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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Mayo v Westmeath, All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers, Round 4B

We followed the second game of the day at Croke Park, as Mayo and Westmeath went head-to-head for a place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

Good afternoon folks and welcome along to the day’s second liveblog as Mayo and Westmeath do battle for a place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

Throw-in at Croke Park is at 6pm and we’ll have all the build-up between now and then.

Mayo manager Stephen Rochford last night named an unchanged team for this evening’s qualifier but Sky Sports are reporting Diarmuid O’Connor — the star of the victory over Kildare — has been ruled out with a dead leg.

Full teams to follow…

These two counties have only ever met once in the championship before today, with Westmeath prevailing 1-14 to 0-16 after extra-time in Round 4 of the Qualifiers back in 2001.

Donegal have just booked a quarter-final date with defending champions Dublin after 0-21 to 1-15 win over Cork in the first of today’s double-header.

Here’s Fintan O’Toole’s match report from Croke Park.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Stephen Rochford admits Diarmuid O’Connor is a ‘big loss’ but is confident Jason Doherty can deputise in that full forward line.

Cribbin makes three changes to the side that lost to Dublin in the Leinster final. Can they cause an upset here this evening?

Westmeath:

1. Darren Quinn (Tyrrellspass)

2. Kevin Maguire (Caulry)
3. Francis Boyle (Killucan)
4. Killian Daly (Mullingar Shamrocks)

5. Jamie Gonoud (Tyrrellspass)
6. David Lynch (St. Malachys)
7. James Dolan (Garrycastle)

8. Darragh Daly (Mullingar Shamrocks)
9. Ger Egan (Tyrrellspass)

10. John Egan (Athlone)
11. Paul Sharry (St. Lomans Mullingar)
12. Kieran Martin (Maryland)

13. Callum McCormack (Maryland)
14. John Heslin (St. Lomans Mullingar
15. John Connellan (Athlone)

Both teams are out on the pitch warming up as the countdown to this one continues. With O’Connor dropping out and Doherty being drafted in as a late replacement, here’s how Mayo will line-up this evening:

Mayo:

1. David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites)

2. Brendan Harrison (Aghamore)
3. Kevin Keane (Westport)
4. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)

5. Lee Keegan (Westport)
6. Colm Boyle (Davitts)
7. Patrick Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels)

8. Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy)
9. Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe)

10. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)
11. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy)
12. Jason Doherty (Burrishoole)

13. Evan Regan (Ballina Stephenites)
14. Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen)
15. Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber, captain).

It’s a beautiful evening in Dublin and conditions are perfect for football. Will it be Mayo or Westmeath? We’re just about set for action here.

And we’re off! Westmeath attacking a vacant Hill 16 in this first half.

Mayo 0-0 Westmeath 0-1

First blood to Westmeath as John Heslin converts an early free.

Mayo 0-0 Westmeath 0-1

Sloppy start from Mayo as they concede a third free but Heslin pushes his latest effort wide and he’s missed two now.

Mayo 0-0 Westmeath 0-1

Cillian O’Connor hooks a free wide as both sides suffer from early nerves. Seven minutes gone and Heslin’s free is the only score.

John Connellan needs treatment from the physio after a heavy fall but he’s back on his feet and able to continue.

Ironic cheers ring around Croke Park as Aidan O’Shea goes down under the challenge and wins a free just outside the square. There was definitely contact on this occasion.

Mayo 0-1 Westmeath 0-1

And the sides are level after 11 minutes. Evan Regan makes no mistake from the free.

Mayo 0-1 Westmeath 0-2

More indiscipline from Mayo and Heslin isn’t prepared to squander this opportunity. Westmeath lead again.

Mayo are caught out of position and Westmeath look to pounce but the ball towards Connellan is poor, although the Athlone man doesn’t appear to be moving freely.

Mayo 0-2 Westmeath 0-2

It has been a very scrappy start to proceedings but Andy Moran gets his hands on the ball and fires over the first score from play.

Mayo 0-3 Westmeath 0-2

Moran capitalises on a slip from Killian Daly and he sets the chance up for O’Connor to open his account and out Mayo into the lead for the first time.

Mayo 0-4 Westmeath 0-2

Moran has taken this game by the scruff of the neck and he wins another free, this time forcing Kieran Martin into the mistake. Regan’s left foot puts Mayo into a two-point lead.

Mayo 0-5 Westmeath 0-2

Mayo have settled nicely and are clicking into gear. Cillian O’Connor is now in full flight and it’s now four points without reply for Rochford’s men.

John Connellan is really struggling and Sky Sports say it’s a hamstring injury he’s nursing after aggravating it in that early collision.

Mayo 0-5 Westmeath 0-3

Heslin slots over another free.

GOAL! Mayo 1-6 Westmeath 0-3

Donal Vaughan passes inside for Doherty to latch onto and he dispatches emphatically past the goalkeeper. Mayo have a six point lead and are looking dangerous.

Mayo 1-6 Westmeath 0-4

Brilliant from Heslin as he scores his, and Westmeath’s, fourth score of the day.

Mayo 1-7 Westmeath 0-4

But Mayo hit back through O’Connor, who powers through the Westmeath defence to slot it over the bar.

