Westmeath face relegation after heavy defeat

Tyrone 2-11 Westmeath 0-6

Tyrone pushed Paidi O Se’s Westmeath further into the relegation mire at Omagh this afternoon, as goals either side of the break from full forwards O wenMulligan and Enda McGinley gave the reigning League champions a deserved success.

The Ulster men are firmly on course for another crack at the league semi-finals, sitting two points behind Division 1A leaders Kerry and two clear of third-placed Mayo.

It was a slack opening though with just one score from either side inside the first ten minutes, although Westmeath followers would have to wait a further 36 minutes before Dessie Dolan raised their first white flag.

Three frees from manager’s son Mark Harte, allied to points from Owen Mulligan and Gerard Cavlan (32 minutes) put six points between them, and a goal from Brian Dooher in first half stoppage time, finished off the ground following a long ball from Cavlan put Tyrone in a commanding position.

Cavlan was to the fore at midfield and a second Mulligan point after the restart was further built on when corner forward McGinley raced through to fire past former eircom League stopper Garry Connaughton for Tyrone’s second goal on 41 minutes.

Five minutes later Dolan pointed his first free and credit to the visits five more followed from Alan Mangan, Dolan (0-3) and Denis Glennon.

Harte rounded out another quality performance from the All-Ireland champions with his fourth point two minutes from the end.