Fermanagh 0-15
Westmeath 2-8
Despite a two goal salvo midway through the second half of this Allianz National League Division 3 contest, Westmeath suffered defeat by the minimum in Fermanagh on Saturday afternoon.
The loss ended Westmeath’s faint hopes of promotion, defeats to Cavan and Down prior to this meeting scuppering a positive conclusion to the Lake County’s hopes of playing league football at a higher level in 2024.
In arrears throughout, Westmeath failed to impose their play on proceedings, Fermanagh holding control sway for the majority of this fixture. Such was their opening half dominance, the hosts should have established a stronger interval lead, but Westmeath, despite their off par performance remained in contention to retrieve the deficit as the second moiety commenced.
Playing with the aid of the elements in the second half, the visitors were slow to impact the scoreboard, Fermanagh stretching their interval lead out to seven points with 55 minutes of the contest played.
Caulry club player and inspirational captain, Kevin Maguire raised the first green flag moments later and when David Lynch finished soon after, the scoreboard complexion, despite Fermanagh’s dominance, gave cause for Ernesider anxiety as the game approached its concluding stages.
However, despite further Westmeath probes into the Fermanagh defence, the home team remained defiant, edging the fixture by one point as the shrill of the referee’s whistle resounded around Ederney.
Westmeath conclude their league campaign on Sunday afternoon when they host Tipperary in TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar, at 2pm.
Despite the disappointment of not achieving promotion, the playing squad and management will be hoping to conclude their campaign with a positive result and a performance to complement such a scoreline, the Leinster senior football championship soon to commence with a knockout fixture against Louth on April 23.
