Watch: All the goals as Westmeath beat neighbours with impressive first-half display
June 19, 2022
Westmeath's Lorcan Dolan celebrates after scoring a goal against Offaly. ©INPHO/Evan Treacy.
An impressive first-half performance saw Westmeath progress to the first-ever Tailteann Cup final, as they beat neighbours Offaly with considerable ease at Croke Park this afternoon, 3-22 to 2-16.
Jack Cooney's side made light of playing against the wind in the opening period, finding the net twice inside the opening 22 minutes to build a 2-11 to 1-6 lead by half-time in front of an attendance of 16,616.
The first goal arrived after 14 minutes as David Lynch fed the onrushing Ronan Wallace, who fired home to leave the Lake County 1-4 to 0-0 ahead at that stage.
Offaly responded with a goal as veteran forward Niall McNamee showed quick thinking to pick out Keith O'Neill, although they were pegged back again when Lorcan Dolan pulled on a loose ball to net from close range.
Castledaly clubman Dolan showed his class once more after the break, sneaking another past goalkeeper Paddy Dunican with one of the sweetest outside-of-the-boot strikes.
That pretty much left his side home and hosed with just under 20 minutes remaining (3-15 to 1-11), after Offaly midfielder Jordan Hayes had his effort on goal deflected out for a '45.
With the game over as a contest, substitute Cathal Flynn raised Offaly's second green flag, hitting a rasper of a shot beyond goalkeeper Jason Daly.
Dolan finished with 2-1 to his name, while John Heslin weighed in with 0-8 and his fellow St Loman's clubmate Ronan O'Toole with four from play but this was a superb all-round team display from Cooney's charges.
They can now look forward to a date with Cavan, a game which will take place before the first All-Ireland SFC semi-final on Saturday, 9 July.
Watch all five goals below:
Ronan Wallace scores an excellent goal to increase @westmeath_gaa's lead. pic.twitter.com/21eo9ltO8d
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 19, 2022
Keith O'Neill scores a fantastic goal for @Offaly_GAA. pic.twitter.com/1hLTBRKTiU
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 19, 2022
Lorcan Dolan scores @westmeath_gaa's second goal of the game. pic.twitter.com/nEtO6uL5OS
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 19, 2022
Lorcan Dolan places his shot beautifully to get his second goal of the game for @westmeath_gaa. pic.twitter.com/2m0Tezabba
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 19, 2022
Cathal Flynn scores a brilliant goal for @Offaly_GAA following an impressive passage of play. pic.twitter.com/N8Er4kRLN9
— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 19, 2022
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