Sub controversy surrounds Westmeath's easy win
Sunday, 16 May 2004 19:46Young forward Andrew Mitchell ran the show for Westmeath as they enjoyed an easy 1-18 to 1-06 win over Kildare in Mullingar, but their Leinster SHC meeting ended in controversy as it emerged that they allegedly used one substitute too many.
Fourth official Eoin Mullarkey was armed with only five substitutes slips at the finish, when answering the calls of some journalists that Tom Ryan's side had used six, including one blood replacement. If brought to the GAC, video evidence could be used.
However, Westmeath were the better side throughout, and deservedly booked a provincial quarter-final against Dublin thanks to the sharp-shooting of Mitchell (0-09, 5f) and a late goal from substitute Jonathan Forbes.
Mitchell struck a brace of frees on three and six minutes to open a 0-03 to 0-01 lead, with Joe Dempsey turning well in the eighth minute for Kildare's reply.
The Lilywhites notched four wides in a disappointing first half and only came into the game when Dempsey batted home their goal in first half injury-time.
The 23rd minute dismissal of their skipper Adrian McAndrew, as corner-back Paul Greville, was hacked down off the ball did not help matters. Tom Carew (2f, 1 45) and Andy Quinn did add to Kildare's tally, but points from Barry Kennedy, Mitchell and Ollie Devine saw Westmeath 0-06 to 0-05 in front before Dempsey struck off a Ciaran Divilly solo run.
Kildare's 1-05 half-time tally was only added to by Divilly after the restart as Westmeath and Mitchell owned the second period.
Two Mitchell points, the second on 42 minutes, put them two in front and despite Divilly replying, Mitchell ran them back to 0-10 to 1-06 in front.
Mitchell struck a giant 80-yard point soon after, and with the effective Forbes adding a late 1-02 and Barry Kennedy tagging two more onto his tally (0-03), there was only going to be one winner.
Filed by Aidan O'Doherty
