Wexford 1-24
Westmeath 1-16
WEXFORD SHARPSHOOTER IAN Byrne hit 1-7 as his side got the better of a gritty Westmeath outfit at Cusack Park, Mullingar.
There was a huge crowd in attendance typifying the heights that hurling has reached in the county and despite a determined display, the hosts couldn’t get the win.
Liam Dunne’s men never pushed on through the gears but when they threatened to in the third quarter they blast Westmeath out of the water.
The Slaneysiders will go on to face All-Ireland champions Kilkenny in the Leinster semi-final on 21 June as they look to reach their first decider in seven years.
They led 0-15 to 0-6 at half-time with Byrne on song from the placed ball and he hit five points in the opening half.
Derek McNicholas was the chief scoring threat for Westmeath but they couldn’t capitalise on the lack of accuracy of the Wexford front men and even with the wind to come, it looked a tall order.
Wexford blitzed their hosts in the second-half with Byrne’s goal the killer but after a lengthy stoppage for a head injury to McNicholas – Westmeath also lost Shane Power in the warm-up to a facial injury – Murtagh led the fightback.
But despite his goal and five points in a row towards the end it wasn’t enough as Wexford sailed into the last four.
Scorers for Wexford: I Byrne 1-7 (0-6f, 1 ’65), P Morris 0-5 (1f), D Redmond 0-3, C McDonald 0-3, D Waters 0-2, A Shore 0-1, J Guiney 0-1, L Og McGovern 0-1, H Kehoe 0-1.
Scorers for Westmeath: B Murtagh 1-4 (1f), D McNicholas 0-5 4f, 1’65), N Dowdall 0-2, J Clarke, A Clarke 0-1, K Murphy 0-1, A Devine 0-1, C Boyle 0-1.
Wexford
1. Mark Fanning (Glynn Barntown)
2. Liam Ryan (Rapparees)
3. Matthew O’Hanlon (St James’)
4. Eoin Moore (Oulart the Ballagh)
5. Andrew Shore (Davidstown/Courtnacuddy)
6. Lee Chin (Faythe Harriers)
7. Diarmuid O’Keefe (St Anne’s)
8. David Redmond (Oulart the Ballagh)
9. Harry Kehoe (Cloughbawn)
12. Ian Byrne (Ferns St Aidan’s)
11. Daithi Waters (St Martin’s)
10. Jack Guiney (Rathnure)
13. Paul Morris (Ferns St Aidan’s)
14. Conor McDonald (Naomh Eanna)
15. Liam Og McGovern (St Anne’s)
Subs
21. K Foley (Rapparees) for Guiney (46)
20. R Jacob (Oulart the Ballagh) for McGovern (49)
19. G Sinnott (Oulart the Ballagh) for Kehoe (55)
25. S Tomkins (Askamore) for McDonald (76)
24. P Doran (Oylegate/Glenbrien) for Byrne (82)
Westmeath
1. Shane McGovern (Crookedwood)
12. Liam Varley(Castletown Geoghegan)
3. Tommy Doyle (Lough Lene Gaels)
20. Kieran Duncan (Southern Gaels)
5. Aaron Craig (St Oliver Plunkett’s)
6. Aonghus Clarke (Castletown Geoghegan)
7. Alan McGrath (Clonkill)
8. Eoin Price (Clonkill)
9. Cormac Boyle (Rahrney)
10. Alan Devine (Castlepollard)
11. Derek McNicholas (Lough Lene Gaels)
17. Joe Clarke (Castletown Geoghegan)
13. Niall Dowdall (Clonkill)
14. Brendan Murtagh (Clonkill)
15. Darragh Clinton (Delvin)
Subs
18. E Corrigan (Ringtown) for Price (51)
21. K Murphy (Delvin) for McNicholas (65)
Referee: Johnny Ryan (Tipperary)
