Best in 10 years
April 30, 2010Westmeath's bid to reach a first ever Leinster minor hurling final was dashed by a rampant Kilkenny side at a balmy Cusack Park on June 24 last.
The reigning All-Ireland champions produced a power-packed second half display to run out emphatic 2-19 to 0-6 winners and leave the large home support disappointed. Kilkenny only led by 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time after the home side had a goal controversially disallowed for 'square ball', but there was only one team in it in the second half as the Cats showed all their class to set up a final date with Wexford.
But despite that chastening experience, Westmeath could still reflect on what was the county's most successful year in minor hurling in a decade. Back in 1999, the Lake County also reached the Leinster semi-final after wins over Dublin and Offaly, only to lose to Kilkenny by two points at Cusack Park.
And while last year's performance against the Cats wasn't as good, Westmeath could still take a lot of positives from a campaign which saw them defeat Kildare, Carlow and Offaly.
The 1-10 to 1-7 quarter-final triumph over the Faithful County was a major upset and was undoubtedly the season's highlight. Johnny Pilkington's charges came to Cusack Park as raging hot favourites, but in extremely testing weather conditions, Westmeath showed true grit to claim a famous victory.
After stepping down as senior manager after guiding Westmeath to their second Christy Ring Cup success in three years in 2007, Seamus Qualter agreed to take charge of the county minors in 2008. They endured a disappointing Leinster championship, but redeemed themselves somewhat by reaching the All-Ireland 'B' final later in the year.
Qualter, and his backroom team of Barry Kennedy (Castlepollard), Pat O'Brien (Castletown-Geoghegan), Tommy Keegan (Clonkill), Paddy Walsh (Clonkill) and Alan McCormack (Kilbeggan), were determined to improve on the 2008 effort last year and couldn't have asked for a better start to their Leinster campaign when Westmeath avenged their All-Ireland 'B' final defeat to Kildare with a 3-15 to 2-12 victory at Cusack Park.
The home side laid the foundations for their success in the first half when a brace of goals from Barry O'Meara and another from David Gavin helped them to a 3-9 to 0-6 interval lead. But they were forced to withstand a strong second half comeback by the Lilywhites before sealing their place in the next round.
Kildare led by 0-5 to 0-3 after 10 minutes, but two goals in as many minutes from Gavin and O'Meara turned the tide in Westmeath's favour, and two O'Meara frees had them 2-5 to 0-5 in front by the end of the first quarter. O'Meara continued his excellent success rate from placed balls before he added his second goal just before half-time to leave 12 points in it at the break.
Kildare came out fighting for the second half and had reduced the deficit to five points, 1-12 to 3-11, after the impressive Martin Fitzgerald blasted home a penalty. When Conor Kenny pounced for their second goal 11 minutes from the end, the margin was down to three, but Westmeath steadied themselves and put the result beyond doubt with late points from Glen Flynn (two) and Philip Reilly.
The Lake County also had six points to spare, 3-9 to 2-6, over Carlow in their second outing at a windswept Lakepoint Park in Mullingar. Favoured by the wind in the first half, Westmeath had to wait until the ninth minute to open the scoring through Anthony Price. Barry O'Meara added a free before the home side had a major let-off when Carlow had a penalty appeal turned down.
Then, in the 18th minute, Crookedwood clubman O'Meara flicked Alan McGrath's long delivery to the net to give Westmeath a 1-3 to 0-0 lead. Richard Deegan eventually opened Carlow's account from a free, but points from Price and O'Meara ensured Westmeath of a 1-5 to 0-2 half-time advantage.
The second half was just 45 seconds old when Michael Cantwell goaled for Carlow, but Westmeath immediately responded with a similar score from Anthony Price. Glen Flynn's point made it 2-6 to 1-2, and the maroon and whites never allowed the Barrowsiders to get within six points of them thereafter. Stephen Bardon grabbed a third Westmeath goal in the closing stages, and although Richard Deegan responded for Carlow, it failed to alter the outcome.
