Westmeath shock Meath to reach Leinster semi-finals
Westmeath recording a sensational win over a shell-shocked Meath in a high quality and intense Leinster Football Championship clash in O'Connor Park.The pre-match favourites did very well to get back into contention late on, hunting down a 10-point deficit to get it back down to one two-point score.Time, however, was against them and a very relieved Westmeath sort of fell across the line, with sub Danny McCartan getting their fourth goal with just a couple of seconds left to the buzzer.It was a richly deserved win for Westmeath, who played some excellent football and it would have been a travesty of justice if they hadn’t won.It was a real championship game, played on possibly the best day of the year to date and even saw the throw-in delayed by 10 minutes because of traffic hold ups on the approach roads to Tullamore.Westmeath were in a strong position when they led by 2-09 to 0-09 at half-time. The favourites, Meath had threatened to eat them alive early on. Jordan Morris and Eoghan Frayne got quick points and they dominated but also had three wides in this period, a couple of them two point attempts.Westmeath settled with a seventh minute point from Ray Connellan in their first real attack and levelled it with a Brandon Kelly mark, after his shot was well saved by Sean Brennan.Westmeath were the better team from here to the interval. They led by 0-04 to 0-02 after thirteen minutes but Meath responded with three in a row to take a one point lead three minutes later, Aaron Lynch putting them in front.Meath were 0-06 to 0-05 ahead when Westmeath got the first goal in the 24th minute, Matthew Whittaker finishing well from close range. Sam McCartan added a free to make it 1-06 to 0-07.Meath responded with points from Ruari Kinsella and Frayne but the game turned in Westmeath’s favour with their second goal in the 30th minute.Aaron Lynch had a chance at the other end, attempting an audacious flick to the net instead of taking the simple mark and then having a free shot at goals. Westmeath raced up the field and Shane Corcoran booted home the goal.Westmeath now had the wind in their sails and finished powerfully with three in a row for a very satisfying six point half time lead.The winners looked the hungrier side for much of the second half, fighting that bit harder for everything until Meath finally got their intensity levels and drive right in the closing quarter. A great two pointer from the outstanding Luke O’Loughlin helped Westmeath to a 2-12 to 0-10 lead after 38 minutes. They were 2-15 to 0-13 ahead after 44 minutes when they lost their ace forward O’Loughlin to a hamstring injury. Meath sub, James Conlon sparked much needed life into their attack, getting two of his four points to bring the gap down to six after 49 minutes.A Sam McCartan point for Westmeath was followed by a breathtaking goal from Robbie Forde to give Westmeath a 3-16 to 0-15 lead in the 52nd minute. Meath rallied with Conlon getting two more points and Jack Flynn firing over a two pointer to keep them going, now six behind. Westmeath did well to keep the score board ticking over and points from Ray Connellan and Sam McCartan kept Meath at arm’s length.It was 3-18 to 0-21 with six minutes left and Meath did really well to get back to within two points. They had to get a goal, however, and their only chance fell to Ruari Kinsella but he blazed over after a most uncharacteristic mistake by Westmeath captain, Ronan Wallace.Kinsella’s two pointer and Jordan Morris’ free left two in it with two minutes left but the clock was ticking and Westmeath were able to get their hands on enough ball to hold out for a memorable win.WESTMEATH: Conor McCormack; Daniel Scahill, Charie Drumm, Tadgh Baker; Ronan Wallace, Shane Allen, Matthew Whittaker (1-00); Brian Cooney (0-01), Ray Connellan (0-02); Kevin O’Sullivan (0-01), Sam McCartan (0-04, 3f), Conor Dillon; Shane Corcoran (1-02), Luke Loughlin (0-06, 1 x 2p), Brandon Kelly (0-02, 1 mark).Subs –Jason Daly for McCormack, inj. (8m), Shane Ormbsy for Cooney (39m), Robbie Forde (1-0) for O’Loughlin, inj. (50m), Tom Molloy for Allen (52m), Danny McCartan (1-0) for Kelly (60m).MEATH: Sean Brennan; Seamus Lavin, Sean Rafferty, Brian O’Halloran; Donal Keoghan, Sean Coffey, Ciaran Caulfield; Cian McBride, Bryan Menton (0-01); Jack O’Connor (0-02), Ruari Kinsella (0-06, 2 x 2p), Jack Flynn (0-03, 1 x 2p); Jordan Morris (0-03, 2f), Eoghan Frayne (0-04, 1 x 2pf), Aaron Lynch (0-02).Subs – James Conlon (0-04) for Lynch (37m), Cathal Hickey for McBride (50m), Killian Smyth for O’Halloran (50m), Conor Duke for O’Connor (53m), Keith Curtis for Frayne (56m).Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).
