Ó Sé happy as Westmeath overcome Cork with late flurry

Westmeath 0-14 Cork 0-12

Both sets of selectors learned little. Billy Morgan was quite happy about Cork’s first-half performance and particularly their defence while Páidi Ó Sé was happy with Westmeath’s finishing flurry.

In the first-half the Cork defence was tight and uncompromising, in midfield Dermot Hurley and Graham Canty were in total control and even the loss of Fionan Murray with a hamstring problem after just a few minutes did not ruffle the attack where Colm Crowley notched textbook scores.

Westmeath looked flatfooted. They were consistently beaten to the ball and when they did win possession they were limited in their options and it was left to a well marked Dessie Dolan to keep them in touch.

They were somewhat flattered by the half time score that saw them trailing by just six points ­ 0-9 to 0-3 ­ but the situation was about to change.

“They all knew they were very dead on their feet in the first half,” Páidi Ó Sé admitted: “There were a few well chosen words for them at half time. They came out in the second half with very little to lose and they really were a transformed team.”

Their cause was helped greatly when Cork returned without Anthony Lynch, who was a revelation at centre half-back in the first half. In fact Billy Morgan, who had brought on two subs in the first half introduced at least eight in the second half.

Westmeath were quick to exploit the situation. Dessie Dolan landed a ’45 in nine minutes and they kept plugging away until the 59th minute when they drew level, then edged two points clear in injury time and held on as they played out an extra six minutes.

“I must say I was very pleased with the second half,” Ó Sé said, admitting that there was less pressure on Cork at this point. “I would get the impression they haven’t really finalised their team yet whereas we are out against Offaly in the championship on Sunday week and that was really our dress rehearsal. I would say things are going reasonably well.”

“It was a useful work-out from our point of view,” Cork selector Coleman Corrigan reflected. “We have a few games planned between now and the Munster championship and we will be using those to have a look at the overall panel.

“I would say at this point we have a reasonable idea of about 13 or 14 places and there are probably a couple up for grabs.

“We feel we have a very strong back line all year long ­ even in the League ­ and we were very, very happy with them today.

“We said since we took over last November we needed to settle as a team and I think all the selectors have a fair idea of 13 or 14 of the starting line-up. We have a fair idea of the team we would want to play against say Kerry for instance.”

Manager Billy Morgan said he thought they played some very good football in the first half and admitted that the changes were bound to affect momentum: “I thought our defence did very well and they have been doing well all year.

If we can get Derry Kavanagh back fully fit we’ll be grand,” he said.

Scorers:Westmeath: D. Dolan 0-10 (0-4 frees), J. P. Casey 0-2, C. Galligan and D. Glennon 0-1 each. Cork: C. Crowley 0-4, M. O Croinin 0-3 (frees), C. McCarthy 0-2, C. O’Sullivan 0-2 (frees), A. O’Regan 0-1.

WESTMEATH: G. Connaughton; J. Davitt, D. O’Donoghue, F. Murray; M. Ennis, D. Mitchell, D. Heavin; R. O’Connell, D. O’Shaughnessy; B. Morley, P. Conway, A. Mangan; F. Wilson, D. Glennon, D. Dolan. Subs: D. Kilmartin for D. Mitchell, S. Colleary for P. Conway, J. P. Casey for R. O’Connell, C. Galligan for F. Wilson.

CORK: K. O’Dwyer; S. O’Brien, G. Murphy, N. O’Leary; E. Sexton, A. Lynch, M. Cronin; D. Hurley, G. Canty; A. Cronin, C. McCarthy, K. McMahon; F. Murray, M. O Croinin, C. Crowley. Other players used: P. Griffin (for F. Murray), N. O’Donovan (for G. Murphy), K. O’Connor, M. McCarthy, A. O’Regan, M. O’Sullivan, C. O’Sullivan, S. Levis, P. Clifford, N. Murphy.

Referee: Michael Collins.