Offaly were the next visitors to Mullingar for a Leinster quarter-final that will live long in the memories of Westmeath hurling supporters. The Lake County belied their underdogs status to win by three points, and but the concession of an injury-time goal, their margin of victory would have been greater.
The result was the perfect tonic for Westmeath fans who had only a few hours earlier learned of the senior side's ignominious exit from the Christy Ring Cup at the hands of Mayo in Westport. Westmeath played with the elements in the first half and posted the first two points from Alan McGrath and Glen Flynn.
The Faithfuls, who had given Kilkenny a run for their money in the previous round before collapsing in the final 10 minutes, fought back to level after 19 minutes, and there was little to choose between the sides until in first half injury-time when a Colin O'Brien goal was followed by a Flynn point. These scores gave Westmeath a 1-6 to 0-5 cushion at the interval.
Scores were more difficult to come by for both teams in the second half, but with Barry O'Meara in fine scoring form, Westmeath had established a six-point lead before David King blasted a 25-metre free past Cathal Scally for an Offaly goal deep in injury-time. But it was a case of too little, too late for the visitors as Seamus Qualter's men held on for a magnificent win.
Against Kilkenny, Barry O'Meara opened the scoring from a '65, but the Cats hit back with points from Richie Boyle and Walter Walsh before Ger Aylward found the net. With O'Meara excelling from frees, however, Westmeath rallied to trail by a goal at the break and would have been level had O'Meara not had a goal ruled out for a 'square ball' infringement.
But with goalkeeper Cathal Scally and midfielder Stephen Boylan both forced off with injuries, Westmeath's challenge faded completely in the second half. Such was Kilkenny's dominance that the home side could only manage one further point from substitute David Gavin.
By contrast, Kilkenny scored from all angles and had victory well wrapped up before Sean Kehoe applied the coup de grace with their second goal in the dying minutes.
Westmeath subsequently took part in the All-Ireland 'B' championship and following wins over Wicklow and Armagh, they travelled to Cloughjordan in Co. Tipperary on August 22 to face Kerry in the final. But short the services of a number of key players, they lost the final for the second year-in-a-row by 1-13 to 0-21. Padraig Boyle was a real thorn in the side of the Westmeath defence, scoring three points from play, while two more points from fellow wing forward Patrick O'Keeffe helped to push the Kingdom clear in the final quarter.
Westmeath had the wind in the opening half but it was Kerry who raced 0-5 to 0-1 in front with two points from Shane Nolan and one each from Padraig Boyle and Brian Leen. Westmeath fought back, however, with Barry O'Meara converting a succession of frees and then took the lead when under 16 Aonghus Clarke shot into the Kerry net in the 22nd minute. The Lake County led 1-7 to 0-9 at the interval but the second half was tension-packed with intense championship hurling from both sides.
Barry O'Meara extended Westmeath's lead with an early second half point, but Kerry then took over and five unanswered points took the Kingdom two clear at the three-quarter stage. However, Westmeath fought back and two more points from O'Meara and another from substitute Conor Thompson saw them regain the lead with 13 minutes remaining. Kerry responded in the style of champions, though, with points from Sean Weir, O'Keeffe and the score of the game from 15-year-old Boyle to seal the win.
As already stated, Westmeath can take huge encouragement from last year's extended Leinster championship run and with 12 of the team that started against Kilkenny eligible for the grade again this year, the potential is there to take the next step which is to reach a provincial final.
The Westmeath team which lost to Kilkenny in the Leinster MHC semi-final was: Cathal Scally; Derek Healy, Adam Shiels, Diarmuid Garvin; Cormac Boyle, Alan McGrath, Jordy Cassidy; Stephen Boylan, Colin O'Brien; Shane Fagan, Glen Flynn, Patrick Laide; Niall Dowdall, Barry O'Meara, Anthony Price. Subs used: Niall Kelly, David Gavin, Shane Donaher, Enda Kincaid and Donie Glynn. Tweet
