Westerns eventually see off gutsy Tones

FIVE-STAR Westerns cruised into the quarter-finals of the junior championship as group winners, but they were pushed a lot harder by Wolfe Tones than their opening-round stroll against Cuchulainn Gaels.

Louth midfielder Tommy Durnin played a starring role, netting a hattrick for the Reaghstown outfit, and they needed all of the five goals they plundered to see off a stiff challenge from the Drogheda outfit.

Tones league form this season suggested they could make an impact in the championship this term and they’ll be targeting a quarter-final spit when they take on the Gaels this weekend.

Ciarán Campbell and Conor Kerr were also on target for the Tones while the impressive Chris Cudden netted two first-half majors for the Drogheda men.

The result was in the balance right to the end, but Westerns produced a strong finish to take the win and a quarter-final berth.

Tones can join them there with a victory over Omeath.

Damien Boylan; Michael Martin, Stephen Boylan, Andrew Murray; Colin Martin, Dylan Ogle, Seán McGuinness; Tommy Durnin 3-1, Anthony Durnin 0-1; Jack Ogle 0-3, Johnny Lynch Trevor Baylon 0-3; Patrick Kerley, Conor Kerr 1-0, Ciarán Campbell 1-1. Sub: Liam Hoey for P Kerley.

WOLFE TONES: Chris Eustace; Adam Gartland, Graham Fanning, Alan Fanning; Eoghan O’Shea 0-1, Mark Healy 0-1, Marc Lugoye 0-1; Dean Haggins 0-1, John Kelly; Sam Kelly 0-2, Niall Smith 0-3, Darren Weldon; Jamie McCormack 0-2, Michael Rafferty, Chris Cudden 2-1. Subs: Reese Owens for A Fanning, Garrett Cooney 0-1 for M Rafferty, Patrick Fanning for A Gartland.

REFEREE: Paul Kneel.