Lynam impresses in Westmeath triumph
IN THE most consequential match that will be played at Croke Park this weekend, Westmeath pulled off a bit of a surprise by proving themselves to be more gritty — and being more adept at managing a game — than their Mourne opponents and being crowned Division three champions.
Of course, this may all be irrelevant come the summer. This game might mean something in the championship or it might not. But last night, Sam McCartan’s impressive performance from wing back and Jonathan Lynam’s brace of goals were enough for Dessie Dolan’s team last night.
As GAA president Jarlath Burns said in his speech, this Westmeath team know how to win at Croke Park, and that is what they showed last night. Jonathan Lynam found the net twice, the two decisive scores in the end. His first goal came from an old-fashioned high ball into the square, which brought the team right into a game that Down had been controlling.
Lynam’s second goal, coming when the game was delicately poised with 10 minutes to go, settled a game that had looked like it was edging to extra-time. This was a competitive game, played out to a sparse enough crowd, but it is supposed to mean something. The top team in Division three should be guaranteeing their place in the race for Sam Maguire, although both of these teams still might be eyeing a place in the provincial final.
Down started the brighter and were a couple of points ahead early on but Luke Loughlin’s high ball was punched into the net by Lynam and so began an entertaining arm-wrestle of a match that saw Down a point ahead at halftime, 0-8 to 1-4. Pat Havern and Liam Kerr kicking a couple of corkers for Down.
McCartan was the outstanding player, scoring four points from wing-back although Havern did kick seven free frees while Kerr also kicked three from play. And Westmeath came with a game-plan to restrict Down’s goal chances,
The second half went to and fro until Lynam fired to the net. In many ways, the Ulster team were disappointing, especially for a side playing for their Sam Maguire lives, although they will be someone that nobody wants to meet in the Tailteann Cup.
As for Dessie Dolan and Westmeath, without John Heslin and Kierna Martin, they looked a side that nobody will want to meet in the championship. Some rare silverware in Croker is a boost for this team and they will be eyeing a Leinster final place.
Earlier, Laois made it a good day for the midlanders as they claimed the Division 4 title with a comprehensive win over Leitrim.
Ben Dempsey’s first-half goal gave the Leinster side the upper hand, though Leitrim rallied bravely and reduced the gap to two points in the third quarter before goals from Eoin Lowry and Paul Kingston wrapped it up for Laois.
Laois reeled off an unanswered 2-6 in total from the 48th minute as Leitrim failed to score again after that mini-revival.
It means that Leitrim will head into next weekend’s Connacht SFC quarter-final clash with Sligo following a chastening 14-point defeat. But Laois have capped promotion to Division 3 with the title outright and will approach their Leinster SFC quarter-final against Offaly on 13 April in confident mood.
Derry finally found a way to shake off Tyrone’s feisty challenge and claim the Allianz League Division 2B title at Owenbeg.
Going into the final ten minutes, the sides were level, but the Oak Leafers pulled away, and a 1-04 salvo saw off their Ulster neighbours.