Hastings Cup Round 2: Westmeath 2-12 Roscommon 2-8
Westmeath’s superior strength up front saw them edge out Roscommon in this entertaining Hastings Cup game played at Kiltoom on Saturday last. Having lost to Cavan in the opening round on the previous Monday, Roscommon will be looking for their first win when they take on Longford this Saturday evening in Kenagh (8 pm).
Both sides looked very strong in attack and shared four points in the opening 8 minutes. Then Westmeath forged ahead with a point and a goal within 30 seconds from Finbar Coyle and the impressive Jack Quinn. But Roscommon were soon level. Brian Stack pointed from 25 metres in the 12th minute and two minutes later the same player scored a fine goal after great work from James Fetherston and Lorcan Daly.
Westmeath struck home their second goal in the 25th minute from Finbar Coyle but Roscommon were right back in the contest in first half injury-time when Geroid Keenan blasted home after a great move involving Brian Kelly and Aidan Brogan. Half-time score: Westmeath 2-5 Roscommon 2-4.
Westmeath extended their lead to three points by the 38th minute but Roscommon were always in the hunt and points from Hubert Darcy and Luke Kelly saw the margin down to just one by the 43rd minute. But a late burst from Westmeath proved decisive and points from Eoin O’Brien, Jack Quinn and Niall Mitchell did the damage for the visitors.
Best for Roscommon were John Duffy, Gearoid Keenan, Eoin McCormack, Brian Stack, Hubert Darcy and Brian Kelly and subs Cathal Callinan and Cian McKeon.
Roscommon team manager Adrian Dockery was happy with his side’s display in defeat.
“It was a good game but I thought that we turned over the ball too much and that cost us on the day and that’s something we are working on. But we created plenty of goal chances and we took two. I am satisfied with the workrate shown by the players so far but it’s early days yet,” he said.
“We have a few lads down with flu and a couple of niggly injuries but we have a few guys who have come on to the panel and who are doing very well and it’s good to see that. We play Longford this weekend but our total focus is on the Connacht semi-final on the 22nd March. But I have to say overall that it’s so far so good but we have a lot of work to do yet,” he concluded.
Westmeath: Rory Coyne; Eoin O’Brien (0-1), Ronan Wallace, Liam O’Reilly; Emmett Nally, Eoin Fox (0-1), Sean Flanagan; Jack Kearney, Niall Mitchell (0-4, all frees); Conor Dillon, Ciaran Shanley (0-2), Jimmy Goonery; Jack Reid, Finbar Coyne (1-2), Jack Quinn (1-2). Subs: Mark Kelly for Wallace, Conor McCormack for Goonery, Boidu Sayeh for Dillon, Ronan O’Toole for Coyne, Ian McGovern for Nally, Shane Clavin for Kearney.
Roscommon: Liam Cregg; Jack Casey, Aidan Dowd, Luke Kelly (0-1); Lorcan Daly (0-2), John Duffy, Michael Cox; Gearoid Keenan (1-0), James Fetherston; Eoin McCormack, Cian McManus, Brian Stack (1-1), Hubert Darcy (0-1), Aidan Brogan, Brian Kelly (0-1). Subs: Cathal Callinan (0-1) for McManus (h/t), Cian McKeon (0-1) for Casey (37), Mark Richardson for Keenan (43), Aidan Murray for Brogan (51), Ciaran McHugh for Kelly (54).
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford)
