**Tailteann Cup quarter-final
**

WESTMEATH 1-21 CARLOW 2-13

By Paul Keane at Netwatch Cullen Park

John Heslin displayed his class yet again with 1-9 to help Westmeath secure their place in tomorrow morning's draw for the Tailteann Cup semi-finals.

Experienced attacker Heslin shone at Netwatch Cullen Park though it wasn't until the final quarter that the Leinster semi-finalists truly got on top to finish off hosts Carlow.

Just two points separated the teams with 57 minutes on the clock but a series of Westmeath scores from Lorcan Dolan, Sam McCartan, Heslin and Luke Loughlin finally put clear daylight between the teams.

It was a solid performance from Carlow who can take plenty from the competition after previously defeating Tipperary to make it through to the quarter-finals.

But Westmeath will march on to a Croke Park semi-final on June 19 with real hopes of advancing to the decider and claiming the inaugural title.

Westmeath kicked themselves for not being further than two points ahead at half-time given the amount of opportunities they carved out.

They were largely dominant in the possession stakes but six wides and a couple of score attempts that dropped short cost them.

Heslin was their main man throughout, slotting low to the net in the 15th minute for Westmeath's goal after great work by Sam Duncan. Free-taker Heslin helped himself to 1-4 in the opening half though two Carlow goals, in the 19th minute and in stoppage time, meant the hosts were always breathing down Westmeath's necks.

Moore pounced for Carlow's first goal, capitalising after Jamie Clarke's long ball in from the left broke down favourably off the fist of Darragh Foley.

Westmeath's response was positive and they opened up 1-6 to 1-1 and 1-8 to 1-2 leads but the wides prevented Jack Cooney's side from forging further ahead and Carlow took advantage.

They kicked a three-in-a-row of points between the 28th and 33rd minutes from full-back Mikey Bambrick, Colm Hulton and skipper Foley to reduce the deficit to three.

More importantly, it sent a clear message to Westmeath that Carlow weren't about to throw in the towel and when Hickey, Carlow's goalscorer in the Round 1 win over Tipp, blasted their second goal on the stroke of half-time it left just two points between them at 1-10 to 2-5.

Westmeath must have sensed danger as Carlow trailed Tipp by a point at half-time last Sunday only to outscore the 2020 Munster champions by three points in the second-half to advance.

Westmeath duly put the foot down in the third quarter, the first three points of the second-half all coming from the visitors.

That left five between them but, typically, just as Westmeath threatened to pull away they were reeled back in by a determined Carlow.

Ross Dunphy, Hulton, Foley and Shane Clarke all pointed to leave two between them entering the final quarter.

Unfortunately for Carlow, that was as good as it got for them as Westmeath finally brought their greater experience and quality to bear and finished off the contest with that run of late scores.

Carlow lost to Liam Roberts to a stoppage time dismissal for a high challenge on Westmeath's Robbie Forde.

Scorers for Westmeath: John Heslin 1-9 (0-7f), Luke Loughlin 0-4 (0-1f), Sam McCartan 0-3, Ronan O'Toole 0-2, Sam Duncan 0-1, Jamie Gonoud 0-1, Lorcan Dolan 0-1 (0-1m).

Scorers for Carlow: Darragh Foley 0-5 (0-5f), Josh Moore 1-0, Niall Hickey 1-0, Colm Hulton 0-2, Ross Dunphy 0-2, Jamie Clarke 0-1 (0-1f), Conor Doyle 0-1, Mikey Bambrick 0-1, Shane Clarke 0-1.

Westmeath: Jason Daly; Charlie Drumm, Jack Smith, Jamie Gonoud; Nigel Harte, Ronan Wallace, James Dolan; Sam McCartan, Sam Duncan; David Lynch, Jonathan Lynam, Ronan O'Toole; Lorcan Dolan, John Heslin, Luke Loughlin.

Subs: Robbie Forde for Duncan 57, Andy McCormack for Harte 61, Alex Gardiner for L Dolan 67, Kieran Martin for McCartan 71, TJ Cox for Loughlin 72.

Carlow: Ciaran Cunningham; Dara Curran, Mikey Bambrick, Liam Roberts; Shane Clarke, Seanie Bambrick, Conor Doyle; Jamie Clarke, Eoghan Ruth; Niall Hickey, Josh Moore, Ross Dunphy; Colm Hulton, Conor Crowley, Darragh Foley.

Subs: Shane Buggy for Hickey 61, Cormac Lomax for Doyle 70.

Referee: Conor Lane (Cork).