Longford1-6 Westmeath 0-6:A PENALTY from goalkeeper Paddy Collum proved to be the difference between the sides at Cusack Park in what was a very disappointing contest as Westmeath finished the game with 14 after midfielder John Heslin was sent off for two yellow cards late on.
Longford scored four of their points from play but missed three open-goal chances. The half-time score of 0-5 to 0-2 told everything about the quality on view and but for some excellent moments, particularly by Longford’s James McGivney and Pádraig McCormack, this was a forgettable half.
Westmeath did rally in the second and came to within one point of the lead, but a hastily-taken Heslin free was fumbled and on the break Mark Hughes was hauled down in the small parallelogram. Collum netted for the match-defining score.
Westmeath could not recover, especially when they lost Heslin to a second yellow.
LONGFORD:P Collum (1-0); D Bennet, O Farrell, R Keogh; C Clarke, D Quinn, S Donoghue; J McGivney (0-1), D Gallagher; D Farrelly (0-1), P McCormack, D Cooney; R Smyth (0-1), J Noonan, M Hughes (0-3, two frees). Subs:P Byrne for Noonan (47 mins), T Madden for Donoghue (56 mins).
WESTMEATH:D Brady; S Gilmore, R Henshaw, C McKinley; D Lynch, D Gavin, J Gonoud; D McNicholas, J Heslin (0-4, frees); D Ruane, K Reilly, D McCormack (0-1); D Fagan, T English (0-1), J Cully. Subs:E Kincaid for Lynch (28 mins), J Maguire for McCormack (41 mins).
Referee:Eddie Craul (Wicklow).
