LEINSTER MHC ROUND THREE: WESTMEATH'S MINOR hurlers sprung a huge surprise at Cusack Park, Mullingar, on Saturday, with a thoroughly deserved three-point win over their neighbours.

The wind-assisted winners were the better side in the first half but the teams were tied at 0-5 each as the game went into added-time.

However, a somewhat fortuitous goal from midfielder Colin O’Brien, with Offaly goalkeeper Conor Kennedy unable to clear his lines, and a point from Glen Flynn immediately after, put Westmeath 1-6 to 0-5 ahead at the interval.

The home side continued to look the better-balanced team on the change of ends.

Indeed, Offaly’s consolation goal came from a close-range free taken by substitute David King with the last puck of the contest.

WESTMEATH: C Scally; D Healy, A Shiels, D Garvin; C Boyle, A McGrath (0-1, from a free), J Cassidy; S Boylan (0-1), C O'Brien (1-0); S Fagan, G Flynn (0-2), D Gavin; E Kincaid, B O'Meara (0-4, frees), A Price (0-1). Subs: N Dowdall (0-1) for Kincaid (45 mins), P Laide for Gavin (59 mins).

OFFALY: C Kennedy; K Waters, B Mulrooney, M Cleary; J Sullivan, P Camon, S Coughlan (0-1); T Spain (0-2, both from frees), A Kealy; T Carroll (0-1, from a free), D Morkan, B Murphy (0-1); E Ryan, S Cleary, K Connolly (0-2, one free). Subs:D King (1-0, free) for Ryan (36 mins), S Kinsella for Spain (44 mins), A Hynes for Coughlan (48 mins), S Quirke for Carroll (54 mins).

Referee: A Lagrue (Kildare).