WESTMEATH ESCAPED FROM London with a 1-14 to 0-11 win this afternoon, despite being pushed by a well-prepared London outfit in Ruislip.
The hosts will rue 12 wides in the first half, a tally which will leave them wondering what might have been i they had amassed more than a single-point advantage at half time.
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The turning point in Westmeath’s favour came in the form of Brendan Murtagh’s 51st minute goal and they had secured progression to the next qualifying round of the All Ireland senior hurling championship before Paul Fennell received his second yellow in stoppage time.
Derek McNicholas was the star for the visitors, nabbing half of his side’s scores when the going was toughest in the first half, including the opener and one to level matters at four points apiece after London had strode out to an early 0-3 to 0-1 lead thanks to Limerick’s Donie Reale and Laoisman John Walsh.
Stephen Lambert restored the two-point lead for London after Robbie Greville got on the score-sheet with a much-needed point to help Westmeath keep in touch, but they might have seized a lead of their own when McNicholas missed a gilt-edged chance for goal across the face of the target and wide.
From there, London grew in belief and they mined three more points from the final 10 minutes of the half to give them a richly deserved 0-7 to 0- lead at the break.
The hosts picked up from where they left off as Reale extended the lead, and Finn hit back after McNicholas again kept the visitors in touch. With London still going strong 10 minutes into the second half, Murtagh came to the rescue.
He first delivered a fine score to take Westmeath back to just a 0-9 to 0-8 deficit. And, after McNicholas leveled matters again, Murtagh got his stick on the edge of a long Adam Price ball to flick into the net.
McNicholas tagged on the next two to give the visitors a crucial five point lead and from there, there was no way back for the home side as McNicholas began trading scores with London.
Murtagh goal gives Westmeath the edge in London
London 0-11
Westmeath 1- 14
WESTMEATH ESCAPED FROM London with a 1-14 to 0-11 win this afternoon, despite being pushed by a well-prepared London outfit in Ruislip.
The hosts will rue 12 wides in the first half, a tally which will leave them wondering what might have been i they had amassed more than a single-point advantage at half time.
The turning point in Westmeath’s favour came in the form of Brendan Murtagh’s 51st minute goal and they had secured progression to the next qualifying round of the All Ireland senior hurling championship before Paul Fennell received his second yellow in stoppage time.
Derek McNicholas was the star for the visitors, nabbing half of his side’s scores when the going was toughest in the first half, including the opener and one to level matters at four points apiece after London had strode out to an early 0-3 to 0-1 lead thanks to Limerick’s Donie Reale and Laoisman John Walsh.
Stephen Lambert restored the two-point lead for London after Robbie Greville got on the score-sheet with a much-needed point to help Westmeath keep in touch, but they might have seized a lead of their own when McNicholas missed a gilt-edged chance for goal across the face of the target and wide.
The hosts picked up from where they left off as Reale extended the lead, and Finn hit back after McNicholas again kept the visitors in touch. With London still going strong 10 minutes into the second half, Murtagh came to the rescue.
He first delivered a fine score to take Westmeath back to just a 0-9 to 0-8 deficit. And, after McNicholas leveled matters again, Murtagh got his stick on the edge of a long Adam Price ball to flick into the net.
McNicholas tagged on the next two to give the visitors a crucial five point lead and from there, there was no way back for the home side as McNicholas began trading scores with London.
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All-Ireland SHC All-Ireland Senior HC GAA Hurling Ruislip London Westmeath