Westmeath fade after promising start against superior Wexford side

Westmeath's senior hurlers went down, as expected, to one of the game's traditional powers, Wexford in their opening game of this year's National Hurling League at Cusack Park last Sunday, but the nine-point margin could certainly have been a lot smaller but for many unforced errors and some key players underperforming on the day.Remarkably, on the eve of the match, one leading national newspaper tipped the Lake County to record a historic victory over the Slaneysiders. However, realistic maroon and white-clad Gaels knew that a creditable performance against the purple and golds was the target. For the opening 25 minutes there was very little between the sides, but a scoring blitz which yielded eight unanswered points before half-time put Colm Bonnar's troops in a very commanding position by the interval. Despite a noteworthy rally by the home side in the opening quarter of an hour of the second moiety, Wexford always looked the likely winners and when substitute Jim Berry pounced for a fine goal, following a rare error by Andrew Mitchell, the contest effectively ended with seven minutes of normal time remaining.A very disappointing crowd of just over 400 people turned up on a cold afternoon in Mullingar, despite ideal conditions for hurling. While it was no surprise that only a mere handful of Wexford supporters made the long journey from the south-east, the paucity of home fans was unexpected. After Yvonne Fitzsimons' delightful rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann, Westmeath were straight out of the traps, with Derek McNicholas (one of several players in maroon and white whose performance overall was way short of his best) just off target after only 50 seconds. Team captain Andrew Mitchell (who, like fellow defenders Greg Gavin and Darren McCormack, had a fine game throughout) opened the scoring in the third minute when he rifled over a wonderful free from his own 65-metre line. Confusion between the umpires at the Dunnes Stores end was eventually resolved when a wide was waved after Peter Atkinson's shot from a seemingly impossible angle shaved the upright. Westmeath doubled their advantage when Ciaran Curley pointed neatly, after shortening his grip on the hurley. Wexford opened their account when a harsh 'steps' call on Andrew Mitchell gave reliable freetaker Diarmuid Lyng the chance to point from 50 metres.The small Westmeath contingent were in full voice when their heroes increased their lead further with a point apiece from the Clonkill duo of Paddy Dowdall and Enda Loughlin (a splendid effort) by the tenth minute. Goalkeeper Pat Burke (who was alert from start to finish) did well to keep out P.J. Nolan's shot before Brendan Murtagh missed a free from well within his range. Right half back Darren Stamp reduced the gap to two points with a fabulous long-range score in the 12th minute. The respective number 10s, Diarmuid Lyng (a 50-metre free) and Enda Loughlin (another marvellous score) exchanged rapid-fire points, before P.J. Nolan (who was becoming progressively more influential in and around the midfield area) slotted over a terrific point from the halfway line, with exactly a quarter of an hour elapsed.A crucial moment followed when Brendan Murtagh's delivery fell for Derek McNicholas, who seemed to be impeded as he looked set to find the net, and his Lough Lene Gaels team-mate, Dan Carty was also unable to poke the sliotar home and the chance was gone. Westmeath continued to defend well, as epitomised by brave blocks from Eoin Price and Andrew Mitchell.A fine score from 60 metres by Diarmuid Lyng levelled the contest, but a routine free from Brendan Murtagh edged Westmeath ahead again (0-6 to 0-5) in the 23rd minute.However, the remainder of the first half was a virtual Wexford procession as they rattled over eight points without reply. Diarmuid Lyng nabbed the first two from placed balls, from long and short-range respectively, the latter score giving the Slaneysiders the lead for the first time and one they would never relinquish. Burly full forward, Stephen Banville got his name on the scoresheet in the 28th minute from 40 metres and Rory Jacob followed suit with a great individual point, after bursting away from Eoin Price. A great catch from Darren McCormack halted another Wexford attack, but P.J.Nolan soon put the winners into double figures from his own 