U20 Footballers Fall To Defeat To Westmeath In Leinster Championship Tie

Image courtesy Niall O'Connell

DUBLIN 2-13

WESTMEATH 2-16

Dublin’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stages were dashed as they succumbed to Westmeath by three points in their entertaining Dalata Hotel Group Leinster Under 20 Football Championship Round 3 clash in Kinnegad on Wednesday night.

Despite leading by six points by the 11th minute, thanks largely to a Callum O’Dwyer goal, the Dubs found themselves trailing by 1-9 to 1-7 at the break with James McHugh converting a penalty for Westmeath in the 24th minute.

A Kealan Connell goal early in the final quarter opened up a healthy home lead and while Lenny Cahill replied for Dublin, they couldn’t reel in their opponents in the dying minutes.   

Dublin were under pressure to deliver, having lost to Louth a week previously and they made a lively start through an early point from late replacement Cahill.  

While the hosts replied through points from Críostóir Ormsby and Matty Thornton, the visitors looked lively in the early stages with a two-pointer from captain Luke O’Boyle preceding an O’Dwyer score.

Their lead was enhanced as a strong counter-attack saw Ryan Mitchell released down the left flank and his pass allowed O’Dwyer to net from close range, via the hand of home goalkeeper James Mitchell.

The lively Donach Magee enhanced Dublin’s advantage but Westmeath gradually settled into the encounter through two frees from McHugh and another by Thornton.

While Magee ended a scoreless period of nine minutes, the hosts were right back in the mix midway through the second quarter as Mikey Weir was upended close to goal and McHugh placed a precise finish beyond Cillian Campion for a levelling score.

Once again, it was Magee that got Dublin back on track with his third point of the half but Westmeath finished strongly through scores from Thornton, Taylor Slevin and McHugh to lead by two points by the interval.

The visitors enjoyed a generous amount of possession as the contest resumed and they deservedly drew level by the 36th minute courtesy of points by Cahill and O’Dwyer (free).

Another O’Dwyer point regained the Dublin lead soon after but that advantage was short-lived as the hosts kicked scores through Scahill and Thornton to edge back in front.

Westmeath gained further momentum through a McHugh two-pointer in the 41st minute and the full-forward kicked another point to push the hosts four points clear by the end of the third quarter.

Matters deteriorated for Dublin as Connell put the finishing touches to a fine move for Westmeath’s second goal in the 48th minute as Dublin’s knockout hopes were left hanging by a thread.

Cahill offered them a lifeline when crashing home a superb goal after strong play by substitute Billy Shouldice and a Tristan Donnelly point soon after brought Dublin’s deficit down to a more manageable two points.

However, the hosts regained the initiative in the closing stages with Weir and Connell kicking insurance points, leaving Dublin to contest the Andrew Corden Cup in the coming weeks.

Scorers – Dublin: C O’Dwyer 1-3 (0-1f); L Cahill 1-2; D Magee 0-3; L O’Boyle 0-2 (P2); C Hickey, B Shouldice, T Donnelly 0-1 apiece. Westmeath: J McHugh 1-6 (1-0pen, 0-3f, 1 P2); M Thornton 0-4 (1f); K Connell 1-1; W Scahill 0-2; C Ormsby, T Slevin, M Weir 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: C Campion; S Keogh, D O’Sullivan, F Costello; D Lynch, C O’Connor, R Mitchell; F McGinnis, A Carolan; D Magee, L O’Boyle, O Costello; L Cahill, C O’Dwyer, C Hickey. Subs: C O’Connell for Mitchell (half-time), T Donnelly for O Costello (half-time), S Ryan for Carolan (46), B Shouldice for Hickey (46), R Doherty for Magee (57).

Westmeath: J Mitchell; T Slevin, T Masterson, A Glynn; B Doyle, C Whitney, C Daly; K Connell, C Ormsby; D Maguire, W Scahill, M Weir; M Thornton, J McHugh, C Rochford. Subs: S Whittaker for Rochford (44), H Duncan for Daly (46), P Keegan for Doyle (52), B Ronan for McHugh (61), N Pierson for Thornton (63).

Referee: Patrick Coyle (Meath).