Leinster Minor Hurling Championship – Tier 2
Westmeath 1-17 Antrim 2-14
Antrim minor hurlers’ interest in the Leinster Championship was ended on Saturday at Cussack Park, Mullingar when they were outclassed by Westmeath in the penultimate round of the round robin games, the midlands side winning comfortably by 10 after a dominant display.
Despite a very encouraging opening quarter when they opened up four point lead after fifteen minutes, Antrim were playing second fiddle for most of the game, though in Fiontan Braldey, Thomas McLaughlin and Callagh Mooney they had players who could mix it with their opponents.
Antrim had started the game very well and after falling behind to an early Westmeath point they came back strongly with a pointed free by Fiontan Bradley and a great goal from play by Thomas McLaughlin. It was score for score for the rest of the opening quarter points from Ryan Williamson and Eoin Meehan for the home side were answered by Bradley and just on fifteen minutes the Cushendall man struck his third in a row, this time from a 65, to push the lead out to four.
However things started to go wrong for the Saffrons and Westmeath’s dominance in the half back and midfield started to tell, and they came back with three points in two minutes, from Meehan, McKeogh and ace free taker Kian Loughlin. Bradley got Antrim back ahead again with another fine strike from a free but Westmeath were starting to control things around the park and another point from McKeogh was followed by a goal from Casey, who poked the ball home following a goalmouth scramble. Three more points followed from the excellent Loughlin as they went in at the break with a six point advantage.
There were early signs of promise by the Saffrons as the new half got underway, but two early points from Bradley and Oisin McCallin were soon wiped out as Higgins and Meehan hit back for the home side. There was renewed hope for Antrim when a points from Thomas McLaughlin was followed by the Cushendall man’s second goal, a great strike after great work by Bradley, but Westmeath came back with five inside four minutes, free take Loughlin again leading the line.
The only thing in question at this stage was the size of the winning margin as the scores came quick and fast for the men in maroon. Bradly capped a fine individual display with another two excellent points but Westmeath were home and hosed by this stage and now play Offaly in their final game to decide who tops the group.