Westmeath find their way in second half to overcome Carlow

Westmeath 2-12, Carlow 2-9

An excellent second half performance from Westmeath saw them overcome Carlow in this Leinster MFC preliminary quarter-final at Netwatch Cullen Park last Thursday night.

After a tame enough opening, Westmeath swept the Barrowsiders' challenge aside in the second period.

The home side got off to a great start when an attempt at a two-pointer by Mark Buggy dropped under the crossbar. Westmeath 'keeper John Paul failed to take control and, as the ball spilled from his grasp, Ronan Dooley was on hand to force it over the line.

Westmeath hit back with a Ross Tully point as the Carlow defence were forced to absorb a period of pressure. Sticking to the job in hand, Carlow constantly ran the ball from deep and with the players running off the ball carrier's shoulder, they were rewarded with points from Alan Fitzgerald, Ben Curry and Fiach Byrne in the opening half.

The ambitious Buggy was rewarded with a two-pointer from play and Carlow did enough to take a 1-6 to 0-4 lead into the interval.

In truth, but for a number of fine saves by the two goalkeepers, both sides could have scored a lot more. Between the Carlow posts, Ryan Gordon saved from Tully on seven minutes, while he also pushed out another Westmeath effort a few minutes later.

The visiting keeper Paul also did well in the second quarter when saving from Mark Buggy and, shortly afterwards, he was brave when spreading himself to deny Fitzgerald.

Such was the lack of intensity from the visitors before the interval, it was hard to see where they were going to find the inspiration to mount a second half challenge.

A minute after the throw-in, however, the Westmeath challenge got a huge shot in the arm when a high ball was contested by the Carlow defence and Rory McCaul. Play ran kindly for the Westmeath midfielder and a gentle touch from very close range eased the ball over the line for a vital goal. It had been one of those moments where time stood still. Neither umpire moved for what seemed an age, but eventually the green flag was waved.

The midlanders kicked on and from there and points through Sean Whittaker, Cian Fleming, Stephen McWade and Will Scahill put them in control.

While the visitors were going about their business, Carlow struggled and Brady scored their first point in 12 minutes with a free. They also had Alex Donnelly Finn to thank when he cleverly got himself on the goal line to save a shot from McWade after the Westmeath forward had managed to elude the keeper.

It was hard to see how Westmeath had transformed themselves while Carlow seemed only a shadow of what they had been in the first half. Only at the end as spectators came on to the pitch did a crucial factor become obvious. The wind may not have looked that strong from the stand but it was a stiff breeze which blew from right to left . Westmeath enjoyed the benefit of the elements in that second half and coupled with a renewed effort, they made it pay.

With time ebbing away, Westmeath were in command and, on 55 minutes, Whittaker scored their second goal to all but seal the win. It was a fine score from the Tubberclair player with Scahill providing the off-load.

Alex Doyle’s 60th minute free for Carlow seemed to be of the consolation variety. Westmeath may have felt that way too and they were nearly caught out. The home side scored a late three-pointer from Dooley, who saw his long-range effort drop under the crossbar to leave only two between them with two of the three added on minutes up on the clock.

Carlow needed to get possession from the kickout but their rivals beat them to the punch. Under pressure, Scahill floated a beauty over the crossbar from the right at the tunnel end of the ground. There was time for no more.

Westmeath were on their way into the quarter-finals proper where Louth await them in Hunterstown, close to Ardee, on Thursday night (7.30pm).

SCORERS - Westmeath: S Whittaker 1-3; R McCaul 1-0; C Fleming 0-3 (1f); W Scahill, S McWade 0-2 each; W Geraghty, R Tully 0-1 each. Carlow: R Dooley 2-0; M Buggy 0-4 (1 2p, 1f); B Curry, A Fitzgerald, M Byrne, F Byrne, A Doyle (f) 0-1 each.

WESTMEATH: John Paul; Anthony King Carroll, Eoin Donohue, Sean Keegan; Conor Casey, Sean Byrne, Ross Tully; Cian Fleming, Ronan McCaul; Finn Higgins, Dean Kelly, William Geraghty; Stephen McWade, Will Scahill, Sean Whittaker. Subs: Jack Duignan for Geraghty (45 mins), Oisin McCauley for Fleming (48), Darragh Deegan for Higgins (59).

CARLOW: Ryan Gordon; Paddy Nolan, Conor Stanley, Alex Donnelly Finn; Ryan Dooley, Leon Fitzgerald, Darragh Casey; Ben Curry, Mickey Byrne; John Hendricken, Jonah Curran, Fiach Byrne; Alan Fitzgerald, Luke Byrne, Mark Buggy. Subs: Luke O’Brien for Casey (38 mins), Edward O’Byrne for Curran (41), Sean Hourihane for Nolan ( 46), Alex Doyle for L Byrne (53), Shane Gurhy for Hendricken (57).

REFEREE: Paddy McDermott (Kildare).