Details

Date Time Competition Season
30 April 2022 6:00 pm Leinster SFC 2022

Match Report

Leinster SFC: Westmeath into the last-four

Goals win games and this proved true as Westmeath advanced to the Leinster semi-finals with an eight point win over Longford. The Lake County took the chances that fell their way.

It was disappointing from Longford. They were over-ran for a 40 minute spell and Westmeath were able to build up a 13-point advantage in the 50th minute. Longford rallied and cut the gap to six put substitute Robbie Forde sealed the win with Westmeath’s third goal in stoppage time.

Longford started well and twice held a two point lead with Daniel and Dessie Reynolds and Mickey Quinn kicking over points. Westmeath replied in fine fashion and seven points in a row gave them a five point lead in the 23rd minute. John Heslin, Alex Gardiner and Nigel Harte were all on the scoresheet. 

Westmeath opened up Longford quite easily and the lead was eight in the 28th minute when Heslin found the back of the net; Gardiner’s shot was saved by Longford keeper Paddy Collum with Heslin firing the rebound to the net.

Heslin was on target minutes later kicking over his fourth point of the game. After 26 minutes without a score Longford got a fourth point in the 34th minute when Darren Gallagher kicked over a free after he was fouled. Westmeath held a 1-09 to 0-04 lead at half-time.

Points from Ray Connellan and Heslin (free) put 10 between the sides in the 43rd minute. Things got better for Westmeath in the 50th minute when substitute Ronan O’Toole got their second goal.

Longford rallied with Gallagher, and substitutes Darragh Doherty and Dylan Farrell all getting crucial scores. Twice Longford came to within six of Westmeath but they couldn’t cut the gap further.

Unlike Westmeath Longford were unable to get a goal with Kevin Diffley fisting over the bar after Dessie Reynolds was unlucky not to find the back of the net.

In stoppage time substitute Robbie Forde grabbed Westmeath’s third goal with Dylan Farrell kicking over a free before the final whistle. A Leinster semi-final for Westmeath while it's the new Tailteann Cup for Longford.

Westmeath

1Jason Daly Goalkeeper
2Jack Smith Defender 51'
3Kevin Maguire Defender
4David Giles 21 Defender
5Jamie Gonoud Defender
6Ronan Wallace Defender
7Nigel Harte Defender 19', 22'
8Jonathan Lynam 20 Midfielder
9Ray Connellan Midfielder 37', 6368'
10Sam McCartan Forward
12David Lynch Forward
19Ger Egan 11 Forward
17Luke Loughlin 13 Forward
14John Heslin Forward 28'
11', 15', 23', 33', 43'
15Alex Gardiner 18 Forward 7', 16', 21'
16Trevor Martin Goalkeeper
11Ronan O’Toole 19 Forward 49'
13Lorcan Dolan 17 68'
18Kieran Martin 15
20Robbie Forde 8 Forward 72'
21Charlie Drumm 4
22Shane Allen Defender
23Kevin O’Sullivan
24TJ Cox Forward
25Andy McCormack
26James Dolan

Longford

1Paddy Collum Goalkeeper 59'
2Patrick Fox Defender
3Andrew Farrell Defender
4Barry O’Farrell Defender
5James Moran Defender 70'
6Michael Quinn Defender 6'
7Iarla O’Sullivan Defender
8Kevin Diffley Midfielder 69'
45'
9Darren Gallagher Midfielder 34', 45', 53', 65'
10Oran Kenny 17 Forward
11Eoghan McCormack 19 Forward
12Dessie Reynolds Forward 8'
13Jayson Matthews 21 Forward
14Daniel Reynolds 25 Forward 4'
15Mark Hughes 18 Forward
16Michael Hughes Goalkeeper
17Dylan Farrell 10 Forward 49', 51', 74'
18Keelin McGann 15 Forward 62'
52'
19Ryan Moffett 11 Defender
20Jack Duggan
21Darragh Doherty 13 Forward 57'
22PJ Masterson
23Jordan Shiels
24Sean Kelly LD Defender
25Cian Dooner 14 Forward
26Fergal Sheridan
  • 67'

