DERRY lost a spirited game against Westmeath this afternoon, losing a three points (throw in 2 pm).
The Oak Leafers gave a great second half performance and had a chance late to level up the match but Enda Lynch had his penalty saved with both sides finishing the game with 14 men after two sending offs.
The second half started the way the first half ended with a flurry of points for both sides at Celtic Park.
Westmeath kicked off the second half with a point in the 1st minute through Callum McCormack before Emmett Bradley replied with a free for Derry.
Ciaran McFaul then pointed for Derry but Ger Egan scored for Westmeath after Luke Loughlin smashed his shot against the Derry crossbar.
On 42 minutes Danny Tallon scored a free for the Oak Leafers and the game is tantalisingly poised at Derry 1-10 to Westmeath’s 2-09.
But John Heslin pointed for the visitors and it returned to a three point lead again for his side.
Ten minutes into the second half and Ciaran McFaul cuts the Westmeath lead to just two points with a fine score from the right.
And a Danny Tallon free on 45 minutes helped to reduce the deficit to one point.
Westmeath quickly replied with a point before his side go down to 14 men when Sam Duncan is given a straight red car for a foul.
But Mark Lynch, who came on for Danny Tallon, made his presence immediately felt when he scores for Derry in this see-saw battle.
Two minutes later Westmeath put their noses in front again with a point from Callum McCormack and Derry trailed by two points.
Then Derry are reduced to 14 men when James Kielt left the field after receiving his second yellow card of the game.
With nine minutes left to play Mark Lynch’s free dropped short and Westmeath broke up the pitch and that man John Heslin pointed from open play giving his side a three point lead.
On 64 minutes, Derry almost got a goal but Westmeath keeper Carberry saves point blank from Enda Lynn’s shot.
And yet again Westmeath raced up the pitch and Luke Loughlin pointed.
And it was a four point game with six minutes of normal time left on the clock.
Westmeath in the intervening period scored three month points and their lead was now seven points
But with four minutes left, Niall Toner scored a goal and Derry still trailed by four points.
The deficit was cut to three with a Mark Lynch score and there was four minutes of additional time.
And then Derry were awarded a penalty after Niall Toner was fouled in the box but Carberry spoiled the Derry party by saving Enda Lynch’s spot kick.
A late point for Derry wasn’t enough and Westmeath left Derry with the spoils.
Next up for the Oak Leafers is an away trip to Longford next Sunday, February 4 (throw in 2 pm).
HALF TIME REPORT: DERRY 1-07 V 2-07 WESTMEATH
TWO goals from Callum McCormack and John Heslin gave Westmeath a flying start in Derry’s opening game in the Alliananz League.
McCormack netted after just one minute with a low and hard strike past goalkeeper McKinless.
Three minutes later James Kielt scored for Derry from a free but Westmeath went up the pitch and were awarded a penalty which Heslin scored.
Heslin also scored a further point before Bateson scored a point from open play for Derry
With the wind in their back, Derry pressed on and Kielt scored a point from a massive free before Enda Lynn got the Oak Leafers back in the game with a goal.
But Heslin scored two successive points and picked up a yellow card for a late hit on McGoldrick but which really should have been a black card.
Emmett Bradley then pointed for Derry which helped to close the gap with a goal just separating the sides at 1-04 to 2-04.
James Kielt reduced it to two points with a great score from open play.
It wasn’t long for Westmeath hit back with Heslin scoring another point, his first half contribution now at 1-04.
With five minutes left, John Egan blocked Michael Bateson’s goal bound shot and the ball went out for a 45.
Emmett Bradley almost found the net but Westmeath’s goalkeeper Carberry made a great save.
In the last minute of the half Callum McCormack and Ger Egan both pointed for Westmeath.
Peter Hagan replied for Derry and Michael Bateson hit his second point of the game and the difference between the sides at half is a single goal – Derry 1-07 v 2-07 Westmeath.
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