Sport

Westmeath exact revenge

Westmeath 0-18 Longford 0-9: Aided by an outstanding performance from midfielder Martin Flanagan Westmeath turned in an impressive…

Mon Jul 09 2007 - 01:00

Westmeath 0-18 Longford 0-9:Aided by an outstanding performance from midfielder Martin Flanagan Westmeath turned in an impressive display to exact revenge on Longford, in a disappointingly one-sided clash at Cusack Park, Mullingar, on Saturday evening.

Westmeath were well on their way to an emphatic win at half time as they led by 0-10 to 0-3. When the sides met back on May 13th in Pearse Park, Longford, in the Leinster Championship, Longford retrieved an eight-point deficit at the interval but there was no repeat of those heroics as Westmeath maintained their relentless drive for victory.

The sending off of Westmeath wing forward Fergal Wilson on a second yellow card 13 minutes into the second half looked as if it could be a turning point but, with Flanagan on top at midfield and Des Dolan and Denis Glennon causing havoc for the Longford defence, Westmeath remained firmly on course.

Westmeath finished the first half with a flourish as Wilson,Dolan and Glennon scored successive points. Wilson added another brace and Longford, who had points from Brian Kavanagh (two) and Paul Barden, were in real trouble.

READ MORE

Longford needed goals in the second half, but the Westmeath defence held firm and a great save from Gary Connaughton near the end denied Paddy Dowd.

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; F Boyle, D O'Donoghue (0-1), J Keane; D Healy, M Ennis, G Glennon; D Duffy, M Flanagan; F Wilson (0-4, three frees), J Smyth (0-1), D Glennon (0-4); A Mangan, G Dolan (0-1), D Dolan (0-6, three frees). Subs: J Connellan (0-1) for Mangan (65 mins), K Gavin for G Glennon (66 mins), A Rigney for Healy (70 mins), D O'Shaughnessy for G Dolan (71 mins).

LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, D Masterson, D Reilly; S Mulligan, D Hanniffy, N Farrell; B McElvaney (0-1), L Keenan; T Smullen, P Barden (0-1), P Berry; D Barden, P Dowd, B Kavanagh (0-6, five frees). Subs: K Smith for Keenan (30 mins), K Mulligan for Smullen (35 mins), P Kelly for Mulligan (half-time), P Davis (0-1) for Berry (57 mins), A O'Connor for McElvaney (63 mins).

Referee: M Hughes (Tyrone).