Mortimer takes Mayo into final

A Conor Mortimer pointed free five minutes from time proved to be the winning score as Mayo held off a late Westmeath rally to clinch victory in an absorbing All-Ireland minor football semi-final replay at Pairc Sean Mhic Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday.

Mayo manager John P Kean was jubilant, but also critical of the Mayo attack, especially in the first half. "However, our defence was brilliant and kept us in the game; but you can't win an All-Ireland final scoring just seven points. Obviously we will be working on this aspect of our game before our meeting with Cork," he said.

Westmeath manager Ambrose McGowan expressed disappointment that his forwards did not perform on the day; but added that it was "a tight game in which both defences dominated. The loss of Padraig Leavy came at a critical time, just as we had equalised," he said.

Westmeath dominated the first half and led 0-4 to 0-2 at the break with points from Andrew McCormack, Tom Browne, PJ Ward and Alan Hickey.

Mayo restarted in sparkling form. Paul Prenty pointed from the throw-in and two minutes later Mortimer sent over the first of his three second-half points. Cormac Rowland gave Mayo the lead for the first time with a 40th minute point.

Substitute Nigel Adamson levelled for Westmeah ten minutes from the end but two minutes later disaster struck when midfielder Padraig Leavy was dismissed for a second bookable offence. It was to prove crucial as Mayo pressed home their numerical advantage and Mortimer kicked the winning point in the 55th minute.

Mayo: D Parke; R Keane (capt), R Walshe, D Geraghty; D Costello, E Devenney, C Moran; E Barrett, A Burke; P Prenty (0-1), C Mortimer (0-4), C Rowland (0-1); P Carey, A Dillon (0-1), T Geraghty. Subs: D Flynn for T Geraghty; K McHugh for C Rowland; J Nally for E Barrett.

Westmeath: E Farrell; D O'Donoghue, K Larkin, F Newmann; D McDermott(0-1), A Lambden (capt), G Glennon; P Leavy, G Flanagan; C Brennan, A McCormack (0-1), C Whyte; T Browne (0-1), P J Ward (0-1), A Hickey (0-1). Subs: N Adamson (0-1) for C Whyte; L Reilly for P J Ward; G McDonald for T Browne.

Referee: A Mangan (Kerry).