Westmeath given reality check as Royals’ strong start sets tone
Meath 0-19, Westmeath 0-12
After the optimism prompted by the previous week's win over Offaly, Westmeath's U20 footballers were brought crashing back to earth as Meath claimed a decisive victory in Kinnegad last Wednesday night.
This always promised to be a difficult assignment for Westmeath against a Meath team who had defeated Dublin in the opening round. By the time Westmeath managed to find something approaching their true form, they were already ten points down in this encounter. It was a mountain to climb. Meath's lead looked unassailable and so it proved.
There was a lack of conviction about Westmeath's shooting and in addition to a total of ten wides, several efforts dropped short - a malaise which drained confidence from the team and home supporters alike. Perhaps nerves and the pressure of expectation played a part in Westmeath's first half showing.
Westmeath kept plugging away and they did stage a mini-revival in the second half, but were hit by another blow when reduced to 14 players in the 46th minute. In truth, however, it looked like a damage limitation exercise, even allowing for the possibility of two-pointers turning the tide.
All is not lost, however, and Westmeath still have a winner-takes-all showdown against Dublin to come at Parnell Park on Wednesday night, throw-in 7.30pm. Considering the graveyard for Westmeath hopes that Parnell Park has been over the years, a victory there would surely represent the best result any team from the county has achieved in underage football for several years.
On a fine evening in Kinnegad, there was a decent crowd in attendance with both teams well supported. Jamie Murphy was the Meath star in their win over Dublin, scoring 1-10, but he was restricted to just two points from frees on this occasion, with Adam Keane doing a good marking job. However, Meath had plenty of others who stepped up to the mark in style.
Backed by the breeze, Cathal Ó Bric's charges led 0-10 to 0-0 by the 18th minute. The excellent Michael McIvor set the tone for Meath, the powerful midfielder contributing five of those points, including a two-pointer which followed his opening score.
With John Harkin also getting on the scoresheet, McIvor's fourth score also looked like a two-pointer, but a white flag rather than an orange one was raised. Any debate over the score proved academic in the end, and the Royals were finding gaps in the Westmeath defence with alarming ease.
Midfielder Shane Ormsby looked the most likely to inspire Westmeath in the first half and he made an incisive run forward, setting up a chance for wing-back Kealan Connell which was deflected out for a fruitless '45'. Obviously concerned at the way the game was going, the Westmeath management opted to make an early change with Taylor Slevin introduced in place of Billy Moffatt.
Meath corner-forward Liam Jennings sent over a point (a goal looked a possibility) before the lively Ben Corkery hit two in quick succession, one off either foot. A stylish point by wing-back Finn White brought Meath's lead to double figures.
Having registered four wides (in addition to the efforts which dropped short), Westmeath's wait for a score finally ended in the 21st minute when Finn Duffy converted a free earned by Shane Corcoran.
Boosted by getting off the mark, a brilliant point by Ormsby followed (25th minute), while Tadhg Baker almost got a flick to a delivery inside which could have yielded a goal. Another foul on Corcoran, perilously close to inside the square, gave Duffy the chance to point his second free. Meath replied with points by Cian Commons and Harkin, before Jack Duncan's score left it 0-12 to 0-4 at half-time.
Kenny McKinley's charges were more competitive in the second half when they outscored the visitors by 0-8 to 0-7. Duncan and Corcoran offered a greater threat in the second period and Tadhg Baker became more influential around midfield.
Shortly after the restart, Duncan created a goal chance from which Corcoran fired wide. Points were swapped between Jamie Murphy (a free) and Corcoran, before Rian Stafford (a nephew of free-taking specialist Brian Stafford) landed a brace (one free).
Westmeath then enjoyed a productive spell, which was ignited by Taylor Slevin's two-pointer, with points following from Corcoran (who blasted over after Duncan set him up) and Ormsby (a fine score). The deficit was down to six points (0-15 to 0-9) and one wondered if Westmeath could apply further pressure.
Substitute Tom Bourke, who did make an impact in his short time on the pitch, was shown a second yellow (46th minute) and this undermined whatever momentum Westmeath had built up.
McIvor, though not as influential in the second half, steadied Meath with a point. Jennings exploited a defensive error from Westmeath and Commons sent over a superb point (51st minute). Suddenly Meath's lead was back up to nine points (0-18 to 0-9) and any remaining doubt over the outcome had evaporated.
Ronan Murray, who never stopped trying in characteristic fashion, pointed a free, before Murphy did likewise at the other end (after Westmeath were punished for not keeping enough players in their own half).
In the time remaining, Westmeath scored consolation points courtesy of lively sub Connor Callaghan (a free) and Corcoran. But late efforts which flew wide from Ormsby and Kealan Connell were a start reminder of a frustrating night for Westmeath overall.
Scorers - Meath: M McIvor 0-6 (1 2p); J Harkin, C Commons, B Corkery, L Jennings, R Stafford (1 free) and J Murphy (2f) 0-2 each; F White 0-1. Westmeath: S Corcoran 0-3; S Ormsby, T Slevin (2p) and F Duffy (2f) 0-2 each; J Duncan, R Murray (f) and C Callaghan (f) 0-1 each.
Meath - Matthew Kealy; Sam Jordan, Rian Early, Ciaran O'Hare; Tadhg Martyn, John Gormley, Finn White; Eamonn Armstrong, Michael McIvor; Rian Stafford, John Harkin, Cian Commons; Ben Corkery, Jamie Murphy, Liam Jennings. Subs: James Reeves for Gormley (38 mins), Zach Thornton for Harkin (52), Séimí Byrne for White (54), Pat Crawley for Corkery (55), Fiach Hartigan for Jordan (60).
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: Taylor Slevin for Moffatt (15 mins), Tom Bourke for Duffy (half-time), Tiarnán O'Donovan for Kelly, Oisin Shortall for Curran both (42), Connor Callaghan for Murray (52).
Referee - David Hickey (Carlow).