Gaelic Games

Early scoring blitz smooths the path for eager Derry

Goals in the opening minutes from Cailean O’Boyle and Benny Heron leave Westmeath facing a lost cause

Derry’s Cailean O’Boyle in action against Westmeath’s Ger Egan during the league clash at Celtic Park in Derry. Photo: Lorcan Doherty

Mon Mar 3 2014 - 01:00

Derry 3-16 Westmeath 0-12
Goals from Derry's Cailean O'Boyle and Benny Heron in third and fourth minutes meant this game was effectively decided before Westmeath had even found their feet at Celtic Park yesterday.

After 22 minutes Derry led by 2-6 to 0-3 and the game was effectively over as a contest. In truth, the Ulster side could have had added even more goals to their tally long before Emmett McGuckin claimed their third major in the 48th minute.

John Heslin got Westmeath on the board in the first minute before Derry blitzed them with those early goals. From the Oak Leafers’ first attack McFaul’s ball found Cailean O’Boyle who fired his finish to the net.

Sixty seconds later the ball was in the Westmeath goal again a flowing move involving James Kielt and O’Boyle finishing with Benny Heron blasting home.

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Points from a Heslin free and Kieran Martin interrupted the flow of Derry scores but then Mark Lynch (free), O’Boyle, James Kielt (free) and McGuckin all pointed in quick succession.

Westmeath got three of the last four scores of the first half through Ger Egan and two Heslin frees but Derry looked unruffled and led 2-7 to 0-6 at the interval. Any hope a fight back for the visitors was extinguished when McGuckin fisted home Derry's third goal.
DERRY: T Mallon; M Craig, C McKaigue, D McBride; K Johnston (0-1), A McAlynn , SL McGoldrick (0-1); F Doherty, M Lynch (0-6, 0-5 frees); C McFaul (0-2), J Kielt (0-2, one free) E Lynn (0-2); B Heron (1-0), E McGuckin (1-1), C O'Boyle (1-1). Subs: Patsy Bradley for Doherty (49 mins), C Kielt for Johnston and N 6 for J Kielt (both 54), A Kerrigan for Lynn (57), O Duffy for McKaigue and C McWilliams for McAlynn both (63 )
WESTMEATH: S Gallagher; S Gilmore, K Gavin, K Maguire; J Dolan (0-1), J Gilligan, J Egan; D Duffy , P Sharry; J Heslin (0-7, 6f), G Egan (0-2), K Martin (0-1); C McCormack, R Connellan, D Dolan (0-1). Subs: J Gonoud for J Egan (37 mins), D McCormack for Connellan (45 mins), S Flynn for Sharry (47 mins), G Hoey for Martin, D Coroon for C McCormack both (49 mins)
Referee: Michael Duffy (Sligo). .