Greater goal threat crucial as Westmeath suffer defeat to Offaly

Offaly 23, Westmeath 1-20

Westmeath’s Joe McDonagh Cup ambitions are now hanging by a thread after defeat to neighbours Offaly in Tullamore last Saturday. The loss to Offaly follows the disappointing first round defeat to Kerry, and means the Lake County’s hopes of reaching the final are now slim.

The home team’s victory was achieved despite the shock early blow of team captain Jason Sampson being dismissed with barely 20 seconds on the clock.

In an incident-packed start to what was an entertaining game, the opening eight minutes featured Sampson’s straight red card (for a challenge on Aonghus Clarke), two penalties for Offaly (one scored by Brian Duignan, the other saved by visiting netminder Noel Conaty at the expense of a ’65) and a well taken Westmeath goal from David O’Reilly.

Another key moment was Westmeath defender Darragh Egerton being sent off in the 21st minute.

Having received a black card which led to the second Offaly penalty, Egerton committed a needless foul near on Charlie Mitchell the sideline and the resulting yellow card ended his involvement, meaning it was 14 players on each side for the remainder.

Whether Westmeath would have been able to achieve a better result with an extra man for the rest of the contest is a hypothetical argument at this stage and of little comfort to the eventual losers.

Overall, Johnny Kelly’s charges were deserving winners. They carried a greater goal threat and definitely could have raised more than two green flags, whereas Westmeath never created a genuine goalscoring opportunity in the second half from open play.

Offaly gained the upper hand in the middle third in the second period and it was notable that Westmeath players were forced into overcarrying on a few occasions due to the pressure exerted by the men in the tricoloured jerseys.

Westmeath made two changes to their listed line-up, with Aaron Craig and David Williams replacing Johnny Bermingham (illness) and Ciarán Doyle respectively, while there was one change to the Offaly starting team, Padraig Cantwell coming in for Adam Screeney, who did not feature at all due to an injury concern.

Both sides suffered injury blows on the day, Westmeath’s Robbie Greville (quite early in the contest) and Cormac Boyle forced off, while Offaly duo Sam Bourke and David Nally suffered a similar fate.

In a dramatic opening to proceedings at Glenisk O’Connor Park, Offaly captain Jason Sampson was given his marching orders after an incident which left Aonghus Clarke on the ground. Referee Brian Keon had no hesitation in issuing a straight red card.

Sharpshooter Killian Doyle opened the scoring for wind-assisted Westmeath with a free inside his own half, before impressive Offaly defender Ben Conneely equalised with a shot which looked wide from the vantage point of the press box.

Offaly made light of their numerical deficiency in the early stages, with Brian Duignan’s incisive pass inside creating a goal chance for the lively David Nally. The Belmont man was fouled at the expense of a penalty, which Duignan swept to the net after three minutes.

Westmeath were boosted by a long-range point from Robbie Greville (whose injury-enforced withdrawal was a blow, though his replacement Peter Clarke certainly impressed) and a sixth-minute goal from David O’Reilly who dispatched the sliotar with aplomb after a fine catch.

Fellow U20 player David Williams then edged Westmeath ahead 1-3 to 1-2, before Offaly were awarded a second penalty, with Egerton receiving a black card (and therefore 10 minutes in the sin bin) for the foul on the threatening Duignan. On this occasion, Duignan’s penalty was well saved by Noel Conaty, who dived smartly to his right and deflected the ball out for a ’65, which Duignan converted.

Apart from a point by Eoin Keyes, Westmeath’s remaining points in the first half were all scored by Killian Doyle (six frees and one ’65). The Raharney player also had a decent goal chance when the sides were tied 1-7 apiece, but his shot didn’t have sufficient venom to beat Offaly keeper Mark Troy.

For Offaly, Killian Sampson chipped in with two points while Charlie Mitchell and Eimhin Kelly were offering plenty of able support to Duignan.

The sides were level 1-11 each at half-time, Westmeath having played with the aid of the slight breeze.

Westmeath had some promising moments in the third quarter with the hitherto subdued Niall Mitchell making an impact for a spell, while Doyle added three points from play to his freetaking haul.

Still, the promise soon faded and Offaly opened up leads of three points on a few occasions. A surprising miss from a Duignan free was a let-off for Westmeath and, although Offaly looked the more likely winners for the majority of the second half, Joe Fortune’s charges managed to draw level at 1-19 each by the 65th minute, thanks to a great score under pressure from O’Reilly.

But points from Duignan (a free, after Westmeath coughed up possession cheaply) and influential defender Cillian Kiely, followed by that vital goal from Dan Bourke (who finished off the ground to net), put Offaly firmly on the road to victory as the Faithful men bounced back from their loss to Laois.

Doyle tried for a goal from two frees around the 20-metre line near the end, but both efforts were blocked as a Westmeath consolation goal proved elusive.

Scorers - Offaly: B Duignan 1-11 (1-0pen, 8f, 1 ‘65); D Bourke 1-0; C Kiely 0-3; K Sampson, C Mitchell, E Kelly 0-2 each; B Conneely, C King, L Fox 0-1 each. Westmeath: K Doyle 0-15 (11f, 1 ‘65); D O’Reilly 1-1; R Greville, E Keyes, D Williams, D Glennon 0-1 each.

Offaly: Mark Troy; Cathal King; Ciaran Burke, Padraig Cantwell; Ben Conneely; Cillian Kiely, Sam Bourke; Jason Sampson (captain), David King; Killian Sampson, Brian Duignan, David Nally; Dan Bourke, Charlie Mitchell, Eimhin Kelly. Subs used: Jack Clancy for S Bourke (injured, 35 mins); Donal Shirley for Cantwell (h-t); Oisín Kelly for Nally (inj., 47); Leon Fox for Clancy (66).

Westmeath: Noel Conaty; Kevin Regan, Tommy Doyle, Darragh Egerton; Robbie Greville, Aonghus Clarke, Aaron Craig; Cormac Boyle, Charlie McCormack; Joey Boyle, Killian Doyle (captain), Niall Mitchell; David O’Reilly, Eoin Keyes, David Williams. Subs used: Peter Clarke for Greville (injured, 19 mins); Conor Gaffney for McCormack (h-t); Owen McCabe for Keyes (51); Davy Glennon for C Boyle (inj., 55); Ciarán Doyle for Williams (66).

Referee: Brian Keon (Galway).