Plenty to talk about as Meath minors exit

Meath exited today's Leinster MFC semi-final against a strong Westmeath side who deservedly won by 0-11 to 1-6, but it was the sideline action that provided most of the talking points after this thriller at Páirc Tailteann.

The facts about the game will show that Westmeath won with 14 players after full-back Israel Ilunga made an early second-half departure with his side ahead by their 0-7 to 0-3 interval advantage.

The Westmeath player contributed enormously to his own demise, but the exchange on the sideline which started with a 'heated' stand-off bewteen Westmeath manager Tommy Carr and Meath's Nigel Crawford was a disappointing development.

Others quickly became embroiled in what was an unseemingly incident, but the referee wasn't distracted from his main task and a couple of minutes later, when peace broke out, he issued that red card to Ilunga.

That fuelled the Westmeath adrenalin and it carried the team into a 0-9 to 0-3 lead before Meath eventually got going and found the net through James McEntee.

Meath also lost half-time substitute Ruairi O Coileain who was stretchered-off only nine minutes after his introduction with an ankle injury.

Westmeath maintained their supremacy in the closing stages and qualified for next Sunday's Leinster MFC decider.

Speaking about the sideline incident afterwards to the Meath Chronicle Tommy Carr commented:

'That's passion, that's emotion, that's what it's all about, you get involved, I think everybody walks away and shakes hands, there's no animosity in it,' he said.

Referring to the same incident, Meath manager Andy Mcentee said:

'I'm not sure what sparked it, but Tommy Carr had too much to say throughout the whole game.'

McEntee also commented that Westmeath were worthy winners on the day.

 

Conall Collier