Sport

Longford fall away late on

While they won easily in the end by 15 points, it was only in the closing stages of the game that Westmeath pulled away at Pearse…

Mon Jan 10 2005 - 00:00

While they won easily in the end by 15 points, it was only in the closing stages of the game that Westmeath pulled away at Pearse Park.

Despite the terrible weather, a crowd of around 3,000 turned up for the local derby and it was a tight contest in the opening 35 minutes with only a point separating the sides at the break.

Full forward Denis Glennon's fisted goal after 15 minutes had Westmeath leading by 1-5 to 0-7 at half-time. One of their points came from a Patrick Mulvihill penalty.

Playing with the strong wind, Westmeath scored five points in eight minutes after the interval, but Longford kept plugging away and were only 1-11 to 0-10 adrift with 10 minutes remaining.

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However, Westmeath played some superb football from there until the final whistle to score 1-8 on the trot with substitute Alan Lambden slotting home a well taken goal in stoppage time.

Four of the points were fired over by Glennon, who ended up scoring 1-6, while substitute Des Dolan landed a brace as the under strength Leinster champions cruised to a semi-final date with Louth in Drogheda next Sunday.

Five players were sent to the sin-bin during the game, namely Westmeath men Colin Galligan, John Brennan and Donal O'Donoghue, along with Longford duo Dermot Brady and Kevin Mulligan.

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; D O'Donoghue, D Mitchell, J Keane; M Ennis (0-1), D Kilmartin, D McDermott (0-1); C Galligan, R O'Connell; J McAteer, J Brennan, J Fallon (0-2, one free); A Mangan (0-3, two frees), D Glennon (1-6), P Mulvihill (0-2, 0-1 pen). Subs: D Dolan (0-3) for Fallon (48); P Tormey (0-1) for Mulvihill (53 mins); A Lambden (1-0) for McAteer (57 mins); D O'Shaughnessy for Galligan (59 mins).

LONGFORD: G Tonra; D Brady, K Lovell, E Ledwith; A O'Connor, T O'Rourke, D Reilly; P O'Hara (0-3, one free), D Smyth; T Smullen, K Mulligan (0-1), T Clendenning; J Martin, N Sheridan, M Connor (0-6, two frees, one '45). Subs: D Blessington for O'Rourke inj (4 mins); S O'Loughlin for Martin inj. (11 mins); J Nally for Reilly inj. (half-time); M Lennon for Smyth (52 mins); F Kelly for O'Loughlin (58 mins).

Referee: D Coldrick (Meath).