Westmeath too strong for downbeat Offaly

Westmeath 2-11 Offaly 1-8, O'Connor Park, Tullamore

Strong finishing, excellent team work and sheer commitment summed up Westmeath's day as the Lake county advanced to the Leinster SFC semi-finals by overcoming Offaly in Tullamore tonight.

13,105 spectators watched on as poor shooting in the first half and the dismissal of defender Shane Sullivan saw a battling Offaly side beaten.

Tomas O'Flatharta's Westmeath charges, who had already accounted for Longford in the opening round, will now face either Dublin or Louth in the semi-final.

Once midfielder Martin Flanagan sent over his first point of the contest, from a 45-metre kick, to propel the visitors into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after 16 minutes, it seemed that both sides had left their shooting boots behind them as a spate of wides followed.

Ciaran McManus, Pascal Kellaghan and Niall McNamee were guilty of wayward shooting.

Offaly's wides tally stood at six by half-time, while Westmeath had a slightly better shooting rate as they had only three wides after 35 minutes.

However, both teams redeemed themselves before the interval with Dessie Dolan converting his second pointed free of the evening to ensure a 0-5 to 0-2 Westmeath lead.

Despite this Offaly were not going to lie down and they kicked two good points in injury-time, with Niall McNamee latching on to a Thomas Deehan pass, and Ciaran McManus slotting over a free to cut the gap to the minimum by the half-time whistle.

During the closing stages of the half, Westmeath midfielder Flanagan was in severe pain, following an injury to his knee and the Tyrrellspass man failed to feature in the second half, with David Duffy introduced in his place.

Offaly may have had the first scoring chance of the second half, but it was back to old habits as debutant Brian Darby misfired in front of the posts.

Westmeath continued to look the more settled side and with quick points from Fergal Wilson and Dolan, they built up a 0-7 to 0-4 lead, six minutes into the half.

Wilson and Dolan were the 2004 champions' deadly duo in the second half and the pair caused Offaly tremendous problems.

Offaly's wides tally began to mount up, while calls for a penalty fell on deaf ears, with McNamee instead award a free which he converted. The gap stood at two points in the 45th-minute.

But Westmeath's hopes was boosted again following a Dolan-Wilson combination of points and the first goal of the contest arrived in the 50th-minute as Wilson sent the ball to the net.

The visitors were energised at this stage and they were converting scores as if their lives depended on them.

Wilson's goal came following a team effort as Donal O'Donoghue palmed the ball across to Wilson and the Tubberclair man had no problem in raising the first green flag of the contest.

But Offaly failed to give up and at the opposite end, although Niall McNamee had his 52nd-minute effort stopped by a one-handed Gary Connaughton save, the left half-forward still had time to get the rebound and slot the ball to the net.

Shane Sullivan's red card, 16 minutes from the end, may have signalled danger for the hosts but their numerical disadvantage failed to show and if anything the Rhode man's dismissal seemed to fire up his colleagues.

Amazingly Westmeath responded to McNamee's 'major' with a goal of their own.

Dessie Dolan combined well with Denis Glennon before Dolan crashed the ball to the net.

Offaly kept in contention - scores from McManus and McNamee cut the gap to five points with nine minutes remaining.

Westmeath battled hard for further scores, and with points from Denis Glennon and Wilson.

A superb save from goalkeeper Padraig Kelly following a Denis Glennon goal shot kept Offaly in contention.

Indeed Offaly had most of the possession in the closing stages of this game and they finished with Niall McNamee kicking his fifth point.

Yet in the end, time ran out as their lacklustre first half showing cost Pat Roe's charges and Westmeath advanced to Leinster's last-four.

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; F Boyle (0-1), K Gavin, J Keane; M Ennis, D Heavin, D Healy; M Flanagan (0-1, 0-1 '45'), D O'Donoghue; F Wilson (1-4, 0-2f), J Smyth, D Harte; A Mangan, Denis Glennon (0-1), D Dolan (1-4, 0-2f).

Subs used: D Duffy for Flanagan (half-time), D Bannon for Mangan (61 mins).

OFFALY: P Kelly; G Rafferty, S Sullivan, J Keane; P McConway, S Brady, N Grennan; C McManus (0-3, 0-2f), A McNamee; B Darby, K Slattery, N Smith; T Deehan, P Kellaghan, N McNamee (1-5, 0-3f).

Subs used: J Reynolds for Brady (50 mins), A Mulhall for Kellaghan, S Ryan for Deehan (both 66).

Referee: Jimmy McKee (Armagh)