Westmeath 2-13
Wicklow 0-10

John Corbally hit 2-5 as Westmeath easily disposed of 14-man Wicklow at a wintry Cusack Park to set up a Leinster MFC semi-final meeting with neighbours Meath for the second year in succession.

Tommy Carr's much-changed side got the job done in the first 10 minutes when they scored 2-3 without reply against the strong wind to leave the visitors shell-shocked.

Wicklow managed to reduce the deficit to three points, 0-8 to 2-5, by the 27th minute, but Westmeath grabbed the last two points of the first half to lead by five at the break and they were never seriously threatened thereafter, despite only registering six points with the wind to their backs and playing with the advantage of an extra man after Wicklow's Niall Donnelly was sent off in the 42nd minute.

The wing back from St. Pat's was given his marching orders by Kildare referee Brendan Cawley after picking up a second yellow card.

Showing six changes in personnel from their first round win over Wexford, Westmeath registered early points through Robert Hickey and Liam Cassidy before Hickey set up Corbally for his first goal in the fifth minute. Alan Hughes added a third point before Moate All-Whites clubman Corbally rattled the net for a second time after cutting in from the left sideline.

The tricky Mickey O'Connor eventually opened Wicklow's account from a free in the 13th minute. Thomas Donoghue and O'Connor added further frees to bring the margin down to six before Corbally landed a placed ball at the other end.

O'Connor scored two points either side of another Corbally free before three Wicklow points without reply from O'Connor (free), Conor Devlin and Paul Murtagh left just a goal in it. But Westmeath took a 2-7 to 0-8 lead into the interval thanks to late points from Corbally (free) and Cassidy.

The tempo dropped considerably after the restart as the hosts extended their lead with frees from Darren Giles and Corbally. Wicklow were reduced to 14 men by the time Thomas Donohue scored their first point of the second half from a free.

Despite making a number of unforced errors, Westmeath tagged on three more points per Corbally (free), Cassidy and sub Kieran Shanley to regain a nine-point lead for the first time since the 10th minute. In the closing stages, O'Connor and Giles exchanged frees.

As there is no 'home and away' arrangement between Westmeath and Meath in minor football, Tommy Carr's men will have home advantage for the second year-in-a-row against the Royals on July 6 on the basis that they were first team drawn from the hat.

Westmeath - J Hyland; S Doyle, I Illunga, M Darling; D Giles (0-2), R Caffrey, B Sayeh; T Watts, S Omukoro; J Scully, A Hughes (0-1), R Cunningham; J Corbally (2-5), R Hickey (0-1), L Cassidy (0-3). Subs: C Shanley (0-1) for Hughes, B O'Donohoe for Doyle, A McGivney for Cunningham, A McCormack for Sayeh, C Marlowe for Omukoro.

Wicklow - R Fitzgerald; R Marron, A Benson, J Gilligan; C Devlin (0-1), D Baker, N Donnelly; D Boothman, P Murtagh (0-1); S Boucher, D Tompkins, T Donohoe (0-2); B Doyle, C Healy, M O'Connor (0-6). Subs: E Cullen for Benson, C Lambert for Boucher, I Richardson for Tompkins.

Referee - B Cawley. Tweet

Most Read Stories