National Hurling League Division 1B
Westemeath 2-18 Antrim 1-15
A brave display by an understrength Antrim side came up short against Westmeath in Saturday’s National Hurling League Division 1B game at Mullingar. Missing 12 players through injury and participation in the Under 20 Ulster Hurling Final Antirm gave it everything they had but just did not have enough to see them home.
Playing against the breeze in the opening half Antrim fell behind as David Williams, David O’Reilly and Eoin Keyes all fired over for the home side, before Conal Coby Cunning opened the Saffrons’ account with a pointed free. Cunning’s score lifted the spirits and when Eoghan Campbell and Conor McCann added points they were just a point behind after 21 minutes.
The concession of a soft goal knocked Antrim back again but two minutes later lady luck smiled on them when a harmless looking shot from Niall McKenna found its way to the Westmeath net. Just one in arrears Antrim appeared to be in a strong position, but Westmeath dominated the remainder of the first half and stretched their lead to four by the time Galway referee Shane Hynes sounded the half time whistle.
With wind, Antrim won’t have been too disappointed by the margin but again they made a slow start after the break with substitute Peter Clarke racing through for a score and Williams adding another.
Westmeath would go 15 minutes before their next score, but Antrim added just two of their own in this time as substitute Eoin McFerran landed with his first touch and McKenna with another.
Another of the Westmeath subs, Killian Doyle, would end their barren spell, but points from Cunning and one from deep by Niall O’Connor left just a goal between the sides.
It was a scrappy second half with daylight fading by the second, but the game breaker arrived with 10 to go as Williams launched a free from his own half into the wind. The ball dropped and broke with Davy Glennon whipping past Smyth.
He and Doyle would add points and although Antrim tagged on some scores late, the game was gone as Westmeath claimed a big win.
WESTMEATH: N Conaty; S Egerton, T Doyle, C Gaffney; J Gillen, K Regan, J Bermingham; R Greville (0-1), S McGovern; N Mitchell, D Williams (0-8, 5 frees, 2 65s), O McCabe; E Keys (1-2), J Boyle (0-1), D O’Reilly (0-2)
Subs: A Craig for J Gillen (32), K Doyle (0-2) for D O’Reilly (HT), P Clarke (0-1) for S McGovern (HT), D Glennon (1-1) for E Keys (52), M Daly for O McCabe (66)
ANTRIM: T Smyth; P Duffin, R McCloskey, P Burke; S Walsh, R McGarry, N O’Connor (0-2); E Campbell (0-2), E Og McGarry; R McAteer, R McMullan, N McKenna (1-1); C Cunning (0-7, 5 frees), C McCann (0-2), F McCurry.
Subs: E McFerran (0-1) for S Walsh (45), C Boyd for E Og McGarry (45), C McGarry for R McMullan (54), A Bradley for R McAteer (58)
REFEREE: Shane Hynes (Galway).
