Westmeath dispatch Wicklow Minors
Garden County Minors exit to Westmeath again
WICKLOW Minor manager, John Murphy, cut a disconsolate figure as he left the field in Aughrim last Wednesday night after watching his young charges exit the Leinster Minor football championship to Westmeath for the third year running.
Despite a reasonable start to the game and a healthy period at the beginning of the second period for the home side, they were dismantled comprehensively by a physically stronger and much hungrier Westmeath side over the course of the 60 minutes.
John Murphy pointed to the obvious period in the first half when things went really wrong for the Wicklow lads.
“We went from two points to one down after 18 minutes to being 1-09 to 0-01 down at half time,” said John, “the wind was a factor, but once they got one run on us the lads seemed to drop the heads.
“I felt we weren't clinical enough. It's hard to look around now and see where it all went wrong; the lads have put in a serious effort this year. I can't put a finger on it,” he added.
Things were looking promising enough after 18 minutes with Westmeath leading by two points to one but the glaring statistic from that period was that Westmeath had kicked nine wides, six within the opening five minutes, which shows their almost complete domination.
Wicklow started with the very impressive Gary Allen named at full forward but starting as a third midfielder. In reaction to this, Westmeath manager, Tommy Carr, instructed full back, Israel Ilunga, to sit back and play the role of sweeper in front of Brendan Behan and Mikey O’Connor.
Westmeath were looking the more settled in the opening exchanges but Wicklow were doing well, competing for breaking ball, defending well. Westmeath midfielder, Ruairi Cunningham lofted over a lovely score to open their account after five minutes. The Moate man would have a serious influence on this game, finishing with 1-02 to his credit.
But Wicklow were battling well and enjoyed several forays into the Westmeath heartland against a strong wind it has to be said.
And then a break from the hard-working Darren Walsh from half-back for Wicklow saw the Newtown man taken down by Israel Ilunga. Carlow referee, Kieran Kelly, showed no hesitation to produce a black card and suddenly things were looking bright for the home side as Ilunga had cut out several Wicklow attacks and his enormous physical frame was a major obstacle along the half-back line.
Westmeath sent in Niall Gavin and, instead of continuing the role of sweeper, he pursued Gary Allen into the centre-field area.
Wicklow attacked immediately after the black card. The speedy Mikey O'Connor linked up with his brother, Patrick, whose effort was blocked out for a 45. The 45 would come to nothing but back they came again through eoin Baker to Jack Gilligan to Mikey O'Connor to Martin Cullen to Shane Lohan but the Bray Emmet's man hit a poor shot that went wide after 11 minutes.
Westmeath attacked and Jack Quinn fired wide and then good work by Gary Allen who moved the ball up the field through the hands of Martin Shannon and Shane Lohan and it was Quinn who fired over Wicklow's opening score after 13 minutes.
And then a key moment for Wicklow. Eoin Baker began the move, slipped it to Shane Lohan who fed Mikey O'Connor who brilliantly supplied the ball to Brendan Behan and the Shillelagh man did everything right as he shot low past Kevin Fagan in the Westmeath goal only to see the ball whizz past the upright and go wide. A goal here could have changed the outlook of the game.
Instead Westmeath began to dominate the breaking ball and they fired over eight points without reply and concluded the half with a well taken goal by Ruairi Cunningham who walked through the Wicklow defence.
The difficulties for Wicklow were coming from the middle third where they could gain no foothold whatsoever as Westmeath seemed far hungrier under the breaking ball. Add to that the fact that Ian Murphy's kickouts were predictable and into a strong wind and you had a recipe for disaster.
But still we expected a Wicklow comeback of sorts when they emerged to play with the wind. And they started well. A beauty from Gary Allen was followed by a ripper from Mikey O'Connor who was being marked by the extremely impressive Boidu Sayeh.
Gary Allen continued to impress and he goaled on the five-minute mark after a poor kickout from Kevin Fagan and a quick ball from Brendan Behan. Allen would fire over a point after nine minutes but from then on Westmeath reasserted their dominance with a point from Ciaran Shanley.
Gary Allen replied with an absolutely savage score from the sideline but then 1-02 from Westmeath, the goal from Ciaran Shanley, despite a wonderful save from the initial shot by Ian Murphy, ended this game as a contest.
Westmeath seemed able to break at ease and move at pace up the field with overlaps and strong running and the breaking of tackles to the forefront of their game.
Wicklow had some fine footballers, some real talent, but as a unit, as a group, they were no match for Westmeath who now face Offaly in the Leinster quarter-final.
Best for Wicklow was Gary Allen who was very impressive all over the field and finished with 1-05 to his credit. Mieky O'Connor showed serious bursts of pace but once Boidu Sayeh got to grips with the Blessington man there was little he could do.
David Gethings was composed and competent throughout and Eoin Murtagh fired over a late point after he had been removed from the post of fullback which he had manned bravely.
Scorers - Westmeath: Ciaran Shanley 1-03; Ruairi Cunningham 1-02; Eoin Fox 0-03; Stephen Ward 001; Niall Gavin 0-01; Darren Giles 0-01 (f); Jack Quinn 0-01; Liam Cassidy 0-01; Jack Penrose 0-01; Aidan Byrne 0-01; Morgan Mealiffe 0-01.
Wicklow: Gary Allen 1-05 (2f); Mikey O'Connor 001; Shane Lohan 0-01 (f); Eoin Murtagh 0-01.
WICKLOW Ian Murphy; Brian Miley, Eoin Murtagh, David Gethings; Darren Walsh, Stephen Cruise, Jack Gilligan; Martin Shannon, Eoin Baker; Martin Cullen, Shane Lohan, Patrick O'Connor; Brendan Behan, Gary Allen, Mikey O'Connor. Subs: Sean McGraynor for M Shannon (HT); Conor Kenny for M Cullen (44); Jordan Nolan for S Lohan (44); Pat Burke for P O'Connor.
WESTMEATH Kevin Fagan; Boidu Sayeh, Israel Ilunga, Matthew Darling; Eoin Fox, Stephen Ward, Daire Conway; Fergal Hynes, Rory Cunningham; Ciaran Shanley, Darren Giles, Cathal Daly; Liam Cassidy, Jack Quinn, Gavin Murray. Subs: Niall Gavin for Ilunga (8, BC); Jack Penrose for F Hynes (42); San Duncan for D Conway (50); Morgan Mealiffe for J Quinn (52). VENUE: Aughrim
REFEREE: Kieran Kelly (Carlow)