Published: Wednesday, 3rd March, 2010 5:00pm

Very poor Westmeath performance results in hammering by Carlow

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GAA - Allianz National Hurling League Division Two

Darren McCormack under severe pressure from Carlow's Damien Roberts.

Carlow 5-17

Westmeath 1-10

The text this reporter received in response to last Sunday's result from Dr Cullen Park summed it up: "That is the type of beating I would expect from Kilkenny, not Carlow." It is in no way being disrespectful to the Barrowsiders to concur with this sentiment, after a bitterly disappointing 19-point hammering for a totally off-colour Lake County senior hurling side in their second game of this year's National League.

There was a significant number of cars in the vicinity of Carlow GAA headquarters last Sunday afternoon but, as it transpired, a nearby circus was the attraction. With Luke Dempsey's football side eking out a noteworthy O'Byrne Shield final win elsewhere, a very small home crowd turned up to support their ever-improving hurling side. A mere handful of diehard fans made the trip from Westmeath and the two teams entered the pitch to virtual silence. An hour and a half later, the Lake County fans faced the long journey home in a shell-shocked state after witnessing one of the most inept displays from a team in maroon and white in many a long day.

Indeed, on Sunday's evidence, survival in Division Two is far from a 'gimme'. Carlow were 1-3 to 0-0 ahead against wind-assisted Westmeath before the visitors opened their account in the 18th minute. The sending off of Paul Greville on the half-hour mark added to the losers' woes and the writing was on the wall when Kevin Martin's charges trailed by three clear goals at the break. A few good scores from Brendan Murtagh on his introduction - the Clonkill man allegedly having been dropped for disciplinary reasons - briefly gave Westmeath hope, but by the end it had become a defeat of embarrassing proportions for the visitors.

Carlow's impressive freetaker, left half back Richard Coady atoned for a first-minute miss from a '65' when he converted a 55-metre free in the third minute. Pat Burke's ensuing puck-out was enormous, giving an indication of the wind favouring his side, but it was the home team who continued to attack, after Andrew Mitchell was short from a brace of frees normally within his radar. Colin Hughes doubled Carlow's advantage and a goal for the Barrowsiders looked more and more likely.

It duly arrived in the tenth minute, when Craig Doyle's initial shot was well saved by Pat Burke. Paudie Kehoe followed up and the ball broke for Doyle again who rifled a low shot to the net. Another fine long-range free from Richard Coady put the winners six points to the good in the 13th minute and hopes of precious league points for Westmeath already looked very slim.

Recovery

The losers eventually opened their account courtesy of an Andrew Mitchell '65' in the 18th minute and this was quickly followed by a fine point from play from Alan Dowdall. A wonderful free from all of 85 metres from Mitchell gave hope of a recovery, but quickfire points from Craig Doyle (play) and Richard Coady (a free) put Carlow ahead by 1-5 to 0-3 by the 23rd minute. A routine free from Dan Carty reduced the gap to four points, but a half-chance of a much-needed goal was spurned in a move instigated by a fine catch from Greg Gavin.

With eight minutes of normal time remaining, Damien Roberts was fouled in the large parallelogram and Paudie Kehoe duly dispatched the ensuing penalty, the ball going in off Paul Greville's hurley. A mini-recovery from Westmeath yielded three points from placed balls - Andrew Mitchell (two) and Dan Carty - but a second yellow card issued to Paul Greville meant an early shower for the current dual player. The winners rounded off first half scoring with an unanswered 1-2, two great points from Richard Coady (a free from near the sideline on the 65-metre line) and Damien Roberts (under pressure in open play) were followed by a very well-worked goal, Craig Doyle setting up the overlapping Paudie Kehoe whose shot from 15 metres gave Pat Burke no chance. This left the scoreboard at half-time reading: Carlow 3-7 Westmeath 0-7.

Miss

An early miss from an eminently scoreable free by Dan Carty did not help Westmeath's cause on the change of ends, but half-time substitute Brendan Murtagh lifted his side's spirits with a terrific strike past a crowded goalline from a 25-metre free in the fifth minute. Converted frees from Richard Coady (65 metres) and Paudie Kehoe (55 metres) put Carlow eight points to the good by the ninth minute, with Brendan Murtagh replying from another placed ball (45 metres). However, any slim chance of a comeback evaporated in the 11th minute, a kick pass along the ground from Craig Doyle teeing up an unmarked Damien Roberts who sent an unstoppable shot past an unprotected Pat Burke. David English then got his name on the scoresheet with a point and a rout looked certain.

A lovely point from play from Brendan Murtagh hardly raised a cheer as Carlow took over again with three rapid-fire points from Paudie Kehoe (a 40-metre free) and fine scores from Mark Brennan and Andrew Gaule opening their respective accounts. A poor 40-metre free from Brendan Murtagh summed up Westmeath's ever-increasing woes, despite a rare moment of inspiration following from another Lake County sub Derek McNicholas, when he dissected the posts from an acute angle. That score in the 21st minute of the second moiety wrapped up Westmeath's total but the winners went on to add 1-4 to theirs.

Three points from Paudie Kehoe (the first and third from frees) were followed by a 31st minute goal from substitute Derek Byrne, who soloed goalward and blasted a great shot past Pat Burke, the sliotar rebounding from the stanchion. Richard Coady added a point from a '65' and three late Westmeath attempts to work a face-saving goal - Dan Carty from play, Brendan Murtagh from a 35-metre free, Andrew Mitchell from a '65' - all came to nothing. In truth, the final whistle came as a relief to everybody who had made the trip from Westmeath.

Kildare, whom Westmeath defeated less than convincingly in the recent Kehoe Cup final, are Westmeath's next opponents in ten days time in Cusack Park. It is an absolute understatement to point out that this is a must-win game for Kevin Martin's troops.

Westmeath: Pat Burke; Greg Gavin, Darren McCormack, Eoin Price; Adam Price, Andrew Mitchell (0-4, 0-3 from frees, 0-1 from a '65'), Paul Greville; Joe Clarke, Enda Loughlin; Alan Dowdall (0-1), John Shaw, Killian Cosgrove; Dan Carty (0-2, both from frees), Paddy Dowdall, Ciaran Curley. Subs: Derek McNicholas (0-1) (for Cosgrove, half-time), Robbie Jackson (for A.Price, half-time), Brendan Murtagh (1-2, 1-1 from frees) (for Loughlin, half-time), Philip Gilsenan (for Clarke, 44 mins), Niall Flanagan (for Curley, 58 mins).

Carlow: Kevin Kehoe; Alan Corcoran, Des Shaw, Eoin Nolan; Edward Coady, John Rogers, Richard Coady (0-6, 0-5 from frees, 0-1 from a '65'); Colin Hughes (0-1), Damien Roberts (1-1); Craig Doyle (1-1), Mark Brennan (0-1), David English (0-1); Andrew Gaule (0-1), Eddie Byrne, Paudie Kehoe (2-5, 0-4 from frees, 1-0 from a penalty). Subs: Derek Byrne (1-0) (for Byrne, 52 mins), Brendan Lawler (for Brennan, 61 mins), Hugh P. O'Byrne (for Shaw, 65 mins).

Referee: Tommy Ryan (Tipperary).