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Westmeath ‘Ward’ off Kerry

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

Westmeath 2-14

Kerry 0-10

By Pater Nolan

Westmeath’s senior footballers unveiled a new look lineup that seems likely to be playing well into the fall. Kerry never had the answer to this powerful unit, falling 2-14 to 0-10 Sunday at Gaelic Park. Had Westmeath been sharper in the early going, the Midlanders might well have wrapped this match up by halftime.

Westmeath pressed forward from the throw-in and had the Kingdom backpedaling. Dave Fitzgerald, returning to the Westmeath fold after a couple of seasons playing for Rockland, almost broke in alone on Kerry keeper Finbar Flood. Westmeath kept applying the pressure, but they failed to find their target, shooting three wides and dropping two into Flood’s chest.

Finally, full forward P.J. Ward ended the drought with a powerful left-footed shot. Bingo O’Driscoll quickly equalized for Kerry with a 50-yard free. Fitzgerald, who seems as quick as ever, was dragged down just outside the square, and Ward tapped over. Kerry, togged out in their Munster blue kits, were working hard, but Sam Yore, Gareth Bailie and Enda Henry were vacuuming up any loose balls to keep Kerry on the defensive.

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Terry Rossiter pointed after Michael Jackson and Enda Henry combined well to set up his chance. Paddy O’Connor pointed against the run of play before Ward sent over another long-range effort.

Although dominating the action, Westmeath held only a slim 0-4 to 0-2 lead with almost 20 minutes played. Then Westmeath struck for the goal that seemed inevitable. Enda Henry pierced the kingdom defense with a perfect through ball. Fitzgerald ran onto it and his finish was perfect.

Kerry switched James Callanane from center back to fullback in an effort to reign in the rampant Ward, but it was not to be. The halftime score of Westmeath 1-6 to Kerry 0-5 hardly indicated Westmeath’s dominance, but Kerry were working very hard just to stay in touch.

Yore and O’Driscoll exchanged points to open the second half, then the P.J. Ward show commenced. Westmeath corner back Peter Dalton won possession near his own goal line and started a fantastic field-length move involving Henry and Fisher and culminating with Ward hammering home a great goal. Ward added five more points before his afternoon’s work was done and Westmeath clearly signaled their intentions to any and all rivals.

Man of the match: P.J. Ward.

Westmeath: Oein Farrell, Peter Dalton, Kieran Walsh, Davy Bailie, Tom Quinn, Aiden Canning, Michael Jackson, Sam Yore (0-2), Pauric Hurley, Terry Rossiter (0-2), Gareth Bailie, Enda Henry, Dave Fitzgerald (1-2), P.J. Ward (1-8), Brian Murphy, sub Barney Healy.

Kerry: Finbar Flood, Derek Riney, Adrian Riney, Paul Dillon, Paudie Mulvihill, James Callanane, Peter Riney, Dave McSweeney, Dave Hannify, Willie O’Donnell, Michael O’Connell (0-1), Bingo O’Driscoll (0-5), Dave McCarthy (0-3), Paul Gallivan, Paddy O’Connor (0-1), subs D.J. Brennan, Ted O’Halpin.

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