Limerick 4-15
Westmeath 1-12
THE FINAL SCORELINE did scant justice to a spirited Westmeath side who kept the hope of a shock result alive into the second-half of this All-Ireland qualifier.
And while Limerick wasted several good goal chances, they managed to strike at crucial stages to ensure a safe passage into Monday morning’s draw for the next round.
Manager TJ Ryan was the first to admit they will need to improve if they are to go any further but the heavy rain in Mullingar did not help them in a match where they were odds-on to win.
And early goals from Kevin Downes and Shane Dowling should have ensured a trouble-free afternoon for the Treaty men.
But Westmeath, perhaps drawing inspiration from their footballers, recovered from being 2-2 to 0-1 down after 13 minutes to actually hit the front approaching half-time.
Brendan Murtagh hit some great points to get Westmeath back in the game and they produced the score of the match when midfielder Cormac Boyle blasted to the net after a great passing movement.
They followed that up with points from Murtagh, Boyle and Derek McNicholas to lead by 1-7 to 2-2 and the prospect of the shock of the summer began to gain momentum.
Limerick put paid to that notion with four points before the break to lead by 2-6 to 1-7 and then Paul Brown got their third goal inside a minute of the restart.
Yet, Westmeath never gave up and efforts from Boyle, Murtagh and McNicholas kept them in touch, but Limerick were able to delivery plenty of artillery off the bench to keep a safe distance between them.
Westmeath again raised hopes of an upset when Emmett Corrigan’s point ten minutes from time left just four between them but that was as close as they got as Limerick pulled away to score 15 without reply in the closing stages, with Adrian Breen getting their fourth goal.
Scorers for Limerick: S Dowling 1-3 (0-1f), K Downes 1-2, P Brown 1-1, S Tobin 0-3, D Hannon 0-3 (1f, 1’65), A Breen 1-0, G Mulcahy 0-2, T O’Brien 0-1.
Scorers for Westmeath: B Murtagh 0-6 (2f), C Boyle 1-2, D McNicholas 0-2, E Corrigan 0-1, A Devine 0-1
Limerick
1. Nickie Quaid (Effin)
2. Tom Condon (Knocknaderry)
3. Richard McCarthy (Blackrock)
4. Sean O’Brien (Patrickswell)
5. Paudie O’Brien (Kilmallock)
6. Gavin O’Mahony (Kilmallock)
7. Wayne McNamara (Adare)
8. James Ryan (Garryspillane)
9. Paul Browne (Bruff)
10. David Breen (Na Piarsaigh)
11. Sean Tobin (Murroe-Boher)
12. Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh)
13. Graeme Mulcahy (Kilmallock)
14. Kevin Downes (Na Piarsaigh)
15. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)
Subs:
19. Dan Morrissey (Ahane) for Condon 26
26. Tomas O’Brien (Patrickswell) for Lynch 44
23. Declan Hannon (Adare) for Tobin 52
25. Adrian Breen (Na Pairsaigh) for Dowling 57
24. Donal O’Grady (Granagh-Ballingarry) for D Breen 65
Westmeath
1. Shane McGovern (Crookedwood)
2. Shane Power (Clonkill)
3. Tommy Doyle (Lough Lene Gaels)
4. Kieran Duncan (Southern Gaels)
5. Aaron Craig (St Oliver Plunketts)
6. Aonghus Clarke (Castletown Geoghegan)
7. Alan McGrath (Clonkill)
8. Cormac Boyle (Raharney)
9. Joe Clarke (Castletown Geoghegan)
10. Alan Devine (Castlepollard)
11. Derek McNicholas (Lough Lene Gaels)
12. Liam Varley (Castletown Geoghegan)
13. Niall O’Brien (Castletown Geoghegan)
14. Brendan Murtagh (Clonkill)
15. Robbie Greville (Raharney)
Subs:
19. Darragh Clinton (Devlin) for O’Brien 46
17. Emmet Corrigan (Ringtown) for McNicholas 50
18. Killian Murphy (Devlin) for Craig 57
26. Niall Mitchell (Clonkill) for Power 63
Referee: Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow).
