Westmeath excel against the odds

LEINSTER SHC, FIRST ROUND: Westmeath 0-14 Antrim 0-12:WESTMEATH, WHO had to play the last 46 minutes with only 14 men, pulled off the first shock of the summer when they knocked Antrim out of the Leinster senior hurling championship in a closely-fought first-round game in Mullingar on Saturday afternoon.

Wind-assisted Antrim looked the more accomplished team in an often ragged first half with Neil McManus a dominant figure at centre half back, while Liam Watson was causing untold problems for the home rearguard.

Westmeath’s problems were compounded on the half-hour mark when their corner back Conor Jordan, who had been booked in the 16th minute along with Watson after an unseemly squabble, received a second yellow card. Overall, the Glensmen were well worth their five-point interval lead of 0-8 to 0-3.

Despite McManus increasing Antrim’s lead within two minutes of the resumption, a fired-up Westmeath continued to plug away with defenders Paddy Dowdall, Adam Price and Paul Greville rallying their colleagues to great effect. Further forward, Niall O’Brien was on song from frees.

Brendan Murtagh’s first point from play had his side on level terms for the first time in the contest (0-11 each) with 11 minutes to go. Three minutes later, Antrim substitute Conor McCann nudged the visitors ahead.

A point from John Shaw levelled the contest, but a neat point from O’Brien and a long-range free from Murtagh put Westmeath two points to the good with a minute of normal time remaining.

Antrim tried to manufacture a goal from a 65 deep in added-time, but a resolute Westmeath defence held firm and advance to meet Galway.

WESTMEATH:S McGovern; C Jordan, A Price, P Fennell; P Dowdall, A McGrath, P Greville; A Clarke (0-1), J Clarke; B Murtagh (0-2, 0-1 free), F Boyle (0-2), R Greville; N O'Brien (0-8, 0-6 frees), J Shaw (0-1), E Price. Subs: D Fennell for Boyle (64 mins), P Gilsenan for R Greville (70 mins).

ANTRIM: DD Quinn; J Kerr, C Carson, A Graffin; M Gettens, N McManus (0-3, 0-2 frees), N McAuley; B McCauley (0-1), P Shiels; M Herron, B McFall, E McCloskey; D Hamill, L Watson (0-4), S McNaughton (0-3, 0-1 free). Subs: K Stewart for Hamill (47 mins), PJ O'Connell for Herron (57 mins), C McCann (0-1) for McFall (62 mins), S McCrory for Kerr (68 mins).

Referee: A Stapleton (Laois).