Westmeath end Joe McDonagh campaign with easy win against Laois

Westmeath won by double-scores against Laois in this Joe McDonagh dead-rubber in breezy TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar.

It was the home side who struck first as Niall Mitchell blasted low to the net following a fine run from David Williams. Laois, having made several changes in advance of their decider with Offaly, played into Westmeath's hands early on, launching many long balls down on top of the maroon extra man, Tommy Doyle. Points followed from Williams and David O’Reilly to leave it 1-03 to 0-00 with ten minutes on the clock.

Willie Maher’s side responded with two scores from a Ross King free and Martin Phelan’s well-taken point from the terrace side. Joe Fortune’s team were playing for pride but showed much more intensity than in their opening losses to Kerry and Offaly. David Williams’ free and following point were swiftly tracked by another Mitchell goal as the Laois defence were caught napping.

The one-way tide continued as seven more scores from Williams (four long-distance frees), Darragh Clinton, Owen McCabe, and Aonghus Clarke to two Laois replies from Lee Cleere and Gearóid Lynch put an unexpected 14 between the sides. Laois fired two wides before Williams, yet again, ended the half with his eighth score from a placed-ball to make it 2-13 to 0-04 at the interval.

Laois used the slight breeze to their advantage upon the restart, outscoring their opponents by seven points to three inside the opening quarter of the half. Ross King splitting his four equally from play and placed balls. Lee Cleere, Willie Dunphy, and substitute James Keyes reducing arrears for the O’Moore County.

Laois lost Padraig Delaney to a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident spotted by the linesman but maintained their scoring rate well