Westmeath 2-22

Offaly 1-11

WESTMEATH GOT THEIR Leinster hurling championship off to a remarkable start with a double scores victory over Offaly at Cusack Park in Mullingar.

With Eoin Price and Tommy Doyle in excellent form, Michael Ryan’s side claimed the first win of this Round Robin series and face into next week’s clash in Kerry on a real high.

Offaly were shocking throughout and now face a real uphill task to get into the knock-out stages of the competition.

Derek McNicholas fired Westmeath in to the lead with a super goal after Liam Varley’s slick hand-pass, and points from Eoin Price, Niall O’Brien and Alan Devine meant Michael Ryan’s side held a 1-4 to 0-2 advantage.

Westmeath were denied a goal when the sliotar appeared to cross James Dempsey’s line and hit his hurley bag after 18 minutes, and when Offaly followed it with a great Shane Kinsella point it appeared as if Eamonn Kelly’s side could raise a challenge. But Westmeath hit five of the next six points to take total control.

Two Shane Dooley frees and a fine solo effort from Killian Kiely at the end of the half meant Westmeath only led by 1-9 to 0-7, but the Offaly substitute was involved in an off-the-ball incident with Gary Greville moments later and was fortunate to just see yellow.

With the wind advantage Westmeath pushed on with a blistering first five minutes after the restart and five points from a variety of angles and faces meant they had the win all but wrapped up with a 1-14 to 0-7 advantage.

A free from Joe Bergin interrupted the home side’s flow, but Westmeath’s reply was impressive as McNicholas hit two great points from play, while O’Brien and Eoin Price also found the target for a 13-point lead.

Paddy Murphy tipped the ball to the empty net for Offaly 17 minutes from time and Sean Ryan followed it with a good point, but there was never a chance of a comeback, especially when the outstanding Price hit Westmeath’s second goal in the 69th minute.

Scorers – Westmeath: E Price 1-5, N O’Brien 0-7 (5f), D McNicholas 1-2, C Boyle 0-3, L Varley 0-2, D Egerton 0-1, A Devine 0-1, D Clinton 0-1

Offaly: P Murphy 1-1, S Dooley 0-3 (3f), S Ryan 0-2, S Kinsella 0-2, K Kiely 0-2, J Bergin 0-1 (1f)

Westmeath:

1 Paddy Maloney (Castletown Geoghegan)

2 Shane Power (Clonkill)
3 Tommy Doyle (Lough Lene Gaels)
4 Tommy Gallagher (Castlepollard)

5 Aaron Craig (St Oliver Plunketts)
6 Aonghus Clarke (c) (Castletown Geoghegan)
7 Gary Greville (Raharney)

8 Cormac Boyle (Rahrney)
12 Robbie Greville (Raharney)

10 Alan Devine (Castlepollard)
15 Niall O’Brien (Castletown Geoghegan)
9 Eoin Price (Clonkill)

13 Liam Varley (Castletown Geoghegan)
11 Derek McNicholas (Lough Lene Gaels)
19 Darragh Egerton (Clonkill)
Subs:
24 Darragh Clinton (Delvin) for Varley (60)
26 Niall Mitchell (Clonkill) for Devine (63)
14 Brendan Murtagh (Clonkill) for Egerton (68)
17 Alan McGrath (Clonkill) for Gallagher (70)
20 Jack Galvin (Cullion) for Boyle (71)

Offaly:

1 James Dempsey (Kinnity)

7 Dermot Mooney (Seir Kieran)
4 Chris McDonald (Brosna Gaels)
2 Paddy Rigney (Kinnity)

8 Sean Ryan (Birr)
20 Dan Kelleher (Brosna Gaels)
6 Pat Camon (St Rynagh’s)

15 Paddy Murphy (Ballinamere)
9 Shane Kinsella (Kinsella)

11 Colin Egan (Belmount)
24 Shane Dooley (Tullamore)
13 James Mulrooney (Seir Kieran)

10 Kevin Connolly (Coolderry)
12 Joe Bergin (Seir Kieran)
5 Ben Conneely (St Rynagh’s)
Subs:
14 Killian Kiely (Kilcormac Killoughey) for Mulrooney (28)
18 Sean Clery (Shinrone) for Conneely (35),
21 Paudge Guinan (Drumcullen) for Dooley (h-t),
3 Dermot Shortt (St Rynagh’s) for Kelleher (52)
25 David King (Coolderry) for Connolly (52)
10 Kevin Connolly for Ryan (60),

Referee: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny).

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