Offaly 3-22 Westmeath 1-17:AFTER A tremendously spirited performance in the opening half, Westmeath lost their way after the interval, allowing Offaly to claim a comfortable 11-point victory in an entertaining encounter in Cusack Park, Mullingar, yesterday.
Down 2-7 to 0-10 at the break, Westmeath’s chances all but evaporated when Andrew Mitchell was dismissed following an off-the-ball incident in the 43rd minute.
A goal from hardworking substitute Derek McNicholas in the 59th minute lifted the side briefly but yet another defensive error allowed Daniel Currams to slip in for goal number three.
OFFALY: B Mullins; D Franks, D Kenny, S Wynne; P Cleary, G Oakley, K Brady (0-1); R Hanniffy, C Mahon; S Dooley (1-9), J Brady (0-1), J Bergin; B Carroll (0-5), D Molloy (1-2), D Currams (1-1). Subs: C Horan for Mahon (yellow), C Parlon (0-3) for J Brady, C Coughlan for Hanniffy, D Morkan for Bergin.
WESTMEATH: P Burke; G Gavin, P Greville, C Jordan; D Curley, A Mitchell, B Connaughton; P Dowdall (0-2), L Folan; J Shaw (0-1), D McCormack (0-2), R Jackson; K Cosgrove, B Murtagh (0-8), C Curley. Subs: D McNicholas (1-3) for Greville, P Greville for Jackson, M Geraghty for Folan, N Flanagan for C Curley, D Quinn for Connaughton, D Kilcoyne (0-1) for P Greville (yellow).
Referee: G Devlin (Armagh).
