Louth minors snatch victory against Westmeath

A dramatic end to this Leinster minor clash saw Louth snatch a win over Westmeath

28 Mar 2024

Louth 1-10  Westmeath 0-11

A dramatic end to this Leinster minor clash saw Louth snatch a victory which appeared an unlikely outcome for the majority of this game. They trailed their opponents by five and six points on several occasions, including a remarkable final quarter, which saw Johnny Clerkin’s side grab 1-4 in the final five minutes to get their Leinster Championship campaign off to a winning start.

Louth trailed their opponents by 0-11 to 0-6 after Westmeath’s James McHugh who was excellent throughout for the Lake County landed his 7th point of the game from a free on 53 minutes.

However, a key turning point was a red card brandished to Westmeath’s Andrew Henson in that final quarter for an off the ball incident, as the visitors lost their discipline in the latter stages, eventually finishing with 13 players following a second red card for Adam Smyth late on.

However, credit to Louth who made the most of their numerical advantage, and when midfielder Tom Maguire who was influential throughout with 23 possessions in the match, fed forward Andrew O’Reilly, the Togher man burrowed his way through to fire to the bottom corner from an acute angle to close the gap to a solitary point at 1-7 to 0-11 in that final five minutes, with Louth in the ascendency, and a vocal home support behind them in Hunterstown on Wednesday night.

Louth’s management team also merit praise for their second half changes, including the introduction of Cooley’s Emmet Duffy to the middle of the field, having provided a huge presence in that department alongside Maguire, with lively wing forward Tadgh Devaney also keen to drive at the opposition at every opportunity.

Having missed several frees early on before his introduction, Duffy took up the mantel to convert a close range place kick to level things up entering added time. Cillian McQuilan then sent Louth supporters into dream land with another accurate strike from play in a competent showing from one of several playing personnel eligible to play minor next year.

Tom Maguire once again played a key role in the clinching score from another sub Brendan Cassidy to ensure this dramatic two point victory and the ideal start for this minor group.

In the midst of all this madness, Louth’s Donnacha Skinnader heroically blocked down a James McHugh strike with the game level. Another key moment in this remarkable finish to this encounter.

Playing into a noticeable gust in that opening half, Louth struggled to break through a stubborn Westmeath defence early on, despite grabbing the opening score from Ardee’s Luke Keenan following a lay off from Cillian McQuilan inside the opening minute.

Westmeath enjoyed the better of that half, with their early and direct ball into their lively inside line of James McHugh and William Scahill causing Louth no end of problems, with the pair accounting for three early Lake County scores between them to lead 0-3 to 0-1 inside 6 minutes.

Andrew O’Reilly and Scahill traded marks, before a fine move off the back of a Louth kickout saw Mikey Weir and Michael Moloney combine for Scahill to make it 0-5 to 0-2 in their favour at the end of the first quarter.

Louth had several players aged 16 years lining out in Hunterstown, that extra year can make a huge difference at this age group, with Westmeath’s physicality standing out in the game, with Adam Smyth, and Ryan Flynn marshalling the defence, with an excellent block from Smyth denying Joe Hanlon from close range at one stage.

However, Conor Clinton who also saw plenty of possession alongside fellow wingback Michael McGlew, combined with Tom Maguire to tee up Cillian McQuilan for another fine point, which was badly needed for the Wee County at that juncture.

But with that early ball into McHugh and Scahill continuing to cause havoc, Westmeath looked dangerous each time one of those two were in possession.

When referee Kieran Olwell awarded a penalty to Westmeath for a somewhat harsh footblock against Louth’s Rian Hickey, even the most optimistic of Louth supporter would have found it hard to see a way back for the reds.

However, James McHugh saw his spot kick saved by keeper Senan Connolly, and despite McHugh’s rebound resulting in a point via the crossbar, you felt that this was a key moment in this game.

Another free from James McHugh extended Westmeath’s lead to four, before another McQuilan strike after taking a Ben McKeown pass on the run off the left flank, left the Wee County just three in arrears at the break.

Playing with that wind advantage, Westmeath would surely have rued only amassing 0-7 from 14 shots in that half, including 5 wides.

Second Half:

Despite shooting into the elements, Westmeath managed to pick off two early scores thanks to more precise shooting from James McHugh, and Daragh Lough following a fine move involving Ben Sheerin and Mikey Weir to make it 0-9 to 0-4 upon the restart.

With Louth looking out of ideas, and flounder from several free kicks, you felt that Westmeath were a good bet to take victory, despite Louth’s territorial dominance, which saw them win 10 out of 14 second half Westmeath kickouts as they tried to force the press, with Tom Maguire, Tadgh Devaney and Michael McGlew foraging hard, alongside sub Emmet Duffy.

Despite the best efforts of Andrew O’Reilly, Westmeath through James McHugh mainly were keeping their opponents at arm’s length at 0-11 to 0-6 with 7 minutes remaining.

However, that red card in the final quarter saw a complete change in the trajectory of this game. Westmeath who seemed assured when coming out of defence with the ball, saw a loose pass picked up by the excellent Tom Maguire, who teed up Andrew O’Reilly for that game changing major to close the gap to a point, following a Luke Keenan free.

The game stood at 1-7 to 0-11 and Louth had momentum on their side, with scores from subs Emmet Duffy (f), and Brendan Cassidy either side of a lead score from the excellent Cillian McQuilan completing a victory for Louth which appeared unlikely some 15 minutes earlier.

Louth: Senan Connolly; Rian Hickey, Ciaran Devine, Donnacha Skinnader; Michael McGlew, Ben McKeown, Conor Clinton; Tom Maguire, Michael O’Shaughnessy; Tadgh Devaney, Luke Keenan (0-2) (1f), Cillian McQuilan (0-3); Fionn Coyle ©, Andrew O’Reilly (1-3) (2f) (1 mark), Joe Hanlon.

Subs: Shane McMahon for Hickey (HT), Emmet Duffy (0-1) (1f) for O’Shaughnessy (41), Brendan Cassidy (0-1) for Hanlon (41).

Westmeath: Paul Keating; Ben McNamee, Cian Whitney, Ben Sheerin; Jack Carroll, Adam Smyth, Cormac McKeogh; Mikey Weir, Daire O’Brien; Andrew Henson, Ryan Flynn, Michael Moloney; William Scahill (0-3) (1 mark), Daragh Lough (0-1), James McHugh (0-7) (3f).

Subs: Peader Glennon for Moloney (HT), Daire Burke for McNamee (41), Darragh Madden for Weir (59).

Referee: Kieran Olwell (Co Meath).

Photo Credit: Joey Aphonso (Louth GAA)