Gaelic Games

Seán Reynolds snatches late win for Louth over Westmeath

Louth bench proves effective in Mullingar

Louth’s Sean Reynolds after scoring a late goal against Westmeath. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Louth’s Sean Reynolds after scoring a late goal against Westmeath. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Gerry Buckley
Sun Jan 26 2025 - 18:15
NFL Division Two: Louth 1-17 Westmeath 0-18

Substitute Seán Reynolds emerged as the Louth hero with a late fisted goal against Westmeath in difficult conditions at Cusack Park in Mullingar.

Despite the weather, the game was a great advertisement for the new rules, with no shortage of end-to-end action, while five two-pointers were scored, three of them from the best player on view, Westmeath’s Luke Loughlin.

The visitors looked on course for a comfortable win when they led 0-9 to 0-3 after 24 minutes, two of their points from a long-range free from sharpshooter Sam Mulroy. However, Westmeath rallied well in the second quarter and five unanswered points brought them right back into contention. Louth led by 0-9 to 0-8 at the break.

A superb two-pointer from Loughlin nudged Westmeath ahead within two minutes of the resumption. Both sides spurned gilt-edged goal chances as the half progressed, but the winners’ bench proved effective.

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Hard-working Westmeath captain Ronan Wallace equalised (0-16 apiece) in the first minute of injury-time – a minute of five was announced with no hooter in operation. However, when a point attempt from McConnon dropped short, Reynolds was on hand to fist the ball to the net from close range.

Donal McKenny was black-carded before a two-point free from Loughlin left the deficit at the bare minimum. A late, late Louth counterattack yielded the insurance point from a Mulroy free.

LOUTH: N McDonnell; D Corcoran, D Campbell, D McKenny; P Lynch (0-0-2), E Carolan, C Lennon (0-0-1); D McDonnell, C Grimes; A McDonnell (0-0-2), S Mulroy (0-1-3, 1tpf, 2f), C Downey (0-0-2); C Keenan, K McArdle, R Burns (0-1-0, 1tp).

Subs: T Durnin (0-0-1) for Grimes, S Reynolds (1-0-0) for Downey (both 45 mins), T McDonnell for Carolan (51), P Grimes-Murphy for Burns (58), D McConnon (0-0-2, 1f) for Keenan (62).

WESTMEATH: C McCormack; J Gonoud, C Drumm, D Giles; E Gaffney, R Wallace (0-0-3), S McCartan; R Connellan, B Guerin; M Whittaker, F O’Hara, C Dillon; S Smith (0-0-1), L Loughlin (0-1-10, 2tp, 1tpf, 3f), R Forde (0-0-2, 1f).

Subs: K O’Sullivan for O’Hara (24 mins), K Martin for Gaffney (51), D McCartan for Forde (54), D Scahill for Giles (64), B Cooney for Smith (69).

Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin).