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midland derby

Westmeath survive Offaly fightback to edge into last four of Leinster

Westmeath did just about enough to make it into the provincial semi-final.

Westmeath 0-13

Offaly 0-12

WESTMEATH HELD OFF a resurgent Offaly side in TEG Cusack Park to squeeze into the last four of the Leinster SFC.

Westmeath will take on Kildare as they bid to make back to back provincial finals for the first time in their history.

A thoroughly entertaining encounter finished 0-13 to 0-12 in favour of Tom Cribben’s team. Westmeath led by six at half-time, although they had a strong breeze at their backs in the opening half.

It took Offaly 17 minutes to open their account, while Westmeath had four points on the board by that stage with John Heslin and John Connellan to the fore.

The Faithful admirably turned things around after the interval as Nigel Dunne kicked five scores to bring them to within a single point.

It was a close as Offaly would come and they brought the gap down to the minimum on four occasions in the second period. Heslin and Kieran Martin settled Westmeath’s nerves with a score apiece but Dunne and Cunningham responded to put Offaly a point behind once again.

Niall McNamee had the chance to claim a draw from a long-range free, but his shot trailed off wide.

Westmeath Scorers: John Heslin 0-5 (0-2 Frees), John Connellan 0-3, Paul Sharry 0-2 (0-1 ’45), Denis Corroon 0-1, Kieran Martin 0-1, James Dolan 0-1.

Offaly Scorers: Nigel Dunne 0-6 (0-5 Frees), Peter Cunningham 0-2. Graham Guilfoyle 0-1, Bernard Allen 0-1, Johnny Moloney 0-1, Niall McNamee 0-1.

Westmeath

Darren Quinn

Killian Daly
Francis Boyle
Jamie Gonoude

James Dolan
Alan Stone
Kevin Maguire

Denis Corroon
Ger Egan (Capt.)

David Lynch
John Connellan
Callum McCormack

John Heslin
Kieran Martin
Paul Sharry

Subs: John Egan for David Lynch (38 mins), Biodiu Sayeh for Callum McCormack (56 mins), Darragh Daly for John Egan (63 mins), Paddy Fagan for Killian Daly (inj – 65 mins), Lorcan Dolan for John Connellan (67 mins).

Offaly

Alan Mulhall (Capt.)

Brian Darby
Eoin Rigney
Sean Pender

Niall Darby
Peter Cunningham
Joey O’Connor

Eoin Carroll
Niall Smith

Niall McNamee
Nigel Dunne
Michael Brazil

Bernard Allen
Niall McNamee
Graham Guilfoyle

Subs: Anton Sullivan for Graham Guilfoyle (Black Card – 42 mins), Nigel Bracken for Michael Brazil (52 mins), Sean Doyle for Bernard Allen (60 mins), Cian Donohue for Nigel Dunne (Black Card – 70 mins).

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