Dismal day for Brownstown as Tones advance

An early flourish failed to deliver the expected promise as Westmeath"s newly crowned Intermediate champions were humbled by a more determined Wolfe Tones side in Edgeworthstown on Sunday afternoon.On a day more suited to duck racing, the Archerstown men could never put sufficient daylight between themselves and a dogged Longford effort, who played with tremendous passion in front of a very limited number of supporters.Having turned over on level terms, after facing the gusting wind and driving rain, the omens were good for Tones and they duly carved out the opportunities to advance.Both sides were depleted by absentees, some enforced and changes aplenty could have affected the rhythm of the sides but certainly the home fifteen adapted the better, given they were missing their inspirational captain, Seamus Hannon, who did join the fray late on while Maurice Quinn"s absence from the Blues certainly hindered their cause.Things started well enough for the Westmeath kingpins and Johnny McGuinness, who has had better days with his freetaking, steered over two points in the opening seven minutes. They might have had a goal in between but the chance was squandered and then were made to breath a sigh of relief as Martin Coyle spurned a gilt edged chance for the home side on nine minutes.Amazingly eleven minutes were to elapse before skipper Johnny McGuinness knocked over a third point and again the Blues goal lived a charmed life as James Farrell had the goal at his mercy when getting on the end of a Nathan Cox delivery but failed to get stick to ball. A full 20 minutes had elapsed before Tones opened their account with the accurate Paddy Cullen converted a free after a chop by Niall Craig. He added a second five minutes later and the nerves were already begin to surface among the sizeable Brownstown support.When Ciaran Groome, who raised the ire of both sets of players and supporters with some curious decisions, awarded Brownstown a close-in free, McGuinness said thank you very much and drilled the ball through the defensive wall to the net. It was a score which should have settled the side but Martin Coyle pulled a point back when he was allowed to walk through.And Brownstown"s cause was further undermined when a John Lynam centre caused panic in the heart of the Archerstown defence and Nathan Cox slipped in for a goal. A Johnny McGuinness free was negatived by a similar effort from Paddy Cullen and the sides retired at the break, level at 1-4 apiece.Nathan Cox pushed the Tones ahead for the first time in the second minute but Brownstown were still very much in the tie when Kenny Higgins raced in and batted a loose ball beyond Kevin Stakem. Higgins added a minor and the storm looked to be abating. Entering the final quarter, Tones struck for their second goal when Paddy Cullen"s strength took him through and he blasted past Stephen Reilly. Two minutes later, the game was good as decided when the pony tailed Keelan Cox pounced after Stephen Reilly had saved brilliantly from Jimmy Connell and the goal put four points between the sides.Six minutes from the full time whistle, Paddy Cullen increased his tally when found by Nathan Cox but again Brownstown rallied. Teenager Conor Slator knocked the ball into the danger zone and Dara Brady used his experience to unhinge the defence and fire home. It was now a two point game but the clock was against the visitors and even the late dismissal of Benny Stakem following an off the ball incident could not deny Wolfe Tones a deserved triumph.Scorers: Wolfe Tones - P. Cullen 1-5, N. Cox 1-1, K. Cox 1-0, M. Coyle 0-1,Brownstown - J. McGuinness 1-3, K. Higgins 1-1, D. Brady 1-0, C. Slator 0-1.Wolfe Tones: Kevin Stakem; Jamie Carroll, Thomas Stakem, Sean McNally; Ciaran McLoughlin, Sean Browne, Joe Dempsey; John Lynam, captain, Benny Stakem; Nathan Cox, Martin Coyle, Keelan Cox; Jimmy Connell, Paddy Cullen, James Farrell. Sub. Seamus Hannon for J. Farrell,Brownstown: Stephen Reilly; Niall Craig, Maurice Gavigan, Jimmy McQuaid; Johnny Fitzpatrick, Philip Gilsenan, Gary Gilsenan; Kenny Higgins, Johnny McGuinness, captain; Conor Slator, Seamus McNamee, Dara Brady; Robbie Dugdale, Gavin Mulvey, Derek McNamee. Subs. Cyril Dugdale for D. McNamee, Willie Anderson for G. Mulvey, Michael Travers for C. DugdaleReferee: Mr. Ciaran Groome, Offaly.