Masterful O"Meara

At half-time in this game in Cusack Park on Sunday last, one could be forgiven for making an early exit because at that stage Westmeath were 12 points up and cruising. The home side were simply wiping the floor with the visitors but that all changed in a second half that saw a spirited display from the Kildare boys that saw them come within 3 points of Westmeath, before the Lake County lads awoke from their slumbers to finish the game with 6 points to spare. If they were excellent in the first half, then Westmeath were equally poor in the second and, but for a brief late rally and a virtuoso display from Barry O"Meara, they could have let it all slip away. O"Meara was magnificent and scored 2-9 in a man-of-the match display. But despite the win, it will be a worry to the Westmeath mentors that they relied so much on O"Meara and had very little contribution from the rest of the team. Nonetheless, this was a workmanlike victory and indeed there is no doubting that Westmeath were by far the better team and thoroughly deserved their victory. Kildare got the first score on the board when Luke O"Reilly pointed after just 22 seconds and indeed they had the best of the opening exchanges but could not capitalise. Cormac Boyle equalised for Westmeath before O"Meara put them in front. Eoin Doyle levelled for Kildare and then two points from impressive centre-forward Martin Fitzgerald saw them take control. Boyle and Conor O"Hehir exchanged scores before Westmeath got the breakthrough they needed when a speculative David Gavin effort, which looked to be going wide, ricocheted off the Kildare goalie and into the net. It was the fillip Westmeath needed and it certainly put a pep in their step and, moments later, O"Meara had the ball in the net again when a Glen Flynn delivery fell in the square and, quick as a flash, O"Meara had it in the net. Kildare were shell shocked and two more pointed frees from O"Meara really rubbed salt into the wound. And when he then pointed from a sublime sideline cut, one could almost see the Kildare heads drop. Another pointed 65 from O"Meara and a lovely individual effort from Stephen Boylan followed. Fitzgerald got one back for Kildare but, after pointing a monster free from at least 70 metres, O"Meara crowned a superb first half when he whipped on a dropping ball along the ground and almost broke the net with the ferocity of his shot. It left the score 3-9 to 0-6 in Westmeath"s favour at the break. Kildare came out a changed side after the break and began in earnest fashion with a good point from Conor Kenny and then two in row from Martin Fitzgerald. Indeed, this was almost turning into a one man crusade and himself and O"Meara shared the next four points as Westmeath began to steady the ship. Kildare were on a roll, however, and after another pointed Fitzgerald free, he was on hand to convert a penalty in fine fashion after Westmeath had been cut completely open and now it really was game on. O"Meara pointed a free to clam things but all his good work was undone when a huge mix-up in the Westmeath defence allowed Conor Kenny through and the Kildare full-forward made no mistake to leave just three between the sides with 8 minutes to play and Kildare completely in charge. Glen Flynn calmed Westmeath nerves with a super solo score that lifted the siege. Phillip Reilly added another for Westmeath and they began to see daylight again. Fitzgerald had one last chance when Kildare were awarded a 21-yard free, but his effort was turned around the post by Niall Kelly in the Westmeath goals and, moments later, Glen Flynn finished the scoring. O"Meara was the undoubted Westmeath star but there were other fine displays from Adam Shields, Jordy Cassidy and centre-back Alan McGrath. Shane Fagan battled manfully at midfield while Cormac Boyle, Flynn and Boylan were the other forwards to impress on a day of high scoring. Seamus Qualter and his selectors will surely be quite satisfied with this victory and while there is progress being made at this level, they will see the shortcomings of this very talented Westmeath 15. Westmeath will now face Carlow in the next round on Saturday, May 2. The winners of that game will face the losers of the clash between Kilkenny and Offaly. SCORERS - Westmeath: B O"Meara 2-9 (7f); D Gavin 1-0; C Boyle, G Flynn 0-2 each; S Boylan, P Reilly 0-1 each. Kildare: M Fitzgerald: 1-8 (5f), C Kenny 1-1, L O"Reilly, E Doyle, C O"Hehir 0-1 each. WESTMEATH: Niall Kelly, Diarmuid Garvin, Adam Shields, Derek Healy, Jordy Cassidy, Alan McGrath, Colin O"Brien, Shane Donoher, Shane Fagan, Cormac Boyle, Glen Flynn, David Gavin, Stephen Boylan, Barry O"Meara, Phillip Reilly. Subs: Conor Thompson for Donoher 12 mins, Patrick Laide for O"Brien 50; Enda Kincaid for Gavin 57. KILDARE: Cormac Gallagher, Eanna Doyle, Sam Temple, Daroch O"Donncha, Mark Grace, Ross Kelly, Michael Purcell, Jonathan Byrne, Luke O"Reilly, Eoin Doyle, Martin Fitzgerald, Padraig Cullen, Conor O"Hehir, Conor Kenny, Mark Delaney. Subs: Kevin Connor for Delaney 22 mins, John Dunne for Doyle H/T, Brian Aherne for O"Hehir 46. REFEREE: Tom Anderson (Offaly).