Longford 0-9 Westmeath 0-8
Longford qualified to play Laois in the Leinster Under-21 Football quarter-final after a one-point win in their first round replay against Westmeath, at St Loman's Lakepoint Park, in Mullingar, last night.
It was a game that was spoiled by driving wind and heavy rain from start to finish.
Westmeath had the aid of the wind in the first-half but the conditions made it very difficult for the sides to create scoring opportunities.
Robbie Smith and Ray Connellan were both accurate from placed balls, while the only clear goal chance fell to Westmeath’s Dean McNicholas deep into added-time, but Garret Higgins pulled off a great save. Westmeath led by 0-5 to 0-3 at the interval.
Three great points, including one free, from the outstanding player on view Robbie Smith, had Longford on level terms (0-6 each) by the 38th minute.
It was tit-for-tat scoring for the next 15 minutes, with Westmeath substitute Eoin Monaghan scoring both his side’s points, while James McGivney and Smith (another free) were on target for the winners. Longford captain, Barry McKeon, who had been black-carded in the drawn game, emerged as his side’s hero when he kicked the winning point in the 56th minute.
Richie Power is back as part of the official Kilkenny hurling panel. The Carrickshock man, holder of six senior All-Irelands with the Cats, is back in the fold after a spell on the sidelines.
LONGFORD: G Higgins; C Farrelly, A Farrell, A McBrien; S Clarke, S McLoughlin, C Shields; B McKeon (0-1), J McGivney (0-1); E Noonan, R Connor (0-1), P Kiernan; A Dalton, R Smith (0-6, 4f), L Connerton. Subs: R McNerney for Connerton (52), D Mimnagh for Kiernan (56).
WESTMEATH: M McMahon; J Rock, K Daly, J Donoghue (0-1); D Lynch, P Holloway, D Whelan; D McNicholas (0-1), D McCormack; L Dolan (0-1), S Daly, A Coffey; G Leech, R Connellan (0-2, 2f), S Dempsey (0-1, f). Subs: E Monaghan (0-2) for McNicholas (34), M Rock for Leech (56).
Referee: F Barry (Kildare).
