Casey stars as Westmeath deny Garden County side

Westmeath qualified for the final of the Jerome O’Leary Celtic Challenge hurling competition with an eight-point victory over Wicklow, in resplendent conditions at a superbly presented St Oliver Plunkett’s hurling grounds, Mullingar last Saturday.

The under 16 development side played some fine hurling at times, getting some quality scores as they led by 0-13 to 0-4 at half-time before controlling the second half in pretty assured fashion. Wicklow, who were firmly in contention in the opening quarter, fell away somewhat thereafter and the gap was 12 points with 10 minutes remaining.

Despite a late goal, Wicklow had to settle for defeat.

Westmeath got the perfect start in the splendid sunshine as Padraig Casey converted a free after 20 seconds and they held the lead throughout. Wicklow got level on one occasion when Max Kehoe pointed after just a minute, but Westmeath pushed ahead with a brace from lively wing forward Dylan Corrigan.

Johnny Dooley’s Westmeath side were pegged back and while Casey converted another free, there was just a point separating the teams after 10 minutes following Jack Gregan’s free for the Garden County. The Lake County then shot eight unanswered scores in a 10-minute spell to take firm control.

Marc Davis began this productive spell with a point from play, while Corrigan, Ryan Williams (two), Luke Meyler (two) and Casey (two frees) were all on target. Meyler’s second might have been a goal, but the Wicklow 'keeper got the hurl’ to it to deflect his shot over and Casey’s second free was a superb strike from long distance, inside the Westmeath half.

All Wicklow could muster was a pointed free from Johnno Moorehouse and Williams hit another point in added time to ensure Westmeath of a considerable lead at the break. Wicklow’s Daniel Burns picked up a yellow card for a dangerous challenge on David O’Malley and there were a few flashpoints which could have been dealt with in sterner manner.

ROPEY PERIOD

Just as at the start of the game, Westmeath began the second half in positive style and a point after 20 seconds from Dylan Corrigan extended their lead. Three further points from Padraig Casey (one free) had the Lake County in cruise control. The centre forward’s two scores from play were eye-catching: firstly, he cut inside and fired over then showed slick hands to point and give Westmeath a commanding lead, 0-17 to 0-4.

Wicklow got the next four points in reply per Kehoe, Moorehouse (two, one free) and Daniel Burns, who certainly carried the ball more than the four steps permitted. It was a ropey period for Westmeath but Corrigan got a crucial point when Casey set him up and after that, the outcome never looked in doubt.

Substitute Sam McNally made an impact with a 48th minute point, while Casey slotted over a free top put 12 points between the teams by the 51st minute. Gregan pulled one back for the visitors and a string of substitutions disrupted the run of play. Westmeath’s final point came from Williams (free) in the 58th minute, after Mikey Synott had denied Wicklow’s Oscar Lane a goal, following Thomas Walsh’s run.

Gregan notched another Wicklow minor and the goal that was threatening arrived in added time as Moorehouse forced his way through the Westmeath cover and finished to the net.

It mattered little as Westmeath advanced to the final in a couple of weeks’ time.

Scorers - Westmeath: P Casey 0-8 (6f), D Corrigan 0-5, R Williams 0-4 (1f), L Meyler 0-2, M Davis and S McNally 0-1 each. Wicklow: J Moorehouse 1-3 (0-2f), M Kehoe and J Gregan (1f) 0-3 each, D Burns 0-1.

Westmeath: Cathal Óg Fagan; Evan Murray, Aaron Flanagan, David O’Malley; Charlie Foy, Sean Hayes, Jason Dolan; Cody Ward, Criostóir Ormsby; Marc Davis, Padraig Casey, Dylan Corrigan; Luke Meyler, Rory O’Brien, Ryan Williams. Subs used: Cathal Purcell, Callum Cruise, Setanta Gavigan, Sam McNally, Darragh Weblin, Shane Maloney, Mikey Sinnott, Robert Hogg, Sean Bolger, Evan Gallagher, Cillian Traynor, Ciaran Lee, Kylan Heffernan, Cormac Maher, Conor Maloney.

Wicklow: Cian Redmond; Tom Meyler, Matthew Jackson, Oisín O’Neill; Ciaran Traynor, Tomas O’Connell, Daniel Byrnes; Oscar Lane, Fhelim Lynch Ward; Jack Gregan, Max Kehoe, Daniel Burns; Matthew Doyle, Johnno Moorehouse, Joshua Barry. Subs used: Bill Connors, Senan Gardener, Thomas Walsh.

Ref: Patrick Phelan (Laois).