Westmeath performance almost yields victory

Westmeath"s senior hurlers came within an ace of claiming one of the most noteworthy competitive scalps in the county"s chequered history at a resplendent Wexford Park last Sunday afternoon.Indeed, only a 65th-minute goal from Stephen Doyle gave the home side a little breathing space against a wonderfully wholehearted and skilful visiting team who hurled exceptionally well from the first puck to the last.At the final whistle, visibly-relieved home fans had joined the ever-lengthening queue who remain puzzled as to why the Lake County are ostracised from the Leinster championship. On the day, Eamonn Gallagher"s charges matched their illustrious opponents in almost all facets of the game and proved that the recent draw in Casement Park was far from a one-off. The small band of loyal Westmeath supporters who made the long journey to the sunny south-east will be overjoyed to have witnessed a memorable display from their heroes. A famous league win, to match the triumphs over Tipperary in both 1983 and 1985, as well as Offaly and Galway in the winter of 1986, looked a distinct possibility with less than ten minutes remaining. Alas, it was not to be, but this was truly a moral victory with a difference for Westmeath, who have suffered more than their fair share of hammerings from the Model County (including a relegation play-off in Portlaoise in the aforementioned 1986/87 campaign).It was akin to a summer"s day in Wexford last Sunday, with the home team (who were 1/33 to garner the brace of league points) sporting their new strip, which is short on the traditional purple content. New strip or not, Westmeath showed from the off that they were determined to make their mark in this famous hurling stronghold and they opened the scoring after just 70 seconds, Brendan Murtagh pointing a 25-metre free, after Brendan O"Leary had been penalised for overplaying the ball. An uncharacteristically-poor lineball from Derek McNicholas then allowed the home tem to counterattack and Andrew Shore equalised from 60 metres. In the sixth minute, wind-assisted Wexford went into a lead they were never to relinquish (but they often mighty close to!) when Peter Atkinson tapped over a simple opportunity, a goal briefly looking a possibility in the build-up. However, it was patently obvious even at this early juncture that the maroon and whites had not travelled simply to make up the numbers, as evidenced by terrific defending in separate incidents by Paul Greville and Dermot Curley. Two points in quick succession from the sticks of Stephen Banville and Paul Carley (from a free) put Colm Bonnar"s troops 0-4 to 0-1 to the good after nine minutes.A vital touch from Conor Jordan prevented what would probably have been a Wexford goal, before Brendan Murtagh and Darren McCormack were off target with chances at the other end, the latter profiting from one of many fine solo runs from Paddy Dowdall. The visitors" persistence was rewarded in the 13th minute with a wonderful point from Derek McNicholas, following great play from Eoin Price. Another converted free from Paul Carley was soon cancelled out by fine Ciaran Curley point, with the very lively Eoin Price again the provider. With exactly 16 minutes on the clock, a long drive from Michael Jacob was deftly touched by Stephen Banville into the path of Rory Jacob, who gave Pat Burke absolutely no chance with a rasping shot low to his left. The Ringtown netminder then did very well to keep out another Rory Jacob rasper, before Brendan Murtagh reduced the deficit to four points from a 30-metre free. In the 21st-minute, Rory Jacob bagged his second goal, this time firing low and hard to Pat Burke"s right, leaving the purple and golds ahead by 2-5 to 0-4.No capitulationTo Westmeath"s eternal credit, they refused to capitulate and a wonderful Brendan Murtagh point from near the sideline was due reward for their endeavours in the 25th minute. Indeed, they almost scrambled a goal in the next passage of play, a huge free from the imperious Andrew Mitchell ending with pulls on the loose sliotar from Brendan Murtagh and Killian Cosgrove respectively, the latter"s attempt being deflected over the endline at the expense of an unconverted "65". With seven minutes of normal time remaining, Paul Carley pointed a tricky free for the Model County and, with in a minute, all six starting forwards had scored when Stephen Doyle composed himself admirably to rifle over a tremendous shot from near the sideline on the 45-metre line. A terrific recovery from Paul Greville prevented a near-certain goal for Wexford but, significantly, the home side"s legendary cúlbáire, Damien Fitxhenry was the busier of the two goalkeepers and a rare error by the Duffry Rovers man almost gifted Westmeath a 31st-minute goal. Paul Carley then pointed a 40-metre free, after Paul Greville was ticked for impeding Stephen Banville. Ciaran Curley missed a good chance for the visitors, after shortening his grip on the hurley, but a fine brace of points soon followed from Brendan Murtagh, the first from a free and the second a class score from his so-called weaker side, after great work by John Shaw. Rory Jacob spurned a simple point opportunity for the winners directly from Damien Fitzhenry"s booming puck out, but a matter of seconds later, Paul Carley opened his account from open play, after being astutely picked out by Stephen Doyle. This was the last action of the first moiety, at