Westmeath hit Longford for five goals in emphatic Leinster opener

Westmeath scored an impressive 5-23 from play with their only score from a free being a two-pointer with the game nearly over

Luke Loughlin scored 2-2 for Westmeath in their Leinster SFC preliminary round victory over Longford. Pic: ©INPHO/John McVitty

Leinster SFC preliminary round: Westmeath 5-25 (5-3-19) Longford 1-16 (1-6-4)

A clinical first half display from Westmeath laid the foundations for their comprehensive win over neighbours Longford in their opening Leinster Championship game at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Such was Westmeath’s dominance and excellent display that they scored 5-23 from play; the first free that they scored came right at the end.

Longford were extremely poor and had no answer to the questions Westmeath posed. They were opened up too easily on many occasions and a lot of Westmeath’s scores came from the ball being overturned.

Longford opened the scoring with a two-pointed free from Dylan Farrell after a breach from Westmeath after three minutes of play.

Longford lost the ball in the fifth minute with Ronan Wallace setting up Brandon Kelly for Westmeath’s first goal.

The lead didn’t last long; a mistake by Westmeath keeper Jason Daly allowed James Moran to pounce and score a goal for Longford.

The Lake County were level in the eighth minute before Luke Loughlin scored the first of his goals; a wonderful finish after a ball in by Shane Ormsby. Daniel Reynolds and Loughlin then traded points.

Ray Connellan set Kelly up for his second and Westmeath’s third goal in the 15th minute. Longford tried to keep up with them with two two-pointer frees from the boot of Farrell. They struggled to contain Westmeath and couldn’t match the Lake County’s physicality. Mark McHugh’s side were sharper in the tackle too and worked the ball well.

The lead was 12 points in the 28th minute when Ormsby passed to Loughlin and he finished to the net. It got worse for Longford two minutes later when Westmeath got their fifth goal through Shane Corcoran.

Farrell got his seventh point of the half in the 32nd minute while just before the break wing-back Matthew Whittaker fisted over his third point. Westmeath’s lead was 13 points - 5-9 to 1-8.

Connellan kicked over a two-pointer in the 36th minute to extend their lead further. Farrell (free) and Dessie Reynolds both raised the orange flag for Longford. Westmeath didn’t show much mercy towards Longford and kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Conor Dillon came on as a substitute and kicked over three points as Westmeath stretched their lead even further before the hour mark.

Longford did have chances but kicked wides and also kicked a number of balls into the hands of the Westmeath netminder Daly. Dessie Reynolds got his second two-pointer and Paddy Moran followed up with a point in the 60th minute.

Mark McHugh decided to take off a number of his top performers with a game against Meath to come next Sunday.

Another Westmeath sub Tom Molloy fired over two late points while Sam McCartan kicked over a two-pointed free right at the end.

Scorers for Westmeath: L Loughlin 2-2, B Kelly 2-2, S Corcoran 1-4, R Connellan 0-5 (2tp), M Whittaker, C Dillon 0-3 each, T Molloy, S McCartan (1tpf) 0-2 each, R Wallace, K O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Longford: D Farrell 0-10 (4tpf, 1f), Dessie Reynolds 0-4 (2tp), J Moran 1-0, Daniel Reynolds, P Moran 0-1 each.

WESTMEATH: J Daly; D Scahill, C Drumm, T Baker; R Wallace, S Allen, M Whittaker; B Cooney, R Connellan; K O’Sullivan, S McCartan, S Corcoran; S Ormsby, L Loughlin, B Kelly.

Subs: C Dillon for Ormsby 44, A Treanor for Allen 50, R Forde for Loughlin 53, D McCartan for Dillon 55, T Molloy for Whittaker 61 

LONGFORD: E McGuinness; P Fox, C Brady, B Masterson; J Moran, O O’Toole, Dessie Reynolds; L Glennon, N Farrelly; J Moran, M Carey, D Reynolds; D Farrell, J Hagan, P Moran.

Subs: A Farrell for Carey 49, G Farrelly for Farrelly 53, A McGuire for Daniel Reynolds and I O’Sullivan for J Moran 58, C Lynch for Glennon 64