Sport

Derby day bliss for Westmeath

Roscommon 0-6 Westmeath 1-14: WESTMEATH GAINED one of their easiest wins over Roscommon in a drab, one-sided local derby before…

Mon Mar 31 2008 - 01:00

Roscommon 0-6 Westmeath 1-14:WESTMEATH GAINED one of their easiest wins over Roscommon in a drab, one-sided local derby before 2,500 fans at sunny Kiltoom. Roscommon looked demoralised after their 24-point drubbing by Armagh and were never in the game against a more balanced Westmeath team.

Martin Flanagan and David Duffy dominated midfield and Dessie Dolan and Denis Glennon were superb up front.

John Maughan's team now look certain to be relegated, having gained just one point from five matches. However, this win keeps Westmeath in the chase for promotion to Division 1.

Dessie Dolan opened the scoring from a free after six minutes and followed up with further points in the ninth and 13th minutes.

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Glennon stretched the lead after 15 minutes before David O'Gara got Roscommon's opening point one minute later, a superb score from 35 metres.

Glennon and Alan Mangan added points for Westmeath while Roscommon responded through Ger Heneghan (a free) and Jonathan Dunning. But Westmeath wrapped up victory in the closing stages of the first half.

Heavin sent a long ball to Glennon who raced through the defence and rounded goalkeeper Geoffrey Claffey before kicking to the net. Dolan added a point from a free to leave Westmeath leading by seven points at half-time.

Roscommon never threatened a comeback in a drab second half. Gary Cox scored two close-range frees but Dolan hit back with well-taken scores midway through the second half.

Heneghan kicked what proved to be Roscommon's last score in the 48th minute. Westmeath rounded off their victory with points from Dessie Dolan (two), Michael Ennis (two) and Gary Dolan.

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; D Harte, K Gavin, J Keane; M Ennis (0-2), D Heavin, D Healy; M Flanagan, D Duffy; D Kelly, D Dolan (0-8, seven frees), D O'Donoghue; A Mangan (0-1), D Glennon (1-2), D Bannon. Subs: G Dolan (0-1) for Kelly (45 mins), T Cleary for Bannon (58 mins), P Leavy for Duffy (60 mins), M Gorman for Mangan (68 mins), P Tormey for Glennon (68 mins).

ROSCOMMON: G Claffey; P O'Connor, A McDermott, S McDermott; D O'Gara (0-1), E Kenny, D Keenan; K Mannion, M O'Carroll; J Tiernan, G Cox (0-2, frees), C Cregg; G Heneghan (0-2, one free), J Dunning (0-1), S Kilbride. Subs: M Finneran for Tiernan (30 mins), S O'Neill for Kilbride (54 mins) F Dolan for Cregg (60 mins).

Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).