Westmeath too strong for Cork

By Mike Fitzpatrick

The result that Cork’s senior footballers so badly needed did not materialize. Having already lost to divisional high fliers Donegal and Monaghan, they have found themselves in some difficulty, and clearly needed at least a point from this game if they are to begin the fight against possible relegation this year. The expected influx of weekend-sanctioned players did not occur for Liam Bermingham’s Leesiders, and they were eventually overcome by this Westmeath side despite having held a decent four-point lead at one stage. Westmeath have on occasion looked a strong side this year capable of defeating the division’s stronger sides, as they proved versus Monaghan the other week.

This tie opened on something of a lackluster note. Neither side could really grab hold of the tie, and quite a few efforts sailed wide on both sides of the pitch. Pat Mahoney scored first for Cork, though he was quite heavily marked throughout the tie, and the crowd at the park on this occasion did not get to witness one of New York’s finest footballers parade his talents as often as he has before.

Further points from Sean O’Flynn and John Paul Kiley arrived for Cork, and for a time it looked as if we may have had something of an upset on the cards. Barney Healy and Martin Murtagh hit points for Westmeath but a well-taken goal from Cork’s Dave Sweeney left Westmeath trailing by four points going into the second half.

The second half saw a reversal of fortunes for both sides. Cork seemed to let their guard down, and Westmeath took full advantage, hitting six consecutive points to turn a four-point deficit into a two point lead. Damian Gavin and James Kavanagh began the fightback, and Stuart Barry leveled before Martin Murtagh hit two points to give his team the lead. Denis Kiley of Cork managed to score two points to get his side back into the tie a little, but Westmeath were clearly on a roll, with four late efforts all flying over the bar. Barney Healy and Brian McCabe, who entered the fray as a Westmeath sub, were among the better performers for their side, and both got on the scoresheet late in the game. Collie Mathers capped yet another good performance for Westmeath with a final point.

Westmeath: Emmet Haughian, David Baille, Frank Kavanagh, David Newman, Kenny McKinlay, Collie Mathers (0-1), Tommy Moriarty, Sam Yore (0-1), James Kavanagh (0-1), Barney Healy (0-2), Damian Gavin (0-1), Stuart Barry (0-1), Donal Flattery, Martin Murtagh (0-3), Mike Healy, Subs: Brian McCabe (0-1), Jimmy Hughes.

Cork: Tom Fitzgibbon, Jimmy O’Flynn, Tom O’Riordan, John Donovan, Denis Mahoney, Michael Donovan, Barry John Ryan, Pat Mahoney (0-1), Dale Hynan, John Sweeney (1-0), Eric Dockery, Billy Horan, Sean O’Flynn (0-1), Denis Kiley (0-2), John Paul Kiley (0-1).