Ryan goal proves the turning point

An unanswered haul of 2-2 between the 22nd and 35th minutes of the second half effectively garnered two vital National Football League points for 14-man Galway in Cusack Park last Sunday, already leaving Westmeath with something of an uphill task to retain precious Division One status, with four of the Lake County"s six remaining fixtures taking place away from home. It was a bitterly cold but far from an unpleasant afternoon in Mullingar, making the attendance of approximately 2,800 quite disappointing, given that the home fans are far from used to seeing the cream of the country"s footballers plying their trade at Westmeath GAA headquarters. Overall, however, Tomás Ó Flatharta will not be entirely displeased with his side"s showing. An undoubted highlight was the very encouraging league debut of teenager Thomas McDaniel, who looks likely to add significantly to the county"s scoring options for many years to come. On the negative side, midfield remains a conundrum, with Martin Flanagan expected to be out for almost the entire league campaign and David Duffy likely to need a lot of match practice to return to anything like his best form. Many tried and trusted players who missed out on the O"Byrne Cup and Shield games looked decidedly ring-rusty and the wisdom of the powers-that-be in banning collective training in November and December looks questionable (while conceding that Galway were subject to the same ban). The Lake County conceded only 4-116 in 13 league and championship games in 2008, an astonishing average of under ten points. The four goals came in four different games and Galway"s tally of 2-10 shatters some of the heroic statistics achieved last year, despite six out of seven regulars manning the same defensive jerseys as in 2008 (Damien Healy, who is overseas at the moment, being the absentee). However, it"s premature to be overly negative as a defeat to Dublin in Parnell Park just 12 months ago (albeit by two points and conceding only 1-7) precipitated a marvellous league campaign for the Leinster maroon and whites. After a wonderful rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann by Mullingar man Emmett Cahill, Westmeath (wearing an unfamiliar green and white strip) got their eagerly-awaited league opener underway. Des Dolan opened the scoring in the second minute, dissecting the posts from a 40-metre free taken from the ground after Doran Harte was fouled. Within a minute, with the home defence still trying to settle into a rhythm, Padraic Joyce picked out his cousin Nicky, who tapped over a simple opportunity with ease. One of Westmeath"s four debutants at this level, Paul Kelly got his name on the scoresheet in the seventh minute when he pointed in style, after receiving the ball from Paul Bannon. The strength of the wind favouring the Connacht champions was evident in the relative weakness of Gary Connaughton"s kicking and Padraic Joyce fielded the ball directly from the kick-out in the ninth minute and duly rifled over his side"s second point with his trusted left foot. The Tribesmen soon went ahead, Cormac Bane pointing at the end of a swift counterattack, after Paul Bannon was caught in possession. A jersey pull on Thomas McDaniel gave Des Dolan the chance to equalise in the 12th minute from a 25-metre free. Westmeath"s somewhat precarious short-passing game out of defence was causing many home fans" hearts to flutter at this juncture and things almost got worse in the 14th minute. However, Gary Connaughton proved his All-Star credentials with a great diving save with his feet to prevent what seemed a certain goal from Michael Meehan. Seconds later, the Caltra man tapped over a close-range free to put his side 0-4 to 0-3 to the good. The Lake County defence continued to live dangerously and when John Keane fouled Nicky Joyce in the large parallelogram, the referee immediately awarded the westerners a penalty. Michael Meehan"s thunderbolt from the penalty spot flew over via the crossbar, leaving Westmeath undoubtedly flattered to be trailing by only two points. Enter Thomas McDaniel and the Ballinagore youngster (still a secondary school pupil in Kilbeggan) levelled the contest with a brace of points in the 20th and 23rd minutes. The first was a terrific score after an eye-catching one-two with Des Dolan and the second a composed shot following good play by Paul Bannon and Des Dolan. With ten minutes of normal time remaining, Nicky Joyce put Galway ahead again with a great point from 35 metres after a jinking run. Worryingly for the home fans, the Connacht side were winning many kick-outs unchallenged and, from one such incident, Barry Cullinane started a move which ended with Gary Connaughton doing well to hold Cormac Bane"s high shot. A delay ensued while Kieran Gavin was treated for an injury, but Westmeath"s unforced error count continued to be on the high side and they were fortunate not to be penalised on the scoreboard for these indiscretions. However, Galway eventually punished their opponents when a push by Michael Ennis allowed Michael Meehan to demonstrate his worth with a superb 50-metre free from the ground in the 35th minute. As time ticked away the ever-dangerous Meehan was prevented from adding to his tally by fine Westmeath defending, leaving the Lake County in a reasonable position when