Westmeath too wayward

Westmeath's penchant for self destruction finally proved fatal at Croke Park yesterday. Wayward shooting, a flaw that had threatened to undermine their progress in previous matches against Carlow and Longford, ultimately proved their undoing and heralded their exit from the Leinster championship.

Manager Brendan Lowry articulated the players' disappointment in the aftermath but held his in check with a philosophical shrug and an acknowledgement that profligacy in front of goal was the single biggest factor in defeat.

Laois began sluggishly as befits a team attempting to shake off the rustiness on a first championship outing. They delivered the ball long into the full-forward line, but aimlessly, kicking away possession and ignoring the short passing game which they traditionally favour.

Westmeath proved sharper in the opening exchanges, slicker in the interchange of passes that cut a swathe through the Laois defence, but unfortunately for them the climax failed to match the foreplay. Creating good shooting positions was easily within the compass of Ger Heavin and Kenny Lyons but posting scores was not, at least initially.

They failed to register their dominance on the scoreboard, shooting nine first-half wides, many of them in the first 15 minutes. Their lack of composure when addressing the posts was palpable and seemed to spread to every forward in a maroon jersey.

Lyons, Heavin and Thomas Cleary were frequently first to the ball but too often shot hastily or were easily dispossessed.

This ascendancy was never destined to last and once Laois had discovered a more patient approach, exemplified in a short passing game, it was not long until they began to move with a greater potency. Three points in the space of 11 minutes from Chris Conway, Stephen Kelly and the excellent Michael Lawlor allowed Laois to forge into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead but as they threatened to cut loose their opponents finally maximised opportunities.

Mark Staunton kicked two points with Lyons managing a fine long-range strike before the match once again swung towards Laois. Ian Fitzgerald kicked a point before providing Kelly with the pass, albeit via the hands of John O'Brien, from which he shot to net.

The see-saw nature of proceedings demanded that Westmeath wrest the initiative, primarily through moving Paul Conway to midfield where he was hugely influential, closing out the half with points from a Heavin free and a similar score from Cleary. Lowry's charges began briskly after the interval adding a further three point to grab the lead: it was to prove a brief honour.

Westmeath's full-back line, which until this point had fought tigerishly, finally began to buckle as Laois midfielder Tony Maher asserted his superiority in this sector. Hugh Emerson switched to centre half back where he was more effective, with Ian Fitzgerald moving to the edge of the square.

Excellent left half back Colm Parkinson kicked a second point after a fine solo run with Maher and Fitzgerald adding further scores. The ebb and flow saw both sides avail of scoring opportunities, the best of which was a wonderful individual effort from Michael Lawlor.

Receiving possession some 50 metres from goal he beat three would-be assailants before dispatching the ball between the posts from 40 metres. A brace of points from Lawlor and Fitzgerald served to give Laois a three-point lead, the margin by which they would eventually prevail.

The introduction of 18-year-old prodigy Brian `Beano' McDonald drew a huge ovation from the Laois following matched in decibel level when the talented minor kicked a fine point in the 69th minute.

Laois manager Michael Dempsey will be aware that an equally ponderous opening to their next outing could result in a mauling, although on the evidence of the football that Dublin and Kildare mustered yesterday, that is by no means certain.

Westmeath's conquerors possess the wherewithal to seriously trouble the eventual winners of the Dublin/Kildare saga but will need to work on several aspects of their performance, particularly defensive duties.

For those in the maroon and white, Croke Park provided them with a lesson in the requisite quality of finishing needed to survive at this level. Lowry suggested as much: "This is a starting point," he said. When the National League resumes "at least we know more about ourselves".