Mayo 1-8 Westmeath 0-4

Mayo started slowly but they’re beginning to click now as Regan dissects the posts with a booming left-footed point from this near touchline. It’s pretty much one-way traffic at the minute.

Mayo 1-9 Westmeath 0-4

Moran swivels on a sixpence and pops it over the bar to extend Mayo lead to eight points after 28 minutes.

Penalty! Darren Quinn is penalised for over-carrying in the small square after coming under pressure from Regan. O’Connor has the chance to push Mayo further clear.

GOAL! Mayo 2-9 Westmeath 0-4

And O’Connor fires high into the top corner and Mayo are pulling out of sight as half-time approaches.

GOAL! Mayo 2-10 Westmeath 1-4

Out of nothing, James Dolan gives Westmeath a lifeline as his effort finds its way into the far corner.

Mayo 2-10 Westmeath 1-5

So sloppy from Mayo as they lose possession from the kick-out but Westmeath aren’t able to take full advantage, although Heslin adds another score to his tally.

That was a breathless and dramatic couple of minutes. A goal at either end and Westmeath really should have had a second as we approach the end of this first half.

Half-time! Mayo 2-10 Westmeath 1-5

Alan Stone and Cillian O’Connor battle for possession.

Alan Stone and Cillian O'Connor Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

Mayo were slow out of the blocks but eventually settled into the task and dominated for large periods. Cillian O’Connor’s penalty looked to have given them an unassailable lead but they were made to pay for a lapse in concentration and Westmeath are still in with a sniff.

That said, Cribbin’s men will have to be an awful lot better on the restart and offer more of an attacking threat in this second half.

screenshot.1469901240.84106 Sky Sports GAA / Twitter Sky Sports GAA / Twitter / Twitter

Back underway at HQ! The prize on offer is that quarter-final tie with Tyrone, and you’d expect Mayo to kick on now and wrap up victory — but Westmeath will have other ideas.

Mayo 2-10 Westmeath 1-6

Dolan adds a point to his goal and Westmeath open the second-half scoring. They’ve nothing to lose now.

Mayo 2-10 Westmeath 1-7

Another score for Westmeath and they trail by six.

Cillian O’Connor dispatches his first-half penalty.

Cillian O'Connor scores his sides second goal with a penalty Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Mayo 2-10 Westmeath 1-8

Slowly but surely Westmeath are eating into that deficit. Three points in quick succession and they’re really giving this a go.

Mayo 2-10 Westmeath 1-9

Heslin slots over another free and his seventh point of the day and it’s a four-point game now.

It’s now 1-5 without reply for Westmeath. They’re just giving Mayo something to think about. 42 minutes gone.

Mayo 2-12 Westmeath 1-9

Good response from Mayo with two scores in quick succession. Just takes the sting out of this Westmeath fightback.

O’Connor and Doherty with the points for Mayo as we enter the final 25 minutes at Croke Park.

Westmeath can’t afford to squander chances but Dolan registers another wide — their second in as many minutes.

Mayo 2-12 Westmeath 1-10

But Westmeath continue to be positive and there’s a real purpose about them now. Heslin with another fine score — his eighth of the day — and the Lake County aren’t rolling over just yet. They’ve given themselves a chance as we enter the final quarter.

Mayo 2-13 Westmeath 1-11

While Mayo aren’t firing on all cylinders, they’re just doing enough to keep things ticking over. Higgins knocks it over the bar but it’s cancelled out straight away at the other end. Five points is the difference and we’ve got 15 minutes remaining.

Off the bar! O’Connor manufactures a yard of space for himself and lets fly, only for his stinging effort to cannon back off the frame. That was a let off for Westmeath and they’re still alive.

Mayo 2-13 Westmeath 1-12

And Heslin strikes at the other end. This is far from over.

Off the bar! Very nearly a third Mayo goal as O’Shea gets a hand to the free into the small square but it comes back off the woodwork.

Mayo 2-13 Westmeath 1-13

Kieran Martin has his second of the day and we have got a three-point game on our hands! Incredible fightback from Westmeath and they’ve got seven minutes left on the clock.

Mayo 2-14 Westmeath 1-13

But Vaughan just calms everyone down with a fine solo score before being hit late and Denis Corroon is shown a second yellow for that.

Missed chance for Westmeath as Daly shoots high and wide and Cribbin’s men are into double figures in the wides column.

Mayo 2-14 Westmeath 1-14 

Just a score between the sides again as we head into four minutes of added time at Croke Park.

Frenetic end to this game as Westmeath throw everything forward — but Aidan O’Shea shows all his power and experience to win the free.

Kieran Martin and Brendan Harrison.

Kieran Martin and Brendan Harrison Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

Mayo 2-15 Westmeath 1-14

Insurance score for Mayo as O’Connor pops over a free to add to his personal tally.

GOAL! Mayo 3-15 Westmeath 1-14

And that’s game, set and match. Mayo pounce on a defensive error and O’Shea slams it home from close range.

Full-time! Mayo 3-15 Westmeath 1-14

So Mayo advance to face Tyrone, and now we know the full quarter-final line-up:

Thanks for joining us this afternoon, we’ll have plenty of reaction from Croke Park on the site throughout the evening.

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