Gaelic Games

Late Westmeath flurry sees them past Wexford

Kieran Martin’s late goal was followed by a vital block to deny Kevin O’Grady

Westmeath’s Paul Sharry and Colm Kehoe of Wexford compete for possession. Photo: Lorraine O’Sullivan/Inpho
Westmeath’s Paul Sharry and Colm Kehoe of Wexford compete for possession. Photo: Lorraine O’Sullivan/Inpho
Sun Jun 14 2015 - 19:47

Westmeath 1-21 Wexford 0-15

A powerful display in the last 15 minutes saw Westmeath advance past Wexford to the Leinster senior football championship semi-final by a flattering nine-point margin in front of 5,280 sun-drenched fans in Mullingar.

Westmeath outscored Wexford in that crucial final quarter by 1-9 to 0-1 having fallen behind to their plucky opponents with the momentum seemingly lost.

Westmeath started brightly and a brace of points each from impressive corner forwards Shane Dempsey and Kieran Martin had them 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after eight minutes. The latter blazed a goal chance wide in the 13th minute before some unforced errors allowed the visitors back into contention.

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Midway through the first half Wexford talisman Ben Brosnan had a shot at goal saved by Darren Quinn but, with Ciaran Lyng and Kevin O’Grady on song in the Wexford full forward line, they soon cut the margin down to a single point at the interval; 0-8 to 0-7.

With John Connellan, who had replaced his black-carded brother Ray, catching the eye in attack, the home team led by 0-12 to 0-10 by the 48th minute. However, four unanswered points - two wonderful frees by Lyng and two from play by O’Grady - had Wexford seemingly in control by the 56th minute.

On the hour mark, the versatile Kieran Martin, who operated in defence in the second half, rounded off a great Westmeath move when he found the net from close range. Team captain Ger Egan added a fisted point before Westmeath hearts skipped a beat when that man Kieran Martin threw his body in the way as O’Grady seemed sure to find the net.

This inspired his colleagues to finish the game in some style with all three members of the half back line pointing from play, followed by four other players sharing five points, with Wexford’s only reply coming from a low-trajectory point from Lyng.

After the match, overjoyed Westmeath manager Tom Cribbin said: “To win in that manner was just brilliant, coming from two points down. It will give them massive confidence ahead of the Meath game. It shows the hard work that they are putting in that they finished out the game so strongly. Everyone played really well. We had chances of a goal or two in the first half that might have killed them off, but it shows that in the championship you have to perform and we were tested to the end. All our players were patient in that final period and kicked great scores.”

The versatile Kieran Martin scored both the decisive goal in the 57th minute and prevented what looked a certain Wexford goal seven minutes later. The manager was full of praise for the Maryland man, stating: “If you wanted any man to be there (to keep out Kevin O’Grady’s effort) it would be Kieran Martin. In fairness, he went 100 per cent for the ball and put his body on the line. So it was a straightforward block. The lads we used from the bench did very well. They all started winning their 50:50 balls and they did their jobs. That was fierce important.”

Defeated Wexford manager, David Power was keen to focus on the positives despite his side’s poor finish to the game. “I thought the younger lads played very well and the older lads, the likes of Adrian Flynn and Ciaran Lyng were very dangerous. In a good few games, 15 points will win for you, but the way it went for us with that goal - it was very, very disappointing. The big thing is that we must learn from it, and I’ve no doubt that we will,” the former All-Ireland winning Tipperary minor manager stated.

Westmeath: D Quinn; K Daly, K Maguire, P Holloway; P Sharry (0-1), J Gilligan (0-1), J Dolan (0-1); G Egan (0-2), D Daly (0-1); R Foley, R Connellan, D Corroon; K Martin (1-2), J Heslin (0-5, four frees), S Dempsey (0-4). Subs: J Connellan (0-2) for R Connellan (33 mins, BC), L Smyth for Foley (46 mins), D Glennon (0-2) for D Daly (50 mins), J Donohue for Maguire (55 mins, BC), D Lynch for Martin (69 mins), F Boyle for Gilligan (70 +1 mins).

Wexford: S Roche; J Wadding (0-1), N Rossiter, M Furlong; A Flynn (0-2), S Donohoe, B Malone; S Byrne, C Kehoe (0-1); T Rossiter, B Brosnan (0-1, free), K Butler; E Nolan, C Lyng (0-8, six frees), K O'Grady (0-2). Subs: R Tierney for Furlong (33 mins), P Byrne for Kehoe (42 mins, BC), J Tubritt for Nolan (48 mins), M O'Regan for T Rossiter (52 mins), G Molloy for Flynn (61 mins).

Referee: F Kelly (Longford).