Whittaker penalty gives Westmeath victory over Louth

Westmeath 3-10, Louth 1-15

Westmeath edged out Louth to progress to the semi-final of the Leinster minor football League, in a decent contest at Shandonagh on Saturday afternoon.

The Wee County held a two-point cushion with 37 minutes played, 1-9 to 1-7, but Westmeath swooped for a second goal through Dean Kelly, who had the simple task of palming the ball to the net, and from there to the final whistle, they held the edge. A third goal from a Seán Whittaker penalty, after the impressive Tubberclair man was fouled in the 48th minute, gave the home side the necessary breathing space and they just about deserved their victory.

David Geoghegan’s charges will now take on Laois on Wednesday evening to see who progresses to a final showdown against Offaly or Leitrim.

Westmeath: John Paul Carey (Caulry); Anthony King (Moate All Whites), Eoin Donohue (Millmore Gaels), Seán Keegan (Tubberclair); Conor Casey (St Loman’s), Oisin McCauley (C/Kinnegad), Seán Byrne (St Loman’s); Cian Fleming (C/Kinnegad), Dillon Burke (Shandonagh); Finn Higgins (St Paul’s), Jack Duignan (C/Kinnegad), Ruairí McCaul (Mullingar Shamrocks); Dean Kelly (Milltownpass), Will Scahill (Shandonagh), Seán Whittaker (Tubberclair). Subs used: Jake Dempsey (Shandonagh), Tomás Brennan (Shandonagh), Ross Tully (St Loman’s), Conor Cleary (The Downs), William Geraghty (Maryland/Tang).

See this week's Westmeath Examiner and Westmeath Independent for full match report.