the end of which Wexford led by 2-9 to 0-7, Westmeath having "won" the wide count by eight to seven.Great startThe visitors needed a good start to the second half, and that is exactly what they got. With less than 20 seconds elapsed, Paddy Dowdall"s shot was blocked by Damien Fitzhenry, but Brendan Murtagh was on hand to whip the rebound to the net from 12 metres. It almost got better for Westmeath in the second minute, Murtagh being foiled by a timely touch from Brendan O"Leary, as he looked set to find the net again. The Clonkill maestro soon made amends with a converted free, after another eye-catching Paddy Dowdall solo run was illegally terminated. The latter duo"s clubmate, Andreew Mitchell tacked on another point from a massive free in the seventh minute and, all of a sudden, wind-assisted Westmeath were just a goal down.Paul Carley maintained his fine form from placed balls with another point, before Brian Connaughton was unlucky to see a great long-range effort shave the posts on the wrong side. Three top-class points in as many minutes from Darren McCormack and Brian Smyth (two) had the home supporters clearly rattled, with Westmeath now trailing by just the bare minimum after 13 minutes" action. A difficult chance to level the game from a huge Andrew Mitchell free just fell short, spurning the purple and golds into swift and decisive action. Points ensued from Rory Jacob and a Paul Carley free (moved forward after a somewhat-justified query from a fired-up Westmeath player), with the losers" best effort coming when Brian Smyth"s dangerous ball in ended with a "square ball" decision. Pat Burke came very close to keeping out the winners" next point from Andrew Shore and more outstanding defending from team captain Paul Greville further lifted Westmeath spirits.Brendan Murtagh then superbly caught Andrew Mitchell"s long delivery but was bundled out of it (perhaps illegally?) by a posse of Wexford defenders as he headed goalwards and the chance was lost.OpportunistAn opportunist point from Andrew Shore put the Model County 2-14 to 1-12 to the good in the 23rd minute. Ciaran Curley shot wide under no great pressure, albeit from long range, but then Brendan Murtagh popped up again, almost out of the blue, to fire the sliotar low and hard past a stranded Damien Fitzhenry. A great 27th-minute point from near the halfway line by Derek McNicholas left just a point between the sides again and it was truly anybody"s game, with the local sports statisticians audibly trying to recall the last time Wexford had lost to Westmeath in a competitive senior hurling contest. The tension was evident on the pitch also, with both sides snatching at chances, before the home supporters were able to utter a collective sigh of relief when Stephen Doyle pounced to half-volley the ball to the roof of the Westmeath net from 15 metres. Seconds earlier, Pat Burke had come off his line to effect a wonderful goal-saving interception.Andrew Shore proceeded to kick the sliotar wide from in front of the posts, but Westmeath were far from beaten and Brendan Murtagh picked out Darren McCormack who fired over a fine point in the 33rd minute. A goal would have earned Westmeath a richly-deserved draw at this late stage, but a dart across the goalmouth by Brian Smyth, after a fine Derek McNicholas sideline cut, ultimately came to nothing. Two minutes into added-time, Wexford"s Stephen Banville pointed, with the goal seemingly at his mercy, leaving his side as winners by a flattering four points.Apart from the result, there were nothing but positives from this display from a Westmeath perspective. The off-colour display against Down apart, this has been a very encouraging league campaign to date. However, Carlow"s shock win over Antrim proves, as if proof were needed, that there will no soft points on offer in the remaining fixtures, with Eamonn Gallagher"s men still in dire need of more points on the board. It would be churlish to single out players from a simply outstanding all-round Westmeath effort where the maroon and white jerseys were worn with pride, guts and an abundance of skill from start to finish. With just a modicum of luck, a result which would have created national sporting headlines could have been garnered.Ultimately, however, Wexford have the invaluable league points in the bag. In truth, the gap between themselves and their neighbours and arch-rivals Kilkenny seems to be ever-widening. But, gap or no gap, at least they areallowed to compete in their own provincial championship!Wexford: Damien Fitzhenry; Brendan O"Leary, David O"Connor, Malachy Travers; Richie Kehoe, Stephen Nolan, Ciaran Kenny; Colm Farrell, Michael Jacob; Stephen Doyle (1-1), Andrew Shore (0-3), Paul Carley (0-7, 0-6 from frees); Rory Jacob (2-1), Stephen Banville (0-2), Peter Atkinson (0-1). Subs: Diarmuid Lyng (for Atkinson, 41 mins), Eoin Quigley (for Kehoe, 49 mins), Nicky Kirwan (for Carley, 59 mins), David Redmond (for Farrell, 66 mins), Eanna Martin (for Doyle, 70 +1 mins).Westmeath: Pat Burke; Dermot Curley, Paul Greville, Conor Jordan; John Shaw, Andrew Mitchell (0-1, from a free), Eoin Price; Paddy Dowdall, Brian Connaughton; Brian Smyth (0-2), Darren McCormack (0-2), Ciaran Curley (0-1); Killian Cosgrove, Brendan Murtagh (2-6, 0-4 from frees), Derek McNicholas (0-2). Subs: Adam Price (for Cosgrove, 41 mins), Niall Flanagan (for C. Curley, 59 mins), Alan Aughey (for Jordan, 70 mins).Referee: Michael Wadding (Waterford).