Westmeath weathered a mini Mayo revival in extra-time of today’s Senior Football Qualifier to book their spot in the All-Ireland quarter finals.
After Mayo came out firing for extra time the Leinster lads dug deep to find the form they displayed in the first half. Four unanswered points and some heroic defending from Westmeath in the dying moments overhauled Mayo’s three point lead.
Westmeath settled quicker than their opponents, clocking an early four point advantage courtesy of some good interplay between the midfield and the half forwards.
On the thirtieth minute Michael Ennis was fortunate to have the ball break to him on the left hand side of the box and without hesitation he rerouted it into the bottom corner.
Minutes later Martin Flanagan flashed a second goal opportunity narrowly wide and the scare seemed to shock Mayo into action.
Suddenly they began to play in a similar mould to their opponents and the gap was gradually reduced, helped by some inspirational play from Trevor Mortimer and Colm McManaman.
The second half did not live up to the billing the first would have had one believe but it did come down to a pressure kick for Ger Heavin in the dying seconds. Heavin presented with an opportunity form the 45 to win the game, shot narrowly wide and the immediate fate of the tow teams was then decided.
Despite the momentum being with Westmeath at the end of the second half, Mayo were the side to impress in the first period of extra time and led by four at the start of the second.
I would have been five had Damien Healy not slotted over a fabulous point it the end of the first 15.
Westmeath refused to lie down however and clawed back the deficit and were only denied a second goal by a wonderful Peter Burke save from Paul Conway’s goal-bound effort.
It was irrelevant however, as the underdogs, realised their dream of Quarter final qualification after a spirited start and an equally impressive comeback.