RONAN FAGAN
Westmeath senior footballers concluded their Allianz National Football League Division Three campaign with a six point victory over relegated Tipperary in TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar, on Sunday afternoon.
The ‘dead-rubber’ fixture afforded manager, Dessie Dolan, an opportunity to afford game time to those players yet to see sufficient league minutes and the result was never in doubt from the fixture’s start, the home team holding scoreboard sway over the duration.
Despite being reduced to 14 players as half time approached (Anthony McGivney receiving a second yellow card ), Westmeath remained too strong for the Premier County and found their in game rhythm in the second period, the movement of forward duo, Luke Loughlin and Ronan O’Toole causing endless problems for the Tipperary defence.
The home team were two points to the fore when, on 50 minutes, Castledaly club player, Lorcan Dolan netted the only goal of the contest to ensure the Lake County concluded their seventh league game with a merited win and a confidence builder prior to the start of the Leinster senior football championship, Louth providing the opposition on Sunday, April 23.
Hurlers Retain Division 1 Status
Westmeath senior hurlers retained their Division 1 status with a wholly merited four point victory over Laois in a relegation play-off fixture played in Semple Stadium, Thurles, on Saturday.
Goals from Joey Boyle, Niall O’Brien and Eoin Keyes proved pivotal as Joe Fortune’s charges secured their place in the upper echelons of national league hurling for 2024.
Thoughts now immediately turn towards the Leinster senior hurling championship, Westmeath travelling to Nowlan Park on Saturday, April 22, to play Kilkenny in the first of five round robin fixtures.
