Division One B/ Galway 1-13 Westmeath 0-10: Tyrone's former hero Peter Canavan is not alone as "Peter the Great" in the annals of Gaelic football following this fluctuating league tie at Cusack Park, Mullingar, yesterday. Tactician supreme Peter Ford, the Galway manager, could easily claim the honour after timely switches that proved match-winning.
A stunning goal in the last quarter amid a blockbuster finish by Galway resulted from one of Ford's tactical masterstrokes. Matthew Clancy was sprung from the bench 28 minutes into the second half to score the game's only goal.
Clancy's score came amid an industrious last-quarter display by Galway to knock Westmeath off the top of the division. Westmeath may well have felt comfortable not least when they trailed by only a single point having played into the wind and later when they stormed into a two-point lead in the opening minutes of the second half.
Galway's grandstand finish was the highlight of an exciting game for the 3,319 spectators. They chalked up 1-5 without reply against a team that could do little about their scoring pattern, spluttering and then stalling in the last quarter. Westmeath had their final score 16 minutes into the second half.
When Galway got their tails up and benefited from Ford's guidance. Westmeath, despite playing with the strong wind, seized up. Westmeath manager Tomás Ó Flatharta was disappointed by the manner in which the game went away so swiftly from his side. "That goal was a big factor and then Peter (Ford) brought on All-Ireland medallists, he said."
Tactics in the first half, when Galway had wind advantage, may not have been seen to be particularly effective judging by their 0-5 to 0-4 interval lead. But the Westmeath midfield of Martin Flanagan and David O'Shaughnessy did a Trojan amount of work despite the policy by Galway to play with a two-man frontline.
As it was, Micheál Meehan, just back from injury, was given something of a roasting by corner back John Keane. The Ford factor came subsequently with Padraic Joyce, Galway's top scorer, moving out to midfield. This move was of tremendous help to the Galway cause with forwards such as Derek Savage, and midfielder Joe Bergin benefiting.
Westmeath had their hard luck, notably when Galway goalkeeper Paul Doherty saved a shot from John Smyth. Dessie Dolan, although filling his usual role as Westmeath's top scorer, was untypically off target early on.
Galway's scoring rate in the first half was not impressive despite the force of the wind at their backs. They did not open their account until the seventh minute with a Padraic Joyce point from a free. Nickey Joyce and Ja Fallon followed up with points moments before Joyce crashed a pile-driver off the crossbar.
Dolan opened Westmeath's account in the 16th minute and his side put in a tremendous last few minutes of the half by adding points by Dolan and O'Shaughnessy to leave the minimum between them.
Westmeath, though, will rue the fact they failed to consolidate a great second-half opening which saw them score lead points from Fergus Wilson and Dolan.
The crowd rose to a special effort by Westmeath's full back Michael Ennis who typified the character of this midlands side by storming into midfield and charging forward to kick a magnificent point.
GALWAY: P Doherty; M Burke, F Hanley, D Burke; M Coyne, D Blake, M Comer; J Bergin (0-1), D Cullinane; D Savage (0-2), J Fallon (0-1), N Joyce (0-1); M Meehan, P Joyce (0-8, five frees), C Bane. Subs: J Geraghty for Fallon, D Meehan for Blake; M Clancy (1-0)for Bane.
WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; F Boyle, M Ennis (0-1), J Keane; A Rigney, D O'Donoghue, D Heavin; M Flanagan, D O'Shaughnessy (0-2); F Wilson (0-2, one free), D Dolan (0-5, four frees), J Smyth; A Mangan, P Bonner, D Glennon, Subs: J Connellan for Smyth, K Gavin for Rigney.
Referee: P Carney(Roscommon).
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