Limerick felled by sucker punch as Westmeath show old form

National Football League Division Two finalConsidering that for most of their lives it has seemed that the only way Limerick senior footballers were going to see the inside of a Croke Park dressing-room was by taking a paid tour, perhaps they should look back upon yesterday's visit and this season's progress with satisfaction.

Context is everything though, and they will know that they might have snatched this Division Two final if their concentration had served them better. Instead, Westmeath regained the title just two years after they last held it.

If Limerick were overawed by the big day out there was little need to be. Most of the eventual 30,000 attendance had yet to arrive when the ball was thrown in, and a couple of early points from Muiris Gavin steadied them as they went about their business.

Westmeath though, when they ignited, reminded us of the potential they have teased us with in recent years. A string of six unanswered points followed, and Westmeath zigged and zagged through the Limerick defence. Only another Gavin free stopped the rot.

More worrying than the licence to score points was how near they came to registering a goal as well. Midway through the half Westmeath almost found the Limerick net twice in the space of 30 seconds. Both times it was Gary Dolan who was foiled by Seamus O'Donnell in the Limerick goal.

First Dolan latched on to a ball which fell back off the Limerick post. His snapshot was brilliantly turned away.

We had to wait just a short while before an even better save came along, with O'Donnell getting down fast and low this time and unlucky to see Dessie Dolan snatch the rebound and make a point out of it.

And then all changed utterly. A Gavin free from far out. Brian Begley visiting attention on the defence. Rory O'Connell appeared to catch the ball and gather it to himself behind the Westmeath goalline.

Limerick were back level and celebrated by scoring the next four points. For now they were enjoying parity at least in midfield and their faster transfer of the ball to attacking positions was working.

For 10 minutes they dominated, and then Gary Dolan resumed his search for a goal, this time smoking the far post with a crashing shot.

Everything was coming up oranges and lemons for Limerick at this stage though, and when Dessie Dolan scored two neat frees to narrow the gap they answered in emphatic style with John Quane popping up from centre back to snap a lovely, 40-yard point.

Westmeath's more ornate attacking movements often broke down on the greasy surface, but on the occasions when they came off they looked spectacular.

Certainly they had the tastier full forward line. Gavin had stretched Limerick's lead early in the second half when Dessie Dolan was pushed through on the 21-yard line and his drop-kick shot skimmed the crossbar.

Westmeath could smell fear after that, and when Martin Flanagan's shot produced yet another fine save from O'Donnell, there was little surprise in seeing the wolfish Gary Dolan snaffle the rebound - 1-9 each and half-an-hour left.

From there to the finish it was about Westmeath gradually getting the upper hand. O'Connell and Flanagan shaded things at midfield, and the attack showed increased signs of life. For Limerick, only Stephen Kelly was functioning well at this stage.

With the sides having traded three points each, the former Tottenham triallist clipped two good scores to give Limerick the lead again. The first point was fine; the second was extraordinary, taken as it was on the run from just inside the endline on the left wing in the Nally corner. With five minutes left it gave Limerick the lead. It was to be their last score, however.

Westmeath bagged it with a goal. A steepling ball. Three Limerick players gathered under it fascinated by its arc, Martin Flanagan timing his run and his fist to the net perfectly. There's no good time to get sucker- punched, but towards the end of your first Croke Park game in living memory?

Limerick were winded but they finagled two more chances. Kelly grazed the post with a goal attempt. Begley had a goal attempt smothered. The whistle blew. Limerick have the longest time for regrets.

WESTMEATH: A Lennon; D Heavin, D Gavin, K Henson; B Morley, D Healy, D Kilmartin; R O'Connell (0-1, 1o.g.), M Flanagan (1-0); F Wilson (0-3, 1f), S Colleary, J Conroy (0-1); JP Casey (0-2), G Dolan (1-0), D Dolan (0-5 1f). Subs: A Mangan for Conroy (43 mins), J Fallon for Wilson (63 mins).

LIMERICK: S O'Donnell; M O'Riordan, D Sheehy, T Stack; C Mullane, J Quane (0-2), D Reidy; J Stokes, J Galvin; S Lavin, M Gavin (0-8 6f), S Kelly (0-2); C Fitzgerald (0-1), B Begley (0-1), M Reidy. Subs: J Murphy for M Reidy (54 mins).

Referee: M Hughes (Tyrone).