Dismal champions do just enough to quell Westmeath
GOALS in each half from John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer and John McGrath sent Tipperary through to round two of the qualifiers – despite an awful display by the champions.
The Premier County ran out nine-point winners but registered 16 wides in front of 6,893 spectators.
In their first-ever championship meeting, Tipp were up by just three points – 1-12 to 0-12 – when debutant goalkeeper Daragh Mooney pulled off a fine 53rd-minute save to deny Cormac Boyle at the Killinan End, when a goal would have levelled for the gritty visitors.
Tipp did kick on from there to lead by 11 points, before two late Allan Devine scores kept Westmeath’s losing margin to single figures, six days after their footballers suffered a 31-point mauling at the hands of Dublin.
A Tipperary team showing six changes in personnel from their Munster quarterfinal loss to Cork failed to function, and there was an injury blow to contend with in the second half when Niall O’Meara was stretchered off with an ankle injury.
Ace marksman Séamus Callanan was subbed off after a poor display and error-ridden Tipp failed to raise a gallop all through.
It was a dreadful first half display but they still led at the break by four points – 110 to 0-9.
Westmeath had two points on the board within the opening 40 seconds but Tipp recovered to lead by eight, 19 to 0-4, by the 19th minute. The hosts fell asleep after that, going 18 minutes without a score as spirited Westmeath hit five points without reply to narrow the gap to three.
In the second minute of first half stoppage time, Ronan Maher stopped the rot for Tipperary with a longrange score, but they were sure to receive an interval rollicking from manager Ryan.
Tipp’s first half goal was a well-taken effort from O’Dwyer in the 15th minute, as James Barry’s long ball led to the breakthrough.
Niall O’Meara fed O’Dwyer with the killer pass and the Killenaule man waltzed around Carroll before finding the net, with the Westmeath goalkeeper booked for his challenge on the Tipp forward.
Tipp boss Ryan looked on helplessly as his players struggled to produce anything of real note – although McGrath came off the bench to score a late goal and add some gloss to the scoreboard.
TIPPERARY: D Mooney; J Barry, T Hamill, D Maher; Joe O’Dwyer, R Maher, Pádraic Maher (T Fox 68); B Maher, N McGrath; D McCormack, Patrick Maher (S O’Brien 64), M Breen (J Forde 44); John O’Dwyer, S Callanan (J McGrath 45), N O’Meara (A McCormack 60).
Scorers: John O’Dwyer 1-3 (0-1f), S Callanan 0-5 (4f, 1 65), J McGrath 1-1, N McGrath, N O’Meara & J Forde 0-2 each, R Maher, B Maher & Patrick Maher 0-1 each.
Cards: Yellow: M Breen (27), D Maher (50), Joe O’Dwyer (53).
WESTMEATH: P Carroll; S Power, T Doyle, G Greville; A Craig, P Greville, L Varley (C Shaw 70+1); A Clarke, R Greville; J Boyle (C Boyle 21, J Galvin 69), K Doyle, D McNicholas (B Murtagh 64); A Devine, N Mitchell, N O’Brien (D Egerton (66).
Scorers: A Devine 0-6 (4f), P Greville (1f) & K Doyle 0-2 each, A Clarke, R Greville, D McNicholas, N O’Brien & C Boyle 0-1 each.
Cards: Yellow: P Carroll (16), P Greville (18), L Varley (42), K Doyle (53), B Murtagh (68).
Referee: P O’Dwyer (Carlow)