Westmeath minors edged out by late salvo from Laois

Laois 1-18 Westmeath 3-10

A scoring salvo in the final quarter helped Laois to overcome Westmeath last Wednesday week in Portlaoise, qualifying the home side for a final showdown with neighbours Offaly (which was won by the latter on Saturday).

Westmeath looked to be in prime position to push on after a goal from Will Scahill midway through the second half left them with a three-point lead. Alas, the O’Moore men chipped away at this lead and secured a deserved victory.

Facing into a stiff breeze, Westmeath got off to a dream start when the Laois goalkeeper dropped a speculative shot into the path of Finn Higgins, who finished first time to the net. Using the wind to good effect, Laois chipped away with three points, with Scahill responding with a fine left-footed effort.

The men in blue soon gained the lead through two further points, and were denied a goal by the foot of goalkeeper John Paul. A fine move saw Rory McCaul place Conor Casey for a fisted point soon afterwards, before Laois popped over another brace to lead by 0-7 to 1-2.

Hard work from Sean Whittaker and Scahill in the 20th minute forced a turnover near the Laois goal, with Dean Kelly clinically finishing to the net.

The home side soon nailed a two-pointer followed by a free, before Scahill finished first-half scoring to leave it 0-10 to 2-3 for Laois.

Although the home side grabbed the first score of the half, the third quarter very much belonged to Westmeath. Dean Kelly added to his tally with a brace of quickfire points with Finn Higgins following suit with a double of his own.

Laois rattled a brace in reply to level before Scahill netted on the 45 minute-mark following a turnover secured by Whittaker.

This left Westmeath in a 3-7 to 0-13 lead but the Lake County hit a scoreless patch for the next 12 minutes, as Laois ate into the lead. A point from play settled the team in blue who then proceeded to dominate possession. This resulted in a further point and a breach of the 'three up' rule gave Laois the chance to hit the equaliser on 55 minutes. Another free put the home side in front and the next play saw an excellent point from the right by the Laois number 9.

With time running out, Westmeath committed everything to attack, and a counter attack resulted in Laois netting after a point attempt hit the post. A Scahill two-pointer from a free left it a one-score game and the same player had one final crack at goal in the last play which unfortunately went over the bar, leaving the final score Laois 1-18 Westmeath 3-10.

Westmeath team and scorers: John Paul (Caulry); Tomás Brennan (Shandonagh), Eoin Donoghue (Millmore Gaels), Sean Keegan (Tubberclair); Conor Casey (St Loman's, 0-1), Oisin McCauley (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Sean Byrne (St Loman's); Cian Fleming (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Dillon Burke (Shandonagh); Finn Higgins (St Paul's, 1-2), Jack Duignan (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Rory McCaul (Mullingar Shamrocks); Dean Kelly (Milltownpass, 1-2), Will Scahill (Shandonagh, 1-5, 0-3f), Sean Whittaker (Tubberclair). Subs used: Ross Tully (St Loman's) for Fleming (45 mins), Padraig Monaghan (The Downs) for Duignan (50 mins), Anthony King Carroll (Moate All Whites) for Brennan (53 mins).