Loughlin shoots Westmeath to victory over Antrim
Tailteann Cup - Group 3, Round 1
Westmeath 4-24 Antrim 1-17
A sensational individual display from Luke Loughlin ensured that Westmeath got off to the perfect start in the Tailteann Cup, recording a 16-point victory over Antrim at TEG Cusack Park yesterday (Sunday).
Loughlin's tally of 1-17 almost matched the record set by Mayo’s Cillian O’Connor of 4-9 in a championship game (of course the two-pointer rule changes things).
The other Westmeath goalscorers on the day were the McCartan brothers, Sam and Danny, and Tubberclair's Matthew Whittaker. Loughlin's goal came from a penalty after a foul on team captain Ronan Wallace.
After a very entertaining first half in sunny conditions, the home side led 3-9 to 1-10 at half-time.
Whittaker's goal helped to put the game beyond Antrim in the second half as Westmeath claimed their first win in a competitive game under Dermot McCabe.
There were some changes to Westmeath's listed starting team, with Nigel Harte and Eoghan McCabe replacing the injured Ray Connellan and Castledaly forward Lorcan Dolan, though the latter was introduced as a substitute.
In the other Group 3 game, Limerick overcame London by 0-25 to 1-15 at Newcastle West last Saturday. Westmeath will now face London next Sunday in Ruislip (throw-in 2pm).
Scorers – Westmeath: L Loughlin 1-17 (1-0pen, 3 2ptf, 2 2pt); S McCartan 1-2; D McCartan, M Whittaker 1-0 each; E McCabe 0-2 (2pt); S Smith, R Forde, L Dolan 0-1 each. Antrim: D McEnhill 0-6 (1 2ptf, 1 2pt, 1f); K Keenan 1-0; M Byrne 0-2 (2ptf); M Jordan, P McBride, N Burns 0-2 each; E Walsh, A Loughran, R McQuillan 0-1 (f) each.
Westmeath: Conor McCormack; David Giles, Sam Smyth, Jamie Gonoud; Joe Moran, Ronan Wallace, Nigel Harte; Kevin O’Sullivan, Eoghan McCabe; Sam McCartan, Danny McCartan, Brían Cooney; Luke Loughlin, Stephen Smith, Matthew Whittaker. Subs used: Robbie Forde for Cooney (10 mins), Lorcan Dolan for D McCartan (40), Kieran Martin for Smith (52), Tadhg Baker for Wallace (55), Daniel Scahill for S McCartan (64).
Antrim: Michael Byrne; Eoghan McCabe, Eunan Walsh, Kavan Keenan; James McAuley, Dermot McAleese, Patrick Finnegan; Conor Hand, Marc Jordan; Ronan Boyle, Adam Loughran, Patrick McBride; Ryan McQuillan, Ryan Murray, Dominic McEnhill. Subs used: Fionn Nagle for Murray (h-t), Niall Burns for Loughran (h-t), Conor Stewart for Hand (48 mins), Calum Higgins for McQuillan (60), John Morgan for McAuley (60).
Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway).
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