    Lorcan Dolan with a point for Westmeath. My internet is as erratic as Longford

  • 60'

    Paddy Collum with a '45

  • 54'

    Gallagher with an excellent point

  • 51'

    Dylan Farrell with two pointed frees for Longford

  • 49'

    Ronan O'Toole with the goal. He was on for a blood sub after Ray Connellan got injured

  • 45'

    A well struck '45 from Darren Gallagher

  • 43'

    Another pointed free from the boot of Heslin

  • 38'

    Longford kick their first wide of the game. Shows you the dominance Westmeath have had on this game.

  • 37'

    Ray Connellan with a fine point

  • 36'

    Jayson Matthews

  • 36'

    Darragh Doherty on

  • 36'

    Oran Kenny is off

  • 36'

    Dylan Farrell is on

  • 36'

    Longford made two changes at half-time

  • 35'

    Westmeath lead by eight at the break

  • 35'

    Westmeath are opening Longford up very easy

  • 35'

    Gallagher's point was Longford's first in 26 minutes of play

  • 35'

    Gallagher's point was Longford's first in 26 minutes of play

  • 35'

    Gallagher's point was Longford's first in 26 minutes of play

  • 34'

    Darren Gallagher wins and kicks over the free

  • 32'

    Heslin with his fourth point of the game (3rd free)

  • 31'

    Mark Hughes the player to go off

  • 31'

    Keelin McGann on for Longford

  • 28'

    Paddy Collum makes a save from Alex Gardiner and the ball fell nicely to Heslin.

  • 27'

    Darren Gallagher plays the ball to Mark Hughes, he spots Daniel Reynolds in a good position but the ball just goes too far from Reynolds

  • 25'

    Westmeath have hit seven points in a row to turn a two point deficit into a five point advantage.

  • 23'

    Neat point from Heslin. All Westmeath here

  • 22'

    Another great score from Harte

  • 20'

    Alex Gardiner hits over a third point

  • 19'

    A fine point from Nigel Harte puts Westmeath ahead by two

  • 16'

    A second point from Gardiner puts Westmeath ahead for the first time

  • 15'

    Another free from Heslin draws Westmeath level

  • 11'

    John Heslin opens his account with a free

  • 8'

    Dessie Reynolds restores Longford's two point lead

  • 7'

    Alex Gardiner with Westmeath's first point

  • 6'

    Mickey Quinn with a neat point after a good ball over from Jayson Matthews

  • 4'

    Daniel Reynolds with a fine point to open the scoring for Longford

  • 3'

    Alex Gardiner wins the mark but hits it wide.

  • A number of hardy souls on the terrace here.

  • The last time these two sides met was last month in the league with Longford winning by four points.

  • Westmeath have 2 changes to their starting line-up - Ger Egan in for Ronan O'Toole and Luke Loughlin in for Lorcan Dolan. No changes for Longford

  • Welcome to a wet and miserable TEG Cusack Park for this evening's Leinster quarter-final clash between Westmeath and Longford. I'm Deniese O'Flaherty

Past Meetings

(Round 3)
0-10 0-14
NFL Division 3
TEG Cusack Park

Ground

TEG Cusack Park
Cusack Park GAA Grounds, Royal Canal Greenway, Mullingar North Urban ED, The Municipal District of Mullingar — Kinnegad, County Westmeath, Leinster, N91 N796, Ireland

Deniese is a freelance sports journalist/broadcaster. She has worked for several local and national media outlets. GAA and soccer are her great loves and she also follows rugby league and snooker. She's a big supporter of her local clubs St. Mary's GAA Granard and Longford Town. She also follows Celtic, Liverpool and Leeds Rhinos. She presented and produced a popular sports podcast last year where she interviewed Ray Houghton, Chris Kamara and John Hartson. Deniese is currently Head of Communications for Boccia Ireland