Just when the woodwork seemed likely to deny Mayo in a gripping encounter, Paul Prenty came to the rescue with a 59th minute goal to earn his side a deserved draw at Croke Park yesterday.
Prenty's goal, his first in the championship, atoned for the damage the goal-frame at the Railway End had threatened to do to Mayo's hopes. The right upright at the same end had steered Tom Browne's shot into the Mayo net after only 11 minutes of play.
Mayo, possessing greater physical strength, hit the woodwork three times in the second half, twice in the last quarter. Tony Geraghty's pile-driver rebounded off the bar and Prenty's powerful drive rebounded off a post following earlier frustration for centre-half-forward Conor Mortimer who sent a cracking shot against the same bar. After enduring bad luck of that sort, Prenty's goal was one to celebrate. The move started on the left when half-back Conor Moran slipped a good pass to substitute Dwayne Flynn whose cross escaped the outstretched legs of Westmeath defenders to reach Prenty.
"All I could see was the ball coming through a forest of legs. I just had time to lift and veer away from oncoming tackles to shoot to the net," said Prenty. Remarkably, for a half forward, Prenty had not scored in the championship until yesterday.
Westmeath had four points to spare as the game entered the last five minutes on a rain-drenched pitch that made the ball like a bar of soap. A relaxing defence probably cost them victory. Their manager Ambrose McGowan was prepared to accept this possibility. "I was not happy with what was going on in our backline towards the end. The lads, and not only our defence, seemed to believe they had it won and lay back a little.
"Mayo had force with them and we are glad to have won a second chance," added McGowan. The manager, however, could have no complaints with the brilliant blockdown by their right-corner-back Finian Newman from Conor Mortimer's match-winning effort. Mortimer will no doubt reflect on what could have been after his second-half penalty kick flew over the bar.
Westmeath midfielders Padraig Leavey and Niall Kilmartin gave their side the edge for most of the game but significantly, they
also faded to give way to an improving display by Mayo's Edmond Barrett and Alan Burke towards the end.
Colin Whyte led the Leinster champions' attack with confidence but he was also among some of the worse culprits for shooting wides. Deputising for P J Ward, he made an early impact when providing the long ball which led to Tom Browne's goal. Conditions seemed nigh impossible for both teams and they shared 10 first-half wides. There were lenghty gaps of scoreless periods but Westmeath held the advantage at half-time 1-4 to 0-5.
Dermot Geraghty had an exceptional game in the Mayo defence as had Ronan Walshe, Enda Devenny and Dermot Costelloe. Mayo manager J P Kean remarked afterwards: "Thankfully we got into the game in the closing 10 minutes when it really mattered."
WESTMEATH: E Farrell; D Donoghue, K Larkin, F Newmann; D McDermott, A Lambden, G Glennon; P Leavy (0-1), N Kilmartin; N Adamson, C Whyte (0-5, three frees), G McDonald; L Reilly, T Browne (1-1), A Hickey (0-1). Subs: A McCormack for Glennon, C Brennan (0-1) for Reilly (both half-time), G Flanagan for N Adamson (38 mins), N Duffy for McDonald (45 mins).
MAYO: D Clarke; R Keane, R Walshe, D Geraghty; D Costelloe, E Devenney, C Moran; E Barrett, A Burke (0-1); P Prenty (1-2), C Mortimer (0-4, pen and two free), S Lindsay; P Carey, B Lynskey, T Geraghty (0-1). Subs: D Flynn for Lynskey (38 mins), C Rowland (0-1) for Lyndsay (48 mins). Referee: M McGrath (Donegal).
