Westmeath's recent tale of woe in minor football continued in 2005 when Dermot Brady's charges had their championship interests ended by Offaly for the second year in-a-row. Some encouragement can be taken, however, from the fact that the Faithful County went on to reach the All-Ireland semi-final. It is an indication of how much underage standards have slipped since Westmeath's last Leinster minor football championship success in 2000 that just one championship victory has been achieved in that time. That came in 2001 when Wexford were defeated after a replay. Westmeath subsequently lost to Offaly in the Leinster semi-final and it was the Faithful County who ended their championship interests for the second year running at Cusack Park on May 14 last. As in 2004, Westmeath paid a costly price for their failure to translate possession into scores, with a monstrous free from Offaly midfielder Ross Brady three minutes from the end deciding the result. The winning score was a real kick in the teeth for the home side who were adamant that the free should never have been awarded, but even so, Westmeath had only themselves to blame for the loss which condemned them to yet another early championship exit. Offaly subsequently beat Meath before losing to Laois in the Leinster final. However, they then recorded a shock victory over Munster champions Cork and stayed with Down for a long time in the All-Ireland semi-final before eventually going under to the powerful Mourne County outfit, who easily accounted for Mayo in the All-Ireland decider. Offaly's progress to the All-Ireland semi-final provides some encouragement for Westmeath who will hope to benefit from the new Leinster championship round-robin series which comes into effect this year. Managed by former county and Railway Cup player Dermot Brady - who has been reinstated for the coming year - Westmeath failed to win a game in the Leinster League despite spirited performances against Offaly and Dublin. In their first outing against Offaly at Rosemount in late January, Garrycastle's Conor Cosgrove converted a last gasp '45' to earn the Lake County a 0-10 to 0-10 draw. Westmeath looked physically overpowered at times and were flattered to be just three points behind at the interval. However, they showed great character in the second half and deserved a share of the spoils. Early points from Cosgrove and AJ Murray gave the home side a 0-3 to 0-1 lead, but Offaly replied with an unanswered 0-6 to take a firm grip on proceedings. Scores from Cosgrove and Keith Scally reduced the leeway before St. Joseph's, Rochfortbridge star Ken Casey pointed a free to leave Offaly 0-8 to 0-5 ahead at the break. Following the resumption, substitute Paul Kirby, Cosgrove and Ciaran Lynam registered points to bring Westmeath back onto level terms. Offaly hit back with scores from David Kavanagh and Padraig Duffy to lead by 0-10 to 0-8 after 50 minutes. But after substitute Brendan Kelly had reduced the deficit to the minimum, Kirby forced a late '45' which Cosgrove brilliantly converted. Westmeath were desperately unlucky not to beat Dublin in their second league outing at the St. Claire's ground in Glasnevin, being denied victory by an equalizing point four minutes into injury-time. Dublin were well on top in the early stages, but the visitors improved as the half wore on with scores from John Connellan, Conor Cosgrove and Brendan Kelly leaving them just a point in arrears, 0-5 to 0-6, at the interval. Following the restart, the Metropolitans doubled their lead and they kept their noses in front until the 45th minute when Cosgrove and Alan Gaughan combined to set up Keith Scally for a well-taken goal. Cosgrove put Westmeath three points clear with 10 minutes remaining, but Dublin kept their composure and after points from Diarmuid Connolly and Shane O'Rourke had reduced the deficit to the minimum, Connolly grabbed a late, late equalizer to leave the final score reading 1-8 to 0-11. Westmeath's Leinster League form nosedived dramatically after that. A crushing 0-2 to 3-7 defeat to Laois was followed by a 19-point trashing at the hands of Kildare, leaving morale low heading into the championship. Despite being without the services of senior star Donie Brennan, Laois swooped for three goals in the first 12 minutes and Westmeath had to wait until the 29th minute for the first score from Conor Cosgrove. The O'Moore County led by 3-5 to 0-1 at half-time and it was a case of salvaging pride in the second half, but Westmeath managed just one further score when John Connellan pointed from play. If supporters thought the Laois defeat was the low-point of the season, they were wrong. Three weeks later, a depleted Westmeath team was on the receiving end of a 0-3 to 1-19 hammering against Kildare at Carbury. This was as poor a performance as has been seen from a Westmeath minor team in recent years, with Kildare superior in every facet of play. Ironically, Westmeath opened the scoring through Conor Cosgrove but it was all downhill after that as the Lilywhites romped to victory. In between the Laois and Kildare drubbings, Westmeath also lost to Meath at Simonstown, but at least they couldn't be accused of going down without a fight. The Royals led by 2-6 to 0-2 at one stage, but a stirring comeback which included goals from Andrew Whitney and Conor Cosgrove left just a solitary point between the teams with five minutes remaining. But try as they might, Westmeath were unable to gain parity and in injury-time, Meath scored 1-1 without reply to seal a 3-8 to 2-6 victory. After such a run of results, it was hardly surprising that Westmeath went into their Leinster championship clash with Offaly as underdogs. But cheered on by the home support, they came tantalizingly close to beating their near neighbours. The harsh reality is that Dermot Brady's charges lacked the necessary cutting edge in attack to advance. The forward division returned just two scores from play over the hour and was guilty of kicking nine wides when wind-assisted in the first half. Furthermore, the sending off of wing forward AJ Murray for a second yellow card offence in the 43rd minute had a major bearing on the outcome. After trailing by a point at the interval, Westmeath had battled back to lead by two points and were clearly in the ascendancy until the Coralstown/Kinnegad man's dismissal. Another definite factor in Westmeath's loss was an injury to big midfielder John Aherne who, after coming off the bench, was forced to retire at a crucial stage in the second half. After Alan Lynam and John Connellan exchanged early points, Westmeath proceeded to miss a host of chances and it was Offaly who went in front again in the 12th minute when full forward Padraig Duffy fired over. The home side's woeful shooting was proving a major frustration, but they got back on level terms courtesy of an Alan Gaughan point. Offaly replied with scores from Lynam and Ross Brady before another Gaughan effort left the minimum between the sides at the break. When Casey tagged on two frees following the restart, Westmeath appeared to be in big trouble. But they responded magnificently with points from team captain Ronan Foley and Connellan being followed by a goal from Athlone clubman Connellan. But Westmeath's numerical disadvantage began to tell in the final quarter as the defence came under sustained pressure. Casey eventually brought Offaly level from a free before Brady sent over the winner from 60 yards. Connellan had two chances to level from long-range frees thereafter, but failed to find the target as the Faithful County - who also finished with 14 players after Brady's late dismissal - held on for a 0-10 to 1-6 victory. The Westmeath team which lost to Offaly in the Leinster minor football championship quarter-final was: Robbie Lynch; Darren Price, Aaron Purcell, Willie Murtagh; Andrew Whitney, Ciaran Gavin, Ronan Foley (captain); Alan Gaughan, James Durkan; AJ Murray, Keith Scally, Brendan Kelly; Conrad Reilly, Rory O'Reilly, John Connellan. Subs used: John Aherne, Shane Egan, Paul Leonard, Danny Fielding and Eoin O'Flaherty. Tweet

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