Westmeath hurlers end their campaign in positive style

Westmeath 2-26 Laois 0-16

A dominant first half display from Westmeath senior hurlers provided the platform for a resounding victory over Laois in the final round Joe McDonagh Cup at TEG Cusack Park on Saturday.

Joe Fortune’s men won by double scores in the end and will reflect with mixed emotions on a disappointing championship campaign, their ambitions derailed early on with that home defeat by Kerry before a reversal against Offaly in Tullamore in round two really put the kibosh on their aspirations. Although there was nothing to play for here, Westmeath were determined to finish on a winning note and that was achieved as they completely controlled the first half and then edged the second against a Laois side that was reduced to 14 men in the 50th minute.

Fortune’s future may well be the centre of some speculation now and he wasn’t making any rash decision on Saturday: “We get a couple of weeks now to have conversations and chats and we’ll see where we are in the next couple of weeks,” was how he summed it up.

There was a sense of apathy from Laois who were already through to the McDonagh Cup final against Offaly before a ball was pucked and they started with just seven first choice players, while the small attendance for an early 1pm throw-in merely added to the casual nature of proceedings.

Westmeath produced a terrific first half display and led by 2-13 to 0-4 at the interval, with both goals coming from Niall Mitchell.

The home side got the opening goal in the fourth minute when David Williams set up Mitchell, whose crisp shot found the net. Midfielder Kevin Regan followed that with a quality point, while Williams hit over a nice score. Westmeath had a six-point lead after David O’Reilly’s point on 10 minutes and Laois got their opening score when Ross King converted a free in the 12th minute.

Martin Phelan added to Laois’ tally with their second point, but Westmeath then hit 1-1 without reply: Williams shot over and then his free in led to a second goal for Mitchell. After wing back Lee Cleere hit a point, Westmeath shot an unanswered 0-6: Williams (three frees), Darragh Clinton, Owen McCabe and Aonghus Clarke were all on target – McCabe’s super strike from distance arguably the pick of that half dozen.

Laois’ Gearóid Lynch replied with a point on 29 minutes but they were generally playing second fiddle; after an excellent piece of fielding by Mitchell, Westmeath earned a free that Williams converted. A late Williams free completed the first half scoring and the Lake County were well in control.

Comprehensive The second half was more competitive and Westmeath did well to trump the re-energised Laois effort.

Laois got the opening two points per John Lennon and wing back Lee Cleere, but a ‘65’ from David Williams stopped the attempted fight back. Ross King was excellent for the visitors, his brace of frees adding to their tally at this stage; David O’Reilly hit back for the home side.

King shot two further points from play before Darragh Clinton made it 2-16 to 0-10 in Westmeath’s favour. Laois were then dealt a blow when centre back Padraig Delaney picked up a second yellow card and was dismissed.

A Robbie Greville point had Westmeath 12 clear at the three quarter stage, but Laois got two in-a-row from King (free) and Gearóid Lynch to keep it interesting. Tommy Doyle’s delivery found Aonghus Clarke who set up Westmeath substitute Killian Doyle for a point and after Comerford hit a minor, Doyle got his second of the day.

O’Reilly (two), Tommy Doyle and Williams (free) notched four further scores without reply as the home side kept a tight grip on the game and it was 2-24 to 0-14 with a couple of minutes to play. Substitute James Keyes and King (free) notched two Laois scores in response, but as the game ticked into added time, Williams scored a lovely point for the home side who put the seal on a comprehensive win with a nice score from the lively Peter Clarke.

The visitors tried to grab a late goal when Gearóid Lynch took a pass close to goal, but his effort was saved.

Scorers - Westmeath: D Williams 0-11 (7f; 1 '65'), D O'Reilly 0-4, D Clinton, R Greville, and K Doyle 0-2 each, O McCabe, K Regan, Peter Clarke, A Clarke and T Doyle 0-1 each. Laois: R King 0-7 (5f), L Cleere, J King and G Lynch 0-2 each, J Lennon, C Comerford and M Phelan 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Noel Conaty; Conor Gaffney, Tommy Doyle, Johnny Bermingham; Darragh Egerton; Aonghus Clarke, Aaron Craig; Peter Clarke, Kevin Regan; Niall Mitchell, Owen McCabe, Robbie Greville; David Williams, Darragh Clinton, D O’Reilly.

Subs: Charlie McCormack for Craig (47), Killian Doyle for McCabe (51), Eoin Keyes for Mitchell (55), Micheál Daly for Regan (60), Ciaran Doyle for Clinton (60).

Laois: Enda Rowland; Donnchadh Hartnett, Ryan Mullaney, Diarmuid Conway; Liam O’Connell, Padraig Delaney, Lee Cleere; John Lennon, Fiachra C Fennell; Gearóid Lynch, Ross King, Cody Comerford; Willie Dunphy, Martin Phelan, Stephen Bergin.

Subs: James Keyes for Phelan (37), James Duggan for Dunphy (42), Padraic Dunne for Conway (44), Cathal Dunne for Bergin (61), Bryan Bredin for O’Connell (65), Andrew Mortimer for Mullaney (68).

Referee: Conor Daly (Kildare).