Dolan goal gets league campaign off to ideal start

Westmeath 1-12, Laois 0-10

Westmeath's return to winning ways continued today, after Tom Cribbin's charges opened their Allianz NFL Division 2 campaign with a five point win over Laois at Cusack Park.

A first half goal from Garrycastle's James Dolan gave the hosts a 1-6 to 0-5 at half time, despite losing forward Callum McCormack to a black card early in the first moiety.

Though Ray Connellan (0-5) was in fine form from dead ball situations, and Ger Egan (0-4) also on target, Westmeath surrendered their lead in the third quarter when Laois pulled level (0-10 to 1-7).

But the Lake County made the most of their superior numbers when Laois's Padraig McMahon was sent to the line for a second yellow card, reducing the visitors to 14 men.

In the dying moments, Laois – managed by former Westmeath boss, Tomás Ó Flatharta – lost Brendan Quigley to another red card; in first half injury time, meanwhile, Westmeath had lost marquee forward John Heslin to a black card.

See our full report and reaction in this week's paper.

Westmeath
Darren Quinn; Mark McCallon, Kevin Maguire, John Gilligan; Killian Daly, Kieran Martin, James Dolan (1-0); Paddy Holloway, David McCormack; Callum McCormack (0-1), Ger Egan (0-4, 2f), John Egan; Ray Connellan (0-5f), John Heslin (0-1f), Denis Glennon. Subs: Paul Sharry for C McCormack (b/c, 15), Lorcan Smyth for Heslin (b/c, 35), Jamie Gonoud for Holloway (half-time), Daragh Daly for D McCormack (52), John Connellan for J Egan (56), David Lynch (0-1) for Glennon (65).