More minor misery
April 30, 2010The appointment of Ger Heavin as manager was expected to lead to a major upswing in the fortunes of the Westmeath minor footballers in 2009. Alas, not even the presence of the former senior star on the sideline could prevent another disappointing Leinster championship campaign from unfolding.
In keeping with the trend of recent years, a promising first round win over Carlow was followed by a frustrating loss at the hands of Meath in the quarter-final. The signs looked encouraging for Westmeath when they led by three points early on, but they made far too many basic mistakes which were severely punished by the reigning provincial champions and this, allied to the harsh dismissal of star player John Heslin at the start of the second half, ensured another disappointing exit.
While the team wasn't as highly-rated as that which suffered a shock defeat to Offaly at the same stage in 2008, it was hoped that with a decent carryover of players from that side, the Lake County could make its mark. But it wasn't to be, meaning Westmeath has now gone 10 years without winning a Leinster minor championship. What's even more worrying is the fact that the county has hardly challenged for a provincial title in that time, despite producing teams which have looked very strong 'on paper'.
Westmeath schools may be a force to be reckoned with on the Leinster Colleges scene, but this success sadly hasn't transferred onto the minor stage. The sense of frustration is only added to by the fact that Westmeath have yet to benefit from the backdoor system in the same way as the likes of Offaly and Carlow have, simply because they haven't lost a first round game since its introduction a few years ago.
As in 2008, Westmeath opened their championship campaign with a trip to Dr Cullen Park to face Carlow. After leading by just two points at half-time, 0-5 to 0-3, the visitors cut loose in the second half to run out emphatic winners by 1-15 to 1-6.
Ger Heavin's charges were slow to settle and fell behind to an early point from Eamon Fitzgerald. But an Eoin Gorman free brought them level before a similar score from Niall Humphreys put the hosts back in front after nine minutes.
The next 10 minutes or so bore witness to some scrappy play from both sides. Indeed, the quality of football suffered to such an extent that there was no further scoring until John Heslin equalised from a free in the 21st minute. Immediately from the kick-out, the impressive Wayne Fox gained possession before kicking Westmeath into a lead they never subsequently relinquished.
The Coralstown/Kinnegad youngster set up Eoin Gorman for another score two minutes later, and although Darragh Foley replied with a long-range pointed free, John Heslin's free restored Westmeath's two-point advantage at the interval.
Westmeath emerged a much more purposeful unit for what proved to be a defining third quarter. With Heslin and Ger Egan taking complete control at midfield, Westmeath quickly extended their lead with a brace of points each from Gorman and Heslin, and one from Jason Cully.
Midway through the half, Kelvin Reilly put the game beyond Carlow's reach when he punished a defensive lapse between goalkeeper Craig Kearney and full back Paul Costello to score the opening goal. Two more points from St. Mary's Eoin Gorman, including his fifth from a free, pushed the visitors into a 10-point lead before Carlow were thrown a lifeline when Daryl Roberts scrambled home a goal in the 49th minute.
After midfielder Stephen Smith had cut the deficit to six points in the 53rd minute, Westmeath goalkeeper Brian Finerty was called upon to make a vital save from the same player. Following that let-off, Westmeath stepped up the tempo again and added three more points per man of the match Callum McCormack (two) and Jason Cully before Daryl Roberts completed the scoring for a well-beaten home side.
Westmeath's reward for beating Carlow was a trip to Navan to face Meath on May 23. The visitors needed to make the most of their wind advantage in the first half, but instead went into the break trailing by 0-6 to 0-8. And their challenge faded completely after going down to 14 men just after the restart, with Meath eventually winning by 0-18 to 0-9.
Westmeath's performance was littered with basic mistakes and numerous unforced errors. The Royals had plenty of talent throughout their side, and Pat Coyle's men availed of almost every opportunity presented to them. Damien Carroll was outstanding at midfield as was Sean Tobin at top of the right.
Ger Heavin's side were first off the mark with a point from Eoin Gorman inside the first minute. Meath quickly equalised when Liam Tolan set up midfield totem Carroll before Wayne Fox put Westmeath back in front. But once again, Carroll responded for the home side.
Westmeath then enjoyed their best spell of the game which saw them score three points in as many minutes, the first from a John Heslin free after Ben Hogan was fouled. Eoin Gorman also found the target from a free before Wayne Fox made it 0-5 to 0-2 in the visitors' favour.
However, Westmeath would only score once more in the first half as Meath made light of the strong wind facing them to dominate the second quarter. A Damien Carroll free was the first of six unanswered points from the Royals with Conor Deveraux, Mark O'Sullivan, Padraig McKeever, Sean Tobin and Emmet Boyle also getting in on the scoring act. The Meath scoring sequence was broken by a Kelvin Reilly free which left the maroon and whites trailing by two points at half-time.
The second half was only two minutes old when disaster struck for Westmeath. John Heslin, who had been their top performer in the opening half, was issued with a second yellow card for what looked a innocuous challenge on a Meath opponent after a free was awarded against him. To add insult to injury, Damien Carroll converted the free to make it 0-9 to 0-6.
Robbie Kenny reduced the deficit to two points once again before Meath grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. Making the most of their numerical advantage, the hosts surged clear with five more unanswered points from Padraig McKeever (two), Conor Deveraux (two) and Harrison Silke.
Trailing by 0-7 to 0-14 with 15 minutes remaining, Westmeath looked a beaten team, but did manage a pointed free from Gorman. The Royals hit back with efforts from Liam Tolan and Emmet Boyle before Ger Egan registered what proved to be the visitors' final score.
Westmeath were awarded a 13-metre free which Eoin Gorman drove low and hard into the side netting before further points from David Larkin and Tolan sealed a double-scores victory for the home side.
TheWestmeath team which lost to Meath in the Leinster MFC quarter-final was: Scott Gaynor; Ciaran Sheridan, Kevin Maguire, Ben Moran; Ben Hogan, Alan Fitzpatrick (captain), Trevor Farrell; Ger Egan (0-1, free), John Heslin (0-1, free); Robbie Kenny (0-1), Callum McCormack, Wayne Fox (0-2); Kelvin Reilly (0-1, free), Eoin Gorman (0-3, 2 frees), Jason Cully. Subs: Cormac Boyle for Hogan (42), Stephen Gilmore for Fox (45), James Geoghegan for McCormack (51). Tweet
