WESTMEATH MADE A very impressive statement today in the Leinster SHC round-robin qualifier series.
Having overcome Carlow by just two points in last Sunday’s opener, the Lake County had it much easier this afternoon in Mullingar. Managed by former Waterford boss Michael Ryan, Westmeath ran out 17-point winners over Antrim.
It capped what has been a fantastic weekend for Westmeath hurling. Yesterday, the county’s minor team defied the odds by defeating Wexford to progress to the Leinster semi-finals.
With Niall O’Brien hitting five points in the opening half, Westmeath controlled today’s game from the outset and took a commanding 1-13 to 0-2 lead in at the break.
A minute before half-time, Alan Devine struck for the only goal of the game to help the home side into a 14-point interval advantage.
Despite Antrim’s efforts to reduce the gap after the restart, Westmeath remained in control and were never in danger of being pegged back as they secured consecutive victories — the only side in the round-robin series to do so — on a scoreline of 1-21 to 0-7.
After being beaten by Antrim last weekend, Laois bounced back today to keep their championship hopes alive thanks to a three-point win against Carlow at Netwatch Cullen Park.
However, they had to withstand a brave Carlow comeback before sealing the victory. At one stage in the second-half Laois were 1-15 to 0-7 ahead — their goal coming from Ben Conroy — but Carlow staged a remarkable revival, out-scoring the visitors by 1-7 to 0-2 for the remainder of the game.
Eddie Byrne scored Carlow’s late goal but it wasn’t enough to prevent them from slipping to successive defeats.
Leinster SHC Results
Westmeath 1-21 Antrim 0-7
Carlow 1-14 Laois 1-17
