Armagh 1-12 Westmeath 1-07
Kieran McGeeney’s Armagh got the better of Westmeath in Mullingar on Saturday evening in a scrappy encounter. Both sides were very poor on the night with Armagh giving away over 30 frees, they also had Greg McCabe sent off, while the Lake County had two players black carded Mark McCallon and John Egan.
The sides were level 0-03 each after 29 minutes, however Armagh kicked on from there with points from McParland, two from Rory Grugan and one from Stephen Sheridan. However, Westmeath were back on level terms minutes later as centre forward Paul Sharry grabbed a goal to leave the sides 1-04 to 0-07. Armagh in the first half lost Jamie Clarke through a black card on 2 minutes and his club mate James Morgan was also shown a black card just before the 20th minute.
John Heslin kicked two points to put Westmeath in front after 43 minutes, 1-06 to 0-07, but Armagh captain Rory Grugan kicked a nice point from a placed ball, before Aidan Forker raged forward from wing back to score to bring the sides back on level terms. Armagh were then reduced to 14 men on 55 minutes after McCabe was shown a red card. Westmeath did have chances to win it and Noel Mulligan was unlucky to see his chance go wide on 62 minutes. Oisin O’Neill pointed from the Orchard men to put them ahead, but Alan Gaughan pointed for the Lake County on 67 minutes to set up an exciting last couple of minutes.
John Heslin missed a free then, before Armagh took control and pointed courtesy of O’Neill once more. Westmeath were then left to rue chances once again as Sharry and McCormack seen their shots waved wide and then on 75 minutes Armagh put the final nail in the coffin with a 75 minute goal from substitute Ethan Rafferty. Armagh will now travel to Thurles to play Tipperary, while for Westmeath they bow out after a very poor championship.
Player of the Match: Gavin McParland
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