Meath were six-point ahead at halftime with a forward line getting plenty of ball from midfielders Brian Meade and Mark Ward.
Veteran Graham Geraghty came on for Gilsenan for Meath in the 54th minute.
Westmeath were reduced to 14 men when Michael Ennis was sent on for a second yellow card offence in the second half and Meath went on to win by 12 points.
Meath: D Gallagher; B Menton, C Lenehan (0-1), G O'Brien; S McAnarney (0-1), M Burke, C McGuinness (0-1); B Meade (0-2), M Ward (0-1); C O'Connor, S Bray (0-5), G Reilly (0-3); P Gilsenan, S Kenny (0-1), C Ward (0-2). Subs: J Sheridan for C Ward (44), G Geraghty for Gilsenan (54), K Reilly for O'Brien (60), D Tobin for Lenehan (62), C King for Burke (68).
Westmeath: G Connaughton; A Finnan, K Gavin, D McDermott; R Foley, M Ennis (0-1), K Maguire; T English, P Bannon; P Sharry, D Glennon, P Sheridan; A Giles (0-1), K Martin (0-2), C McCormack (0-1). Subs: D Daly for English (43), K Sheridan for Bannon (47), M Gorman for Giles (49), B Moran for Glennon (57), A Stone for Sharry (60).
Meath manager Seamus McEnaney has voiced his satisfaction with the start the Royals have made to their Allianz League campaign.
ReplyDeleteMeath currently top Division 2, following wins against Monaghan and Westmeath.
Speaking to Damien O'Meara on RTÉ's Sport At 7, McEnaney said: "We'd be reasonably happy with where we sit in relation to points on the board and I suppose there's always room for improvement.
"Some of our performance over the two games has left room for improvement but the good thing is we've three weeks to get that sorted out.
"I always felt going into January this year that we'd a better foundation, that I knew my players better, players have worked extremely hard on their own in November, December and January and I couldn't have asked for any more from the lads."
Meath show plenty of grit to win league tie
ReplyDeleteFor all the personal satisfaction Seamus McEnaney took from putting one over his native county it was the level of the performance that most pleased the Meath manager as he watched his side get their NFL Div 2 campaign off to a winning start against Monaghan at Páirc Táilteann on Saturday night.
There was still enough cause for concern following this easier than expected six-point victory, but despite the 65th minute dismissal of Paddy Gilsenan following two yellow cards there was also plenty of reasons for the Meath supporters to be cheerful.
http://www.meathchronicle.ie/sport/gaa/articles/2012/02/08/4008887-meath-show-plenty-of-grit-to-win-league-tie/