Easy for Westmeath

WESTMEATH booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Leinster U-21FC thanks to a 10-point win over Laois in O’Moore Park last night. Pat Flanagan’s team were missing star midfielder John Heslin, but still had far too much for the hosts, and now progress to meet Offaly on March 9.

The home side started brightly, James Doyle winning a free which was converted by wing-forward Luke Doyle. Laois failed to build on that, however, and Westmeath punished them with three points on the trot, all from placed balls, with Conor Lynam (2) and Ian Coffey on target.

Laois grabbed a point from Kieran Lillis, but Westmeath built up a three-point lead before winning a penalty when wing-back James Dolan was fouled. Coffey tucked away the resulting spot kick. Westmeath led 1-6 to 0-3 at the break.

Kieran Lillis tried to inspire his side with a point after a charging run from the throw-in, but Westmeath points from James Dolan, Tommy McDaniel and Kieran Sheridan meant a late goal from Barry Kelly was merely a consolation.

Scorers for Laois: Barry Kelly 1-0, Kieran Lillis 0-2, Ciaran Farrell, Luke Doyle (f), Gary Walsh (f) 0-1 each. Scorers for Westmeath: Conor Lynam 0-5 (3f), Ian Coffey 1-1 (1-0pen, 0-1f), Tommy McDaniel 0-3, Adam Corroon, James Dolan 0-2 each, Kieran Sheridan, Callum McCormack 0-1 each

LAOIS: J Dunphy; A Whelan, C Booth, S George; S Murphy, C Farrell, J Nerney; D Kingston, K Lillis; L Doyle, S Nerney, B Kelly; J Doyle, D Hayden, G Walsh. Subs: K Campion for George (20), B Mitchell for J Nerney (25), J Farrell for S Nerney (ht), R O’Connor for J Doyle (ht), J Finn for Hayden(42)

WESTMEATH: E Carberry; B Moran, K Sheridan, K Maguire; M McCallum, K Martin, J Dolan; D Keenan, D Daly; A Corroon, C Lynam, G Egan; I Coffey, C McCormack, T McDaniel. Subs: D Malynn for Corroon (50), S Flanagan for Keenan (52), J Gilligan for Daly (58), D Gavin for Martin (60)

Ref: Brian O’Shea (Dublin)