NHL 2: Lyng shines for Model
February 21, 2010
Wexford's Jim Berry
Wexford 1-20
Westmeath 0-14
Kevin Martin's Lake County side captured the Kehoe Cup last weekend, but they found the step-up in class too much with the visitors running out comfortable winners in the end. Wexford didn't have things all their own way, however, and an upset looked to be on the cards after the home side opened up a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 10 minutes thanks to points from Andrew Mitchell, Ciaran Curley, Paddy Dowdall and Enda Loughlin.
With Lyng in unerring form from placed balls, Wexford drew level on 0-6 apiece before taking the lead for the first time in the 28th minute. Further points by Lyng, Stephen Banville, Rory Jacob, Darren Nolan and PJ Nolan (two) saw Colm Bonnar's side take a flattering 0-13 to 0-6 lead into the break.
Five unanswered points by Andrew Mitchell (three) and Brendan Murtagh (two) left just four points between the sides midway through the second half, but that was as close as Westmeath got and their fate was sealed when Wexford sub Jim Berry capitalised on a mistake in the home side's defence to fire home the only goal.
Wexford - D Flynn; E Doyle, P Roche, K Rossiter; D Stamp (0-1), C Kenny (0-1), R Keogh; W Doran, C Farrell; D Lyng (0-9, seven frees, one '65'), PJ Nolan (0-3), D Nolan (0-1); R Jacob (0-1), S Banville (0-1), P Atkinson (0-1). Subs: M Travers (0-1) for Stamp (54 mins), J Berry (1-0) for Banville (57 mins), A Shore (0-1) (for D Nolan, 63 mins), D Kehoe (for Doyle, 68 mins).
Westmeath - P Burke; G Gavin, D McCormack, A Price; J Shaw, A Mitchell (0-5, three frees, one '65'), E Price; J Clarke, P Dowdall (0-1); E Loughlin (0-2), B Murtagh (0-5, five frees), C Curley (0-1), A Dowdall, D McNicholas, D Carty. Subs: P Greville for A Dowdall (28 mins), P Gilsenan for Carty (47 mins), R Jackson for McNicholas (53), K Cosgrove for Loughlin (58 mins), N Flanagan (for Clarke, 69 mins).
Ref: T Carroll (Offaly) Tweet
