Leinster SFC: Westmeath set up Dubs date
May 19, 2013
Kieran Martin fires to the net for Westmeath's second goal.
©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan.
Carlow 1-10
As expected Westmeath set up a Leinster SFC quarter-final showdown with Dublin after comfortably seeing off the challenge of Carlow in Cusack Park, Mullingar today.
Pat Flanagan's side proved far too strong for the visitors and the game was effectively over as a contest at the halfway stage when they enjoyed a commanding a 2-8 to 1-3 lead.
Kieran Martin found the back of the Carlow net twice in the closing stages of the opening period to confirm his side's superiority.
They continued in the same vein in the second half with James Dolan netting their third goal.
The hosts were in control right from the throw-in with points from Dessie Dolan (2) and Denis Glennon parachuted them into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead.
They suffered a slight set-back when Sean Gannon got Carlow back on level terms with the game's first goal but normal service was soon restored and points from Dolan and John Heslin (free) put them 0-5 to 1-0 ahead after 18th minutes.
To be fair, the Barrowsiders had their fair share of possession in the early stages but were let down by poor shooting.
They were left to rue their misses when Martin raised two green flags to leave them with a mountain to climb at the break.
The influential Brendan Murphy pulled two points back for Anthony Rainbow's side during the early second half exchanges before Dolan opened the Lake County's second half account.
The maroon and whites always kept a safe distance between them and their opponents and Paul Sharry rounded off the scoring two minutes from time to leave 11 points in the difference at the final whistle.
Westmeath's reward is a quarter-final against defending champions Dublin on Saturday, June 1 while Carlow must turn their attention to the qualifiers.
Westmeath - G Connaughton; M McCallon, K Gavin, K Maguire (0-1); D Harte, P Sharry (0-1), J Gaffey; D Duffy, J Heslin (0-5f); K Martin (2-0), C McCormack, J Dolan (1-1); G Egan (0-1), D Glennon (0-1), D Dolan (0-5). Subs: D Corroon for Egan, C Curley for D Dolan, D Daly for D Duffy, L Smith for Martin, Damian Dolan for Harte.
Carlow - T O'Reilly; S Mernagh, C Lawlor, B J Molloy; K Nolan, S Redmond, B Kavanagh; D Foley (0-2f), J Murphy; Brian Murphy (0-2, 1f), P Reid, E Ruth (0-1); S Gannon (1-0), Brendan Murphy (0-5, 1'45), D Hayden. Subs: J Kennedy for Reid, M Doyle for Molloy, A Kelly for J Murphy, T Bolger for Hayden, C Moran for Ruth.
Referee - C Branagan. Tweet