65-metre line. A needlessly-conceded free was converted by Diarmuid Lyng and Stephen Banville was then unlucky to see his effort come back off the woodwork. Two more Wexford points followed in injury-time, P.J. Nolan (from way out the pitch) and Darren Nolan (a gift from the home defence) left the visitors in control at the break, the scoreboard reading: Wexford 0-13 Westmeath 0-6.Westmeath needed a bright start to the second moiety, but Enda Loughlin and substitute Paul Greville (in an unfamiliar forward role) could not trouble the umpires from decent chances. Diarmuid Lyng slotted over a 65-metre free in the fifth minute and a massacre began to look a possibility as a very lacklustre atmosphere prevailed in Cusack Park. However, to their great credit, Westmeath rallied in style. The referee blew for a free when a rampaging Joe Clarke was bearing down on the Wexford goal and Brendan Murtagh tapped over the sliotar from 30 metres.Andrew Mitchell followed up with a brace of converted placed balls (the second from a '65') and Murtagh added another point from a 45-metre free in the 12th minute. A monster free from Mitchell ensued and, all of a sudden, the gap was down to just three points. These five unanswered scores appeared to wake the visitors from their slumber and two successful placed balls from Diarmuid Lyng (a '65' and a 50-metre free, both of which could have been avoided from a Westmeath perspective) put the winners 0-16 to 0-11 ahead by the 19th minute. Brendan Murtagh pointed a routine free and the same player proceeded to launch a huge delivery into the Wexford goalmouth and Dermot Flynn (who had the task of being the first to follow in the footsteps of retired legend Damien Fitzhenry) fumbled the ball, but there was no Westmeath player alert to the goal opportunity.Peter Atkinson got his name on the scoresheet with a neat point in the 22nd minute. At the other end, Westmeath were awarded a dubious free but Brendan Murtagh failed to make the most of the chance by striking a very poor free from a scoreable position. Straight from the puck-out, Wexford went six points ahead when substitute Malachy Travers pointed in style. With seven minutes of normal time remaining, Andrew Mitchell undid some very skilful work in gaining possession by throwing out a loose pass and, within a couple of seconds, another Wexford replacement, Jim Berry was firing an unstoppable shot past Pat Burke for a game-clinching goal. Brendan Murtagh pointed a 40-metre free before a weak strike for a goal by Paddy Dowdall failed to trouble Dermot Flynn.A third Wexford sub made the scoresheet in the 32rd minute, Andrew Shore's shot going over via Pat Burke's hurley.The two centre half backs wrapped up match scoring. Ciarán Kenny became the 11th man in purple and gold to register at least one score, following a bad error from Ciaran Curley. A consolation point from Andrew Mitchell from deep inside his own half deserved more than a ripple of applause with the last puck of the game.While Wexford were always likely to be a bridge too far for Westmeath at this stage of their development under Kevin Martin, next Sunday's trip to Carlow will be a far more accurate barometer of the state of hurling in the Lake County.The Barrowsiders will provide a very tough assignment for the visitors and unforced errors will need to be eliminated if a precious pair of league points are to be garnered in Dr Cullen Park.Wexford: Dermot Flynn; Eoin Doyle, Paul Roche, Keith Rossiter; Darren Stamp (0-1), Ciarán Kenny (0-1), Richie Keogh; Willie Doran, Colm Farrell; Diarmuid Lyng (0-9, 0-7 from frees, 0-1 from a '65'), P.J. Nolan (0-3), Darren Nolan (0-1); Rory Jacob (0-1), Stephen Banville (0-1), Peter Atkinson (0-1). Subs: Malachy Travers (0-1) (for Stamp, 54 mins), Jim Berry (1-0) (for Banville, 57 mins), Andrew Shore (0-1) (for D.Nolan, 63 mins), Darren Kehoe (for Doyle, 68 mins).Westmeath: Pat Burke; Greg Gavin, Darren McCormack, Adam Price; John Shaw, Andrew Mitchell (0-5, 0-3 from frees, 0-1 from a '65'), Eoin Price; Joe Clarke, Paddy Dowdall (0-1); Enda Loughlin (0-2), Brendan Murtagh (0-5, all from frees), Ciaran Curley (0-1); Alan Dowdall, Derek McNicholas, Dan Carty. Subs: Paul Greville (for A.Dowdall, 28 mins), Philip Gilsenan (for Carty, 47 mins), Robbie Jackson (for McNicholas, 53 mins), Killian Cosgrove (for Loughlin, 58 mins), Niall Flanagan (for Clarke, 69 mins).Referee: Tony Carroll(Offaly).