casey. Subs: Matthew Thornton for Rigney (35), Daire O'Brien for Leech (46), Kealan Connell for O'Connor (48), Oisín O'Hara for Geary (inj., 54), Conor Daly for Curran (inj., 59).

REF - Kevin Williamson (Offaly).