Galway 4-17 Westmeath 2-14:AS EXPECTED, Galway advanced to a Leinster semi-final date with Dublin on Saturday week, but they were given quite a fright by a skilful and spirited Westmeath side at Mullingar on Saturday.
The Tribesmen only managed to pull away in the closing stages of an entertaining game, played in front of 2,000 spectators. Manager John McIntyre called up a number of marquee players from the bench in order to secure victory by a flattering nine-point margin over a side which lost all seven matches in Division Two of the NHL in the spring.
Joe Canning was introduced in the 56th minute and contributed three points from routine frees.
After starting nervously, Westmeath (under the interim tutelage of Galway’s Brian Hanley) led 0-4 to 0-3 before Cyril Donnellan’s weak shot beat Westmeath’s goalkeeper Cathal Scally in the 14th minute. However, the Lake County, with wing back Eoin Price outstanding, did not lose heart and matched their illustrious opponents in most facets of the game.
Aongus Callanan’s well-taken 31st minute goal looked likely to open up a significant lead but, before half-time, a monster free by Andrew Mitchell was touched to the net from close range by Derek McNicholas, to leave Westmeath 2-7 to 1-7 adrift at the break.
Donnellan pounced for his second goal after 43 minutes, but Westmeath were rewarded with a terrific goal from Paul Greville four minutes later. Indeed when John Shaw pointed in the 53rd minute, the sides were back on level terms (3-9 to 2-12).
However, Galway’s superior fitness and craft (for whom David Burke excelled at midfield) began to tell and a number of fine points were followed by Cyril Donnellan’s late clinching third goal.
GALWAY: J Skehill; D Joyce, D Collins, F Moore; J Coen, J Lee, A Cullinane; D Burke (0-3, 0-1 free), K Hynes; B Daly (0-1), C Donnellan (3-1), A Smith (0-1); D Hayes (0-4), J Gantley (0-2), A Callanan (1-1, 0-1 free). Subs: E Ryan (0-1) for Smith (46 mins); S Kavanagh for Cullinane (51 mins); T Óg Regan for Lee (54 mins); J Canning (0-3, frees) for Callanan (56 mins).
WESTMEATH: C Scally; C Flanagan, D McCormack, A McGrath; E Price (0-1), A Mitchell (0-1, 65), P Gilsenan; N Flanagan, B Smyth (0-1); C Curley (0-1), P Greville (1-1), B Murtagh (0-5, frees); J Shaw (0-1), D McNicholas (1-0), D Carty (0-2). Subs: A Price for C Flanagan ( 34 mins); P Dowdall (0-1) for N Flanagan (51 mins); J Gilligan for McGrath (60 mins); A Dermody for Carty (64 mins); A Craig for McNicholas (70 mins).
Referee: A Stapleton (Laois).
