Williams inspires minor hurlers to crucial victory

Westmeath 3-18, Antrim 3-10

It was an occasion for getting the basics right, a wet sod and tricky conditions at Joristown Park, Raharney, for the meeting of Westmeath and Antrim in the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship on Saturday.

In the end Westmeath did more than enough to win and had eight points to spare at the final whistle, following a thorough test from the capable Ulster side. Brendan McKeogh’s improving side worked hard and built on their victory over Meath a week earlier to lead by the minimum at half-time, 2-7 to 2-6.

It wasn’t perfect, though, and they regrouped at the interval and applied themselves really well in the second half, winning with a little to spare at the end despite 12 wides and a tendency to over complicate things in the demanding conditions. Westmeath will again look to iron out those issues ahead of the crucial game against neighbours Offaly, while the sight of midfielder and dual star Dillon Burke departing with an ankle injury is cause for concern at a vital stage in the campaign.

When the challenge was put, Westmeath eventually found that extra bit of composure and they were clinical enough in the final quarter of this high-scoring encounter. It was keenly contested and laced with moments of quality hurling from both sides, and the respective coaching teams will have much to ponder ahead of their next games.

The hosts’ superior accuracy and ability to take scores under pressure proved decisive in the second half, as they eventually pulled away from their Ulster opponents, but only after a very competitive first half. Westmeath were gritty and determined when the Saffrons threatened in the second half and seven unanswered points from the 51st minute on was eye-catching.

It was the hosts who struck first, just 30 seconds in, as full forward Padraig Monaghan turned neatly and clipped over a fine point. Antrim responded within two minutes with a point of their own to level matters. Westmeath then fired two wides in succession, struggling for early accuracy on a greasy surface. In the fourth minute, Antrim seized the initiative when midfielder Dylan McNaughton drove at the heart of the defence and his powerful shot, though partially saved by Westmeath netminder Niall Brady, found the net to make it 1-1 to 0-1.

Westmeath steadied with a ninth-minute free from Conor Williams, and the home supporters were soon applauding a goal when midfielder Oisín McCauley launched a long delivery into the danger area. MJ Long rose highest and flicked the sliotar first time to the net, punishing some slack Antrim defending. A minute later, Cadhan Crawford converted a free for Antrim to narrow the gap, before McNaughton landed a sweet strike from midfield to edge Antrim in front again.

But Westmeath were starting to get into their rhythm, and on 12 minutes they raised a second green flag. Cian McKeogh, operating at centre-forward, broke through with power after good approach play from Long and rifled the ball to the net. It was a pivotal moment in the opening half, underlining Westmeath’s intent. Points followed from Antrim’s Seán Smyth and Williams (Westmeath, from play) in the 18th and 19th minutes respectively, before full-forward Jay Mc Alonan kept Antrim ticking over with a tidy point.

Williams quickly added another for Westmeath and then, after great link play from wing forwards Eoghan Beehan and Conor Maleady, Monaghan slotted over a fine score to make it 2-5 to 1-5. Antrim then struck their second goal in the 24th minute when Crawford, contesting a high ball alongside Mc Alonan, managed to force the sliotar home after goalkeeper Brady and failed to clear the danger. Beehan responded with a well-taken score on the run, before Williams clipped over a ’65 in the 29th minute.

Antrim closed the half with another Crawford point after he got out in front of Dylan Gaffney. In the final moments, Williams almost bagged another Westmeath goal but was denied by an excellent hook from Antrim corner-back Oisín Heaney.

Westmeath hit the ground running in the second half. Wing back Conor Cleary delivered a pinpoint pass that found Williams inside his man, and the latter made no mistake with an impressive finish to the net, extending the lead to four points. Antrim replied through wing forward Ronan Taylor, but Williams struck over another ’65 soon after to keep the pressure firmly on the visiting side.

Moments later, a sharp pass from Seán Byrne picked out Monaghan, who pointed in superb style. Williams then had a goal chance when he pulled on a dropping ball in the square, only for Liam Magee to make a telling save. The resulting ’65 was again converted by Williams.

On nine minutes, Byrne got in on the act with a tidy point from play. Antrim struck back when wing back Eunan Johnston, under pressure, booted the sliotar over the bar - a let-off for Westmeath as a goal was on. Crawford added a free for Antrim on 12 minutes, but it was cancelled out by a monster effort from Westmeath wing back Éanna Kiernan from deep.

A promising surge through the middle by McKeogh on 14 minutes nearly produced another goal, but Magee again denied Westmeath, and Williams added another ’65 to keep the scoreboard ticking over. It was one feature of the game that perhaps Westmeath will focus on, with their shot selection and decision making not quite at the required level.

Westmeath missed further chances before Monaghan’s low shot was saved by Magee after a fine delivery by Kiernan. Taylor responded with a superb point for Antrim on 20 minutes. Westmeath looked to extend their lead but were let down by a lack of directness, with both Cian O’Mara and Finn Higgins seeing chances go abegging.

Antrim were handed a lifeline in the 21st minute when substitute Christy Leech slipped a clever handpass to Mc Alonan, who buried his shot to the net following a slip by Westmeath centre back Cian Fleming. That left just two between them, but Westmeath refused to panic. Williams fired over a long-range free and Byrne quickly added another point from play to reassert control.

The drama wasn’t over. Williams was on target again in the 25th minute from a free after an Antrim defender was penalised for throwing away his hurley - a contentious call that earned a yellow card for a protesting mentor. The free-taker made no mistake, striking the sliotar over with a low trajectory to stretch the lead to six (3-16 to 3-10).

Antrim pushed hard in the closing stages, seeking a fourth goal. Kiernan was yellow-carded as Westmeath defended the danger zone, but Antrim couldn’t unlock the door. Williams then delivered one of the scores of the match on 29 minutes, soloing close to the sideline before firing over off the stick.

In stoppage time, Williams turned provider for Oisín McCauley, who clipped a lovely point to seal a satisfactory victory for Westmeath. Brendan McKeogh will look for further improvement and it will be interesting to see how his side fare when faced with a stiffer test against Offaly.

Scorers - Westmeath: C William 1-10 (0-4 from 65s; 0-3f), MJ Long and C McKeogh 1-0 each, P Monaghan 0-3, S Byrne 0-2, E Beehan, O McCauley and E Kiernan 0-1 each. Antrim: C Crawford 1-3 (0-2f), D McNaughton 1-2, J Mc Alonan 1-1, R Taylor 0-2, E Johnston and S Smyth 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Niall Brady; Dara Mulligan, Ted Aherne, Dylan Gaffney; Eanna Kiernan, Cian Fleming, Conor Cleary; Dillon Burke, Oisin McCauley; Eoghan Beehan, Cian McKeogh, Conor Maleady; MJ Long, Padraig Monaghan, Conor Williams. Subs: Finn Higgins for Maleady (26), Seán Byrne for Burke (inj., 27), Cian O’Mara for Beehan (45), Ronan Lawlor for Cleary (59), Mikey Devine for Long (60+1).

Antrim: Liam Magee; Aaron Quinn, Liam Smyth, Oisin Heaney; Darragh Kinney, Conor McCann, Eunan Johnston; Canice McIntosh, Dylan McNaughton; Ronan Taylor, Nicholas McLaughlin, James McDonnell; Seán Smyth, Jay Mc Alonan, Cadhan Crawford. Subs: Paddy Morgan for Quinn (36), Christy Leech for McLaughlin (41), Anthony Cochrane for Taylor (52).

Referee: Ciaran Flynn (Meath).