Duffy delivers as Westmeath get off to winning start
Dalata Hotel Group Leinster Under-20 Football Championship - Group 1, Round 1
Westmeath 1-17 Offaly 0-14
An impressive Westmeath display ensured a winning start to the Leinster U20 Football Championship as they proved too strong for neighbours Offaly at Faithful Fields, Kilcormac last Wednesday night.
Despite a promising start by the home side, it was Westmeath who gained control through an opportunist goal by wing forward Peter Murphy and they led comfortably at half-time, 1-11 to 0-4, before securing a precious first round victory.
Murphy pounced to flick home a dropping ball in the 12th minute following a high delivery from Ronan Murray, and the visitors never looked like losing.
A strong Westmeath defence forced numerous turnovers and the industrious midfield partnership of Shane Ormsby and team captain Tadhg Baker gave them a solid platform.
In attack, talented Tubberclair player Finn Duffy stood out, leading the line from centre forward and kicking some lovely scores. Overall, Westmeath looked a cohesive unit, with Kealan Connell and Adam Keane showing serious work ethic which was reflected throughout the defence.
Kenny McKinley’s charges will be looking for more of the same when they tackle Meath (who defeated Dublin in the openng round) in round two on Wednesday night in Kinnegad at 7.30pm
Scorers - Westmeath: F Duffy 0-9 (2 2ptf, 1f); P Murphy 1-0; R Murray and R Kelly (1f) 0-2 each; B Moffatt, J Duncan, S Ormsby and S Corcoran 0-1 each. Offaly: K Bryan 0-6 (3f, 1 2ptf); C Melia (2ptf), C Foran (1f) and C Bracken (2pt) 0-2 each; S Doran and N Furlong 0-1 each.
Westmeath - Luke Nicholson; Sean Dillon, Seanaí Bracken, Aodhan Curran; Kealan Connell, Billy Moffatt, Adam Keane; Shane Ormsby, Tadhg Baker; Ryan Kelly, Finn Duffy, Peter Murphy; Shane Corcoran, Ronan Murray, Jack Duncan. Subs: Matthew Thornton for K Connell, Taylor Slevin for Moffatt (51 mins), Tiarnan O’Donovan for Duncan (56), Gareth Mullaniff for Murphy (57), Tom Bourke for Murray (60).
Offaly - Conor Melia; Jake Maher, John Colgan, Christian McKeon; Mary Goulding, David O’Rourke, Darragh Bryant; Brian Carroll, Eoin Dunne; Dara Bates, Niall Furlong, Steven Doran; Cillian Foran, Conor Fox, Kaelem Bryan. Subs: Luke Kelly for Fox (20 mins), Jack Maher for Bryant (28), Cian Bracken for Foran (44), Davin Keegan for Carroll (48), Billy Quinn for Bryan (56).
Referee - Patrick Coyle (Meath).
*See full report & reaction in this week's paper.