Westmeath's first half tour-de-force tells tale as honest second half gives Offaly postive take-away
Offaly now face must win encounter with Dublin
FEARS that Offaly would struggle proved to be very well founded when Westmeath proved too strong in the Leinster U20 Football Championship opener at Kilcormac's Faithful Fields on Wednesday evening.
Leinster U20 Football Championship Group 1 Round 1
Westmeath 1-17
Offaly 0-14
With their star player Cillian Bourke injured and less than convincing form in their warm up programme, Offaly entered this opener with plenty of doubts surrounding their prospects.
And so it proved as Westmeath were able to get away for a comvincing and comprehensive win. The visitors adapted much better to the new rules than Offaly, attacking with much greater pace and penetration, especially in the first half. Offaly struggled to break the line inside the Westmeath half and creating chances was a problem most of the way - having said that, Offaly dug deep in the second half and at one stage, it looked like the result would be a lot worse as they managed to salvage their pride.
The home side actually started okay with Kaelem Bryan getting them off the mark in the third minute and they had a lot of early play. Bryan and goalkeeper Conor Melia were wide with frees in this period and Westmeath's first real attack in the tenth minute was a decisive one, a punched goal from Peter Murphy after Ronan Murray floated the ball in.
By half time, the deficit was gone out to 1-11 to 0-4 and Offaly were staring a heavy defeat in the face. Westmeath took some quality scores while two two point frees from Finn Duffy helped them open a decisive gap.
With Offaly's attacks becoming increasingly rare, they were trailing by 1-9 to 0-2 when Conor Melia lifted the gloom with a splendidly struck two point free in the 28th minute. Howewer, this was cancelled out in injury time by Duffy and at half time, it looked like being a very long evening for Offaly who had pressed the panic button by calling two players ashore in the first half – forward Conor Fox and defender Darragh Bryant but Westmeath were clearly the better side and this duo were only two of a handful of players who could have been looking anxiously at the line.
In the second half, Offaly started with all guns blazing, as you'd espect and they gave a much better account of themselves, without ever looking like they were going to win it.
Cillian Foran got two points, one free, but Westmeath soon grabbed control and back and three points from the 35th to 38th minute gave them a 1-14 to 0-6 lead. That was always going to be a sufficient cushion but Offaly at least got their effort and intensity levels up to where they needed to be in the second half.
They were very honest in the way they battled and they only conceded three points in the closing twenty minutes plus. Offaly got seven points themselves, one of them a two pointer from sub Cian Bracken, and a goal could have really sparked life into them. Unfortunately for Offaly, they never looked like breaking through for one as Westmeath adapted a “what we have, we hold” policy.
At the same timne, Offaly could have been much closer and forced the winners to panic a bit. Goalkeeper Melia was off target with two two point frees that he is well capable of converting. Kaelem Bryan was wide with another one even two of those could have made it way closer at the end.
The result, however, was a fair reflection of the way the game went and the impression that Westmeath had another gear to find if required is impossible to avoid. With three games on successive Wednesday evenings and Dublin and Westmeath next to come in this group, it is a very unforgiving campaign and with two qualifying, Offaly's margin for error is effectively gone now.
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MATCH ANALYSIS
MAN OF THE MATCH
Finn Duffy (Westmeath): Centre half forward Finn Duffy had a super game for Westmeath. He got nine points, including two two point frees and four from play but his contribution went deeper than this. He got on a lot of ball and his use of it was very clever.
Westmeath had a few other really good performances with Tadgh Baker and the very impressive Shane Ormbsy giving them a foothold at midfield until the last twenty minutes when Offaly began to win more ball and breaks – Eoin Dunne improved as the game went on while wing forward Dara Bates mopped up some ball and Davin Keegan worked hard when introduced. Jake Maher impressed in defence but overall, however, Offaly have a lot of improving to do if they are to stay in the championship - their survival prospects depend to a large extent on getting Cillian Bourke out on the field.
THE SCORERS
Westmeath: Finn Duffy 0-9 (2 2pf, 1f), Peter Murphy 1-0, Ryan Kelly 0-3 (1f), Billy Moffatt, Shane Ormbsy, Shane Corcoran, Ronan Murray, Jack Duncan 0-1 each.
Offaly: Kaelem Bryan 0-6 (1 2pf, 3f), Conor Melia (1 2pf), Cillian Foran (1f) and Cian Bracken (2p) 0-2 each, Niall Furlong and Steven Doran 0-1 each.
THE TEAMS
OFFALY: Conor Meila (Bracknagh); Jake Maher (Ferbane), John Colgan (Cappincur), Christian McKeon (Clara); Harry Goulding (Edenderry), David O Rourke (Shamrocks, Captain), Darragh Bryant (Shamrocks); Brian Carroll (Ferbane), Eoin Dunne (Clodiagh Gaels); Dara Bates (Shamrocks), Niall Furlong (Tullamore), Steven Doran (Ballinamere); Cillian Foran (Edenderry), Conor Fox (Tubber), Kaelem Bryan (Edenderry). Subs – Luke Kelly (Doon) for Fox (21m), Jack Maher (Tullamore) for Bryant (26m), Cian Bracken (Daingean) for Foran (43m), Davin Keegan (Tullamore) for Carroll (46m), Billy Quinn (Rhode) for Bryan (55m).
WESTMEATH: Luke Nicholson; Sean Dillon, Seanaí Bracken, Aodhan Curran; Kealan Connell, Billy Moffatt, Adam Keane; Shane Ormsby, Tadhg Baker; Ryan Kelly, Finn Duffy, Peter Murphy; Shane Corcoran, Ronan Murray, Jack Duncan. Subs – Matthew Thornton for Connell (51m), Taylor Slevin for Moffatt (51m), Tiarnan O'Donovan for Duncan (55m), Gareth Mullaniff for Murphy (57m), Tom Bourke for Murray (58m).
Referee – Patrick Coyle, Meath
REFEREE WATCH
Patrick Coyle had a very good game with few issues.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Westmeath's 10th minute goal from Peter Murphy came against the run of play but they never looked like losing from here.
VENUE WATCH
Faithful Fields was in great condition and a nice sized crowd created a lively atmosphere.
WHAT’S NEXT
Offaly are at home to Dublin next Wednesday while Westmeath have home venue against Meath.
STATISTICS
Wides: Offaly – 10 (4 in first half); Westmeath – 7 (6 In first half).
Yellow cards: Offaly – 2 (Kaelem Bryan and John Colgan); Westmeath – 1 (Peter Murphy).
Black cards: 0
Red cards: 0