By Alan Gunn
Monaghan 0-11
Westmeath 1-10
THE Summer of 2007 seemed along time ago as the Monaghan players made their way off St Tiernach’s Park on Sunday after a second successive NFL defeat.
This loss signalled the end of their promotion hopes and any thoughts of a league decider against Dublin. The performance too will worry not only Seamus McEnaney and his management team but also supporters ahead of the trip to high flying Fermanagh on May 25 and the start of the Ulster Championship.
The visitors were full value for their victory as Monaghan made too many unforced errors. Monaghan looked very much out of sorts despite showing plenty of promise in a second quarter that yielded six unanswered points. However, this was to be their only bright part of the game as Westmeath dominated the rest with the introduction of Martin Flanagan just before the break playing a major part.
The Leinster side lost the services of the inspirational Dessie Dolan and also David Duffy through injury but still had much more in reserve. Both Paul Finlay and Rory Woods were the main Monaghan play makers but when both faded out of the game so too did the Monaghan challenge. Stephen Gollogly also ran his socks off before been replaced while Tommy Freeman was always Monaghan’s main danger but Westmeath were covering the supply to him with two or three players around the Magheracloone man at every opportunity.
It was Tommy Freeman that opened the scoring with a free with less that a minute on the clock. The response from Westmeath was emphatic with three points by the ninth minute. Dessie Dolan hitting the first from a free while Fergal Wilson slotted over two (1 free). Paul Finlay reduced the deficit with a free after a foul on Eoin lennon before Westmeath struck for the games only goal on 15 minutes.
It came after a sweeping move that began in the full back line. The Monaghan defence were caught ball watching and allowed Denis Glennon around the back and when Dermott Bannon picked out the Tyrrellpass man he made no mistake sidestepping ‘keeper Padraig McBennett.
It was now Monaghan hit their best patch of the game and began to show the football they were capable of. Dermot McArdle came forward to hit a fine score to set them on their way. They continued to call the shots with both Paul Finlay and Rory Woods very much to the fore.
Further Points from Tommy Freeman (free), Dick Clerkin and Paul Finlay (free) had the sides level after 28 minutes. On the half hour Tommy Freeman edged the home side in front for the first time and when Conor McManus landed a point, suddenly the Monaghan crowd were witnessing what they expected from their side.
The Westmeath slide was halted with a point from Dessie Dolan (free) but as the clock entered injury time Monaghan restored their two point advantage. Rory Woods began the move after a great block on Dessie Dolan and Dessie Mone was on hand to pick up the loose ball before finding Paul Finlay who split the posts from outside the ’45. This give the home side a 0-9 to 1-4 interval advantage.
Two minutes after the resumption the lead was extended to three with Vincent Corey pointing. That was to be Monaghan last score until the 65th minute. In the mean time play became very niggly and referee Derek Fahy issued a number of yellow cards. A point from Michael Ennis reduced the deficit. The same player was very lucky to escape with just a yellow card ten minutes into the half when the Westmeath player continuously boxed Paul Finlay on the ground after fouling the Ballybay man. Immediately the excellent Martin Flanagan landed a wonder point and in the 53rd minute a free from Denis Glennon brought the sides level.
Westmeath’s Fergal Wilson also rode his luck with the referee after raising his hand to Damien Freeman but only saw yellow. The lively Denis Glennon edged Westmeath in front but a great score from Rory Woods restored parity on 65 minutes. Woods turned from hero to villain within minutes when he was caught in possession and Westmeath broke for Martin Flanagan to put them in front. A minute into added time John Smith wrapped up the win and with it end Monaghan’s league hopes.
A very disappointing finish to a league that had held so much promise for the Farney men. After going unbeaten for their first five games Monaghan required just a single point from their least two games but failed to delivery and now must regroup ahead of the tricky trip to Brewster Park on May 25.
Monaghan: Padraig McBennett, Dessie Mone, John Paul Mone, Paul McGuigan, Damien Freeman, Dermot McArdle (0-1), Darren Hughes, Eoin Lennon, Paul Finley (0-3, 2f), Stephen Gollogly, Rory Woods (0-1), Dick Clerkin (0-1), Conor McManus (0-1), Vincent Corey (0-1), Tommy Freeman (0-3, 2f)
Subs: Donal Morgan for P McGuigan, Ciaran Hanratty for C McManus, Raymond Ronaghan for S Gollogly
Westmeath: Gary Connaughton, Francis Boyle, Kieran Gavin, John Keane, Michael Ennis (0-1), Derek Heavin, Damien Healy David Duffy, Donal O’Donoghue, Fergal Wilson (0-2, 1f), Dessie Dolan (0-2, f), Doran Harte, Alan Mangan, Denis Glennon (1-2, 1f), Dermott Bannon
Subs: Martin Flanagan (0-2) for D Duffy, John Smith for (0-1) for D Dolan, David Glennon for D Bannon, Michael Green for D Glennon
