Ennis double helps Westmeath to decisive victory over Exiles

Westmeath 3-22, London 0-20

Westmeath made it back-to-back wins in Division 2 of the Allianz National Hurling League with an emphatic 11-point victory over London at McGovern Park, Ruislip, on Sunday, maintaining their strong start under first-year manager Kevin O’Brien.

Having drawn Kerry in their first outing, before overcoming Meath, the Lake men travelled to London intent on building momentum, and they did so in authoritative fashion. While the Exiles are now staring at a battle to retain their Division 2 status, Westmeath very much look like a side with their sights set further up the table.

Despite playing into a strong wind, London struck first through St Gabriels’ Rory Lodge. However, Sean Jackson’s restart immediately exposed the conditions, and after a scramble Eamonn Cunneen fired to the net to settle Westmeath. From there, O’Brien’s men began to make their early dominance count. Cunneen, Shane Williams and the excellent David Williams all split the posts from deep, with David Williams’ effort pushing the visitors 1-7 to 0-1 clear inside 13 minutes.

Paul Kennedy tried to rally the home side and accounted for their second point, while Sean Glynn’s carry won a free that Fionn Ó Rían Broin converted. But Westmeath continued to dictate through Marc Cunningham, Jack Gillen and Rory Keyes. Kennedy’s industry earned another Broin free (1-12 to 0-4), yet the visitors struck a decisive blow when Dean Ennis rifled the first of his two goals past Mark Kilgannon from a tight angle.

Kennedy responded, and Padraig Muldoon did well to deny Darragh McCormack after David Williams’ shot rebounded off the post, but Westmeath’s defensive work-rate repeatedly frustrated London. Broin (free) made it 2-12 to 0-6, while former Westmeath and Castlepollard man David Devine flashed a low shot across Jackson’s goal. At the other end, Kilgannon produced a fine save to deny David Williams after good work from McCormack, but Broin’s third free left Westmeath firmly in control at the break, 2-14 to 0-7.

Any hopes of a London resurgence were quickly dashed. Within a minute of the restart, Ennis struck again for his second goal after a long delivery caused confusion in the home defence. Though Broin demonstrated the wind’s strength with a free from well inside his own half and Jack Morrissey clipped over two points to give London a lift, Westmeath always had the answers.

David Williams added a free, and although Broin (free), Jack Morrissey and Fionn Whelan enjoyed a productive spell the visitors’ lead (3-15 to 0-13) was never seriously threatened. Kennedy’s persistence set up Orann Donnelly for a score, but O’Brien’s men continued to keep the scoreboard ticking.

The sides traded points down the stretch, yet the outcome had long since been decided. Westmeath’s superior physicality, sharper finishing and greater efficiency in both boxes underlined the gap between the teams, a gap that now stands at 11 points.

This was a confident, controlled display from a side that competed in Division 1B last year and in the Leinster SHC as recently as 2023. With Laois next up, Westmeath’s unbeaten run since the opening-day defeat to Kerry leaves them well placed and growing in belief as the league campaign gathers pace.

Scorers - Westmeath: Dean Ennis 2-2, Eamonn Cunneen 1-2, Kevin Regan 0-4, Marc Cunningham 0-3, David Williams 0-4 (2f), Shane Williams 0-2, Rory Keyes 0-1, Jack Kearney 0-1, Jack Gillen 0-1, Adam Bate 0-1, Matthew Cunningham 0-1.

London: Rían Broin 0-9 (7f), Jack Morrissey 0-4, Paul Kennedy 0-2, Fionn Whelan 0-1, Rory Lodge 0-1, Tom Hanifin 0-1, Orann Donnelly 0-1, Niall Eames 0-1.

Westmeath: Sean Jackson; Shane Williams, Conor Shaw, Naoise McKenna; Jack Gillen, Johnny Bermingham, Rory Keyes; David Williams, Jack Kearney; Marc Cunningham, Darragh McCormack, Kevin Regan; Dean Ennis, Andrew Shaw, Eamonn Cunneen. Subs: Sean Dowd for McCormack (49 min), Matthew Cunningham for Andrew Shaw (51), Conor McKeogh for Gillen (55), Cian McCarthy for Bermingham (63), Adam Bate for McKenna (67).

London: Mark Kilgannon; Barry Morrissey, Niall Fitzgerald, Dylan Dawson; Paul Kennedy, Padraig Muldoon, Jack Loughnane; Rory Lodge, Tom Hanifin; David Devine, Fionn Ó Rían Broin, Jack Morrissey; Sean Glynn, Ronan McGrady, Donnacha Leahy.

Subs: Fionn Whelan for Leahy (h-t), Orann Donnelly for Devine (h-t), Niall Eames for Dawson (46 min), Eoin McGrath for McGrady (55), Ruairi Cummins for Lodge (60).

Referee: Ciaran McCloskey (Antrim).