only trailing by two points at the interval, 0-5 to 0-7. The visitors increased their lead within a minute of the restart, Michael Meehan slotting over a 20-metre free, following what seemed to be a harsh call against Doran Harte, the Garrycastle man who was getting through an amazing workload. Paul Bannon was soon carried off injured, allowing David Duffy to start his comeback after an injury of his own. Westmeath scored their sixth point in the 36th minute, Gary Connaughton"s lengthy clearance finding Denis Glennon, who set up Thomas McDaniel for his hat-trick of points with a delightful looped effort. Another Westmeath regular in recent years who had entered the fray, John Smyth put overlapping wing-back Willie Murtagh through on goal. The Ballynacargy man was fouled near the endline and Des Dolan tapped over the resultant free. Denis Glennon had endured a somewhat inconspicuous first half but his undoubted class shone through on the quarter-hour mark when a jink with his right foot freed him to fire over a great left-footed point from 35 metres to put his side on level terms. A great catch by Francis Boyle lifted his colleagues and more trademark Westmeath defending frustrated Padraic Joyce. The Connacht champions were dealt a major blow in the 18th minute when, having already lost defenders David Reilly and Finian Hanley to yellow cards in the 12th and 15th minutes respectively, Barry Cullinane swung out at the tight-marking Des Dolan and the referee had no hesitation in red-carding the towering midfielder. A loose pass by Willie Murtagh broke up a promising passage of play but the boys in green went ahead in the 21st minute, John Smyth finding Denis Glennon who replicated his earlier effort with another wonderful left-footed score. Westmeath now looked likely winners but disaster struck within a minute, when a mix-up between Kieran Gavin and John Keane saw the ball fall kindly for substitute Jonathan Ryan, who duly planted an unstoppable shot into the roof of Gary Connaughton"s net. An ambitious effort from Westmeath substitute Francis Spollen tailed just wide before a high tackle from John Smyth on Padraic Joyce saw The Downs man yellow-carded. With five minutes of normal time remaining, Paul Conroy flashed over a point for the Tribesmen, with an unmarked Michael Meehan screaming for the ball some ten metres from the Westmeath goal. However, the highly-talented full forward was not be denied with a match-winning haul of 1-1 in the closing stages. The crucial goal came when he collected a punt forward from Joe Bergin - who had become very prominent since moving to midfield after the Cullinane sending-off - and Meehan coolly planted the ball past the advancing Gary Connaughton. Westmeath"s two consolation points in injury-time - a fine shot from substitute Dermot Bannon and a converted free from Denis Glennon - hardly raised a cheer. Of the rightly-lauded Westmeath rearguard, only Derek Heavin was his ultra-consistent self throughout. Midfield looks like it may be a problem area until injuries heal, while Thomas McDaniel"s three-point salvo was a welcome shot in the arm in a forward division where, otherwise, the over-reliance on Des Dolan and Denis Glennon for scores and inspiration remains a worry. Doran Harte wears the number 12 jersey but he is not a recognised scorer. However, his ability to pop up in the right place at the right time is now an integral part of his team"s game-plan and he was truly outstanding last Sunday. Liam Sammon"s charges are likely to feature strongly in the business end of the race for the Sam Maguire Cup come the summer and autumn. Garreth Bradshaw and Darren Mullahy looked fine defenders, while they have a number of impressive options in the centrefield area. Michael Meehan must have come very close to securing an All-Star award last year. His statuette at the City West Hotel will undoubtedly come sooner rather than later. FOOTNOTE Prior to the game, a minute"s silence was observed in memory of a number of recently deceased Westmeath Gaels - Pearse Butler (St. Loman"s, Mullingar), Molly Whelan (Tubberclair), Mick Allen (Athlone), Jim Tone (Rosemount) and Johnny Ward (Rosemount). SCORERS - Galway: M. Meehan 1-5 (0-1pen, 0-3f); J. Ryan 1-0; N. Joyce 0-2; P. Conroy, P. Joyce, C. Bane 0-1 each. Westmeath: T. McDaniel 0-3; D. Glennon 0-3 (1f); D. Dolan 0-3 (3f); P. Kelly, D. Bannon 0-1 each. GALWAY: Paul Doherty; Niall Coyne, Finian Hanley, David Reilly; Garreth Bradshaw, Diarmuid Blake, Darren Mullahy; Barry Cullinane, Gary O"Donnell; Paul Conroy, Padraic Joyce (capt), Joe Bergin; Cormac Bane, Michael Meehan, Nicky Joyce. Subs: Sean Armstrong for Bane (42 mins); Adrian Faherty for Doherty (45); Mark Lydon for Reilly (yellow card, 47); Jonathan Ryan for N. Joyce (injured, 48); David Finnegan for Hanley (yellow card, 50); John Joe Greaney for Conroy (70 + 4 mins). WESTMEATH: Gary Connaughton; Francis Boyle, Kieran Gavin, John Keane (capt); Michael Ennis, Derek Heavin, Willie Murtagh; Donal O"Donoghue, Paul Bannon; Paul Kelly, Enda Leonard, Doran Harte; Thomas McDaniel, Denis Glennon, Des Dolan. Subs: David Duffy for Bannon (injured, 38 mins); John Smyth for Leonard (41); Keith Scally for Kelly (51); Francis Spollen for Murtagh (56); Dermot Bannon for Smyth (yellow card, 62 mins); Aidan Browne for Spollen (70). REFEREE: Brian Crowe (Cavan).