Free-scoring Westmeath signal Tailteann intent

Luke Loughlin fired 1-17 for the Lakes County

Lorcan Dolan of Westmeath. Pic: James Lawlor, Inpho

Tailteann Cup: Westmeath 4-24 Antrim 1-17 

Westmeath manager Dermot McCabe was "delighted" with his charges’ first win under his tutelage as the Lake County men laid down a marker in sun-drenched TEG Cusack Park in Mullingar that they will be serious contenders for the Tailteann Cup which they won in its inaugural season in 2022.

“We applied a lot of learnings from the Kildare game in the Leinster championship out there today. We were very disappointed leaving Newbridge that evening. We’ve had very good sessions since then and lads have put their shoulders to the wheel. The goals were match-winners today even though we left a few behind us by ratttling the crossbar. We’ll have to practice dribbling the ball into the net,” the Cavan native added with a smile.

The first half was very entertaining with both sides playing some fine football. An early brace from wing back Sam McCartan edged the home team ahead by 0-2 to 0-1, but the visitors were 0-5 to 0-2 by the 12th minute courtesy of a brace of two-pointers from the boots of Dominic McEnhill and Patrick McBride.

Andy McEntee’s men still led by 0-6 to 0-5 when the McCartan brothers, Sam and Danny, both found the net in a two-minute period midway through the half. Luke Loughlin, who was playing with great confidence in attack, pointed when a goal looked certain in the 22nd minute. Four minutes later, an alert Kavan Keenan was on hand to bury the ball in the Westmeath net after a McBride point attempt had come back off the upright to leave the deficit at the bare minimum (2-6 to 1-8).

A two-pointer from play by Loughlin was followed by an excellent goal from the penalty spot after the ever-dangerous Ronan Wallace had been fouled. Danny McCartan fluffed a great goal opportunity shortly afterwards when he was one-on-one with Michael Byrne who smothered his shot, but Westmeath still led by 3-9 to 1-10 at the break.

The second half started with a two-point exchange between Dominic McEnhill (a free) and Eoghan McCabe (open play). Wallace was unlucky to see his rasping shot come back off the crossbar before goalkeeper Byrne converted a huge two-point free to leave the Glensmen a goal in arrears (3-11 to 1-14).

However, the home team took over in most sections of the pitch from then on, playing some sparkling football in the process. In the 44th minute, Matthew Whittaker, who had worked hard without getting on the scoresheet, rectified this with a superb individual goal.

Sub Lorcan Dolan became the latest Westmeath player to hit the crossbar with a rasping shot in the 50th minute after another scything run from skipper Wallace.

Antrim did have one great goal opportunity when Niall Burns was denied by a full-length save by Conor McCormack in the 68th minute. The game fittingly ended with a Loughlin two-pointer ahead of the hooter.

Understandably, McCabe lauded his marquee forward, stating: “Luke has been huge for us. We are attack-minded coaches and the new rules suit him. His work comes early in the week at training. He always has a ball in his hand.” 

His opposite number, McEntee opined: “It was a very disappointing second half. A lot of mistakes crept in. The first half was half-decent and I thought the penalty call for them was harsh. Limerick will be a big challenge next week and it’s back to the drawing board now. They already have a win against London under their belts.” 

Scorers for Westmeath: L Loughlin 1-17 (1-0pen, 3 2pt, 2 2ptf), S McCartan 1-2, D McCartan, M Whittaker 1-0 each, E McCabe 0-2 (2pt), R Forde, S Smith, L Dolan 0-1 each.

Antrim: D McEnhill 0-6 (1 2pt, 1 2ptf), K Keenan 1-0, M Byrne (2ptf), M Jordan, N Burns, P McBride (2pt) 0-2 each, R McQuillan (f), E Walsh, A Loughran 0-1 each.

WESTMEATH: C McCormack; D Giles, S Smyth, J Gonoud; J Moran, R Wallace, S McCartan; K O’Sullivan, N Harte; M Whittaker, D McCartan, B Cooney; L Loughlin, S Smith, E McCabe. 

Subs: R Forde for Cooney (inj., 10), L Dolan for D McCartan (40), K Martin for Smith (52), T Baker for Wallace (inj., 55), D Scahill for S McCartan (64).

ANTRIM: M Byrne; E McCabe, E Walsh, K Keenan; J McAuley, D McAleese, P Finnegan; C Hand, M Jordan; R Boyle, A Loughran, P McBride; R McQuillan, R Murray, D McEnhill. 

Subs: N Burns for Loughran (h-t), F Nagle for Murray (h-t), C Stewart for Hand (48), C Higgins for McQuillan (60), J Morgan for McAuley (60).

Ref: T Murphy (Galway).