Experimental mode as Longford score narrow win over Westmeath

Longford . . . 0-9   Westmeath . . . 0-7

In a sluggish start to the 2024 campaign, both counties were in experimental mode as Longford scored a narrow win over Westmeath in a rather tame O’Byrne Cup quarter-final at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday.

Watched by a small attendance in the region of 400, Longford featured a few regulars while Westmeath fielded what was basically their U-20 team in what was nothing more than a challenge game with a competitive edge.

None of the players who lined-out for Westmeath in the draw against Tyrone in Round 3 of the All-Ireland SFC group stage last year were in action against Longford who came out on top with a couple of points to spare in the finish.

The management team of Paddy Christie, Dessie Sloyan and the new selector, Lanesboro native Cosmas Gilmore, will now prepare the players for the O’Byrne Cup semi-final away to Meath or Louth on Saturday next. 

While winning against the vastly inexperienced Westmeath side is a bit of a boost for all concerned in the Longford camp, the O’Byrne Cup is just a warm up exercise for the National League with promotion from Division 4 very much the main priority.

With Darren Gallagher generally in control at centrefield throughout this uneventful match, the home county led by 0-5 to 0-4 at the break with the prominent Granard player converting a couple of frees. 

Dylan Farrell, Patrick Fox and Daniel Mimnagh were also on target for Longford while the Westmeath scores in the first half came from Eoghan McCabe, Kevin O’Sullivan (2) and Shane Corcoran.

Christie’s charges held the upper hand for most of the second half in adding another four points to their tally - a brace from Gallagher (free and’45) with Mimnagh (a cracking strike) and Daniel Reynolds completing the scoring for the home side. 

Shane Allen, McCabe (free) and Danny McCartan accounted for the three Westmeath points in the second half of this low key local derby.   

LONGFORD: Micheal Hughes (Killoe); Barry O'Farrell (Carrickedmond), Oisin O'Toole (Dromard), Darragh Finlass (Ballymahon); Jordan Shiels (Granard), Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta, 0-1), Ruairi Harkin (Colmcille); Darren Gallagher (Granard, 0-4, 3 frees, 1 ‘45’), Ryan Moffett (Killoe); Dylan Farrell (Killashee, 0-1), Daniel Mimnagh (Killoe, 0-2), Daniel Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s, 0-1); Jayson Matthews (Mullinalaghta), Bryn Peters (Rathcline), Cathal McCabe (Colmcille).

Subs:- Dessie Reynolds (Sean Connolly’s) for J Shiels (40 mins); Daire Duggan (Sean Connolly’s) for P Fox (injured, 58 mins); Diarmuid Farrell (Ardagh Moydow) for D Finlass (injured, 59 mins); Dylan Lynch (Sean Connolly’s) for D Gallagher (65 mins); Ronan Kavanagh (Killashee) for Dessie Reynolds (70 mins).

WESTMEATH: Jack Connaughton; Adam Keane, Charlie Drumm, Ciaran Nolan; Darragh Lowry, Shane Allen (0-1), Tadhg Baker; Eoghan McCabe (0-2, 1 free), Dylan Murtagh; Brian Cooney, Danny McCartan (0-1), Kevin O’Sullivan (0-2, 1 mark); Adam Neary, Shane Corcoran (0-1), Liam Daly.

Subs:- Jason Macken for B Cooney (half-time); Shane Hanley for A Neary (40 mins); Jack Duncan for S Corcoran (52 mins); Darragh Hall for D Lowry (58 mins); Jack Mulvihill for T Baker (65 mins); Padraig Carton for S Hanley (70 mins). 

Referee: Kevin Williamson (Offaly).