Lake County charge sinks Monaghan

Westmeath turned in an excellent team performance to defeat Monaghan by five points in this exciting and eventful NFL Division 2 game at Cusack Park, Mullingar yesterday.

The sides were level at 0-2 each after the first quarter but Westmeath then scored four unanswered points to surge ahead. Monaghan responded with a goal by Christopher McGuinness and then scored four more points to lead by 1-6 to 0-6 after 29 minutes. Westmeath finished the half strongly and two points either side of a fortuitous goal by Kieran Martin saw the home side lead 1-10 to 0-6 at the break.

Monaghan suffered a severe blow when conceding three more points and then had corner-back Colin Walsh sent off after 56 minutes for a second yellow card offence. A Paul Finlay goal after an hour gave Monaghan brief hope but Westmeath produced some fine scores through Ger Egan, Callum McCormack, David and Denis Glennon to run out deserved winners.

Scorers for Westmeath: G. Egan (0-5), David Glennon (0-4), K. Martin (1-1), Denis Glennon (0-3), J. Heslin (0-2, 0-1 from a free), C. McCormack (0-2), M. Ennis (0-1), P. Sheridan (0-1).

Monaghan: P. Finlay (1-5, 0-3 from frees, 0-1 from ’45), C. McGuinness (1-0), C. Hanratty (0-2), E. Duffy (0-1), S. Gollogly (0-1), J. Turley (0-1), E. Lennon (0-1).

WESTMEATH: G. Connaughton; M. Curley, K. Gavin, K. Maguire, D. McDermott, P. Sharry, B. Moran, J. Heslin, P. Bannon; K. Martin, G. Egan, R. Foley; Denis Glennon, David Glennon, M. Ennis.

Subs: P. Sheridan for M. Ennis (inj half time), C. McCormack for K. Martin (inj, 51), D. Quinn for G. Connaughton (inj, 60), A. Giles for R. Foley (63), D. Gavin for B. Moran (68).

MONAGHAN: M. McKeogh; G. McQuaid, D. Hughes, C. Walsh; D. Malone, D. Mone, D. Morgan; E. Lennon, D. Clerkin; S. Gollogly, C. McGuinness, J. Turley; P. Finlay, K. Hughes, E. Duffy.

Subs: D. Hughes for D. Mone (inj, 23), C. Hanratty for S. Gollogly (half time), D. Wylie for G. McQuaid (60).

Referee: Maurice Condon (Waterford).