Westmeath minor hurlers lose out to Royals

Leinster Minor Hurling Championship First Round

Meath 2-17
Westmeath 2-13
 
Kevin Egan

For twenty minutes of this Leinster minor hurling clash in Trim, Westmeath’s greater craft and nous in front of the posts looked to be the key factor to power their progress to the next round.

However, while clever and skilful play will always be valuable in the sport of hurling, Meath’s greater willingness to put their bodies on the line and to win ‘dirty ball’ ultimately won out, and the Royal County deservedly went on to score 19 times in the last 40 minutes, not to mention 14 wides.  

Time after time, either from Conor Dolan’s puck-outs or from general play, once the ball hit the deck in the middle third of the field it was Meath players who arrived on the scene with greater conviction and in greater numbers. Westmeath’s full-back line of Seán Quinn, Patrick O’Reilly and Adrian Garvey secured several fine turnovers but they were asked to do too much over the course of the hour and once Meath finally got on the scoreboard after 20 minutes, the Royal County built-up a head of steam that was impossible to resist.

The early stages went extremely well from a Westmeath perspective and after two early points, a seventh minute goal from Michael Daly really ignited their charge. Cillian Doyle worked hard to secure possession and make ground down the right wing and when he played the ball across the goals, Daly was able to get the slightest touch and deflect it home.
Westmeath’s lead was stretched to seven when Darragh Clinton pointed a self-won free and Doyle followed up with an exquisite point over his shoulder, but Meath were consistently competitive, even if their inability to hit the target was proving costly.

A Stefan Kelly point in the 20th minute ended their drought and for the remainder of the first half Meath laid siege to the Westmeath goal, levelling the game with the last puck of the half through David Reilly. 
Two further points either side of a solitary response from substitute Ciarán Doyle gave Meath an early lead in the second half, before Michael Daly was controversially denied a second goal. Daly got on the end of a Clinton delivery and finished well, only to be deemed to have been in the small square before the ball.

Two points from Luke Loughlin and Ciarán Doyle did restore Westmeath’s lead and, after 38 minutes, a Cillian Doyle score pushed that lead out to two, but the next 12 minutes were disastrous as Meath racked up 1-6 without reply.
Two outstanding Cillian Doyle points and a close range goal from the same player cut the lead to two, 1-16 to 2-11, but within 60 seconds of Doyle’s goal, Meath replied in kind through Mark Healy, thus leaving Westmeath needing at least one more goal to have any chance of saving their season. 

Darragh Clinton created one final glimmer of hope when he fielded on the edge of the square and was deemed to have been pulled down, but the Delvin player pulled his strike wide, a miss that was deemed academic when referee Kevin Brady sounded the final whistle immediately afterwards to confirm a four-point home win. 

Meath: Adam Shelley; Martin Healy, Charlie Bird, Gareth Rooney; David Reilly (0-2), Luke Ricard, Luke Swayne; Ryan Raleigh, Stefan Kelly (0-1); Josh Wall (0-2), Jack Regan (0-7, 5f, 1 ‘65), Seán Quigley (0-1); Jack Fagan (1-3), Mark Healy (1-0), Seán Doyle (0-1). Subs: Conor Sheerin for Rooney, Luke Martin for Wall.

Westmeath: Conor Dolan; Seán Quinn, Patrick O’Reilly, Adrian Garvey; Shane Farrelly, Ciarán Crentsil, Robbie Gillen; Jack Carroll, Michael Heeney; Cillian Doyle (1-4), Darragh Clinton (0-2, 1f), Alan Cox (0-1); Warren Casserly, Luke Loughlin (0-1), Michael Daly (1-1). Subs: Ciarán Doyle (0-4) for Loughlin, L Loughlin for Carroll, Darren Giles for Cox, Paddy Lynam for Casserly.
 
Referee: Kevin Brady (Louth)

IN A NUTSHELL

MAN OF THE MATCH
Despite the long established tradition of awarding this accolade to a member of the winning team, Raharney’s Cillian Doyle was probably the best single performer on the field, producing a wonderful pirouette and score in the first half, before racking up a quick fire 1-2 to lead Westmeath’s charge back into contention late in the game.
However, with no other Westmeath forwards playing well, Doyle’s efforts were ultimately in vain.

TURNING POINT
Meath’s midfield and half back line were solid throughout this tie but until they broke their scoring duck, the home side never looked confident. However a lack of concentration from Westmeath in the 20th minute meant that Jack Regan’s 65m free into the wind could be played short to Stefan Kelly, who wandered forward unmarked from midfield. Kelly hit the target from 40 metres out and, within five minutes, Meath had scored four more points and momentum was back on their side. 

VENUE WATCH
The slight breeze that favoured Westmeath in the first half was the only aspect of the setting that was less than ideal in this fixture, with the weather and the venue combining to produce a perfect afternoon for hurling. The pitch was lush but well trimmed, supporters had a good view by the side of the ground or from the balcony, while the presence of two other pitches added a air of life and activity to proceedings at the Meath club.