Soft goals prove costly as Westmeath lose out in championship debut

The combined Westmeath Schools side's debut in the Leinster senior hurling 'A' championship proved to be a losing one at St. Loman's Lakepoint Park on Wednesday afternoon last. However, the visitors from St. Brendan's Community School in Birr will be first to admit that their victory was largely down to being gifted two goals at crucial junctures. The Offaly school, Croke Cup champions back in 1986, conceded home advantage when they could not come up with a playable pitch in the locality. However, there were (as usual) no such problems with the pristine surface at Lakepoint Park. Despite this unexpected advantage, sadly the Lake County lads were unable to pick up a precious brace of league points in this four-team group (Dublin North and Castlecomer CS are the other participants). While team manager, Denis Kelly was short a few influential players, overall this must rate as a very disappointing result. Four of the starting 15 were representing South Westmeath schools, while another local player joined the fray from the subs' bench. Birr had the advantage of a strong wind in the first moiety blowing towards the clubhouse end of the ground and they had a goal on the scoreboard within 30 seconds of the throw-in, an error by Conor Fitzgibbon allowing Tom Carroll to find the net. To their credit, the Westmeath lads did not drop their heads and David Higgins equalised with a well-taken three-pointer in the second minute. The scores continued to come thick and fast and Aodán Kealey found the range for the lads in white and maroon from 45 metres, his shot going over via the upright. Already, the strength of the wind was evidenced by the shortness of Conor Fitzgibbon's puck-outs. Westmeath's wholehearted midfielder, David Gavin was less than pleased with being penalised for a 'shoulder' on Tom Carroll. Two points in as many minutes from the sticks of Brendan Murphy (from a '65') and the ever-dangerous Kevin Connolly (from play) put the winners three points to the good by the 11th minute. The respective number 10s, Joey Boyle (Westmeath) and Adrian Hynes (Birr), then traded points, leaving the Faithful County boys ahead by 1-4 to 1-1 at the midpoint of the half. The Birr duo of Brendan Murphy and Kevin Connolly soon repeated their earlier exploits with a pointed '65' and a fine score from play. Westmeath's Thomas Doyle narrowed the margin from a converted free from 35 metres. A first-time pull for a goal by the winners' Paul McCarthy flew wide of the target, but the livewire Kevin Connolly maintained his fine form with a lovely lobbed point from 60 metres, with six minutes of normal time remaining. A fine point from David Gavin after a strong run down the right wing wrapped up first-half scoring, Tom Carroll untypically shooting wide from a scoreable free in the dying moments. At the break, Birr CS led by 1-7 to 1-3. A four-points margin looked by no means insurmountable for the home side, particularly when they reduced it to three courtesy of a David Gavin point from a '65' in the fourth minute, awarded after Philip Reilly's shot had been deflected over the endline. The latter player followed up with a weak attempt at a score from a great position. Some scrappy play ensued, albeit not helped by the miserable weather. The margin was down to two points in the 11th minute, Philip Reilly converting a 40-metre free. However, the lads in maroon and white were dealt a mortal blow when Conor Fitzgibbon failed to hold a routine shot and an alert Paul McCarthy pounced for a simple tap-in goal. A good point under pressure from Eoin Dunne left Birr ahead by 2-8 to 1-5, midway through the second half. A quickfire brace of points from Philip Reilly (the first from a free) gave Westmeath renewed hope, but a series of disappointing and ultimately costly wides from open play and placed balls ensued from the home side. In the 21st minute, Kevin Connolly showed that his freetaking skills matched his ability from play with a great point from a very difficult placed ball. Conor Fitzgibbon did well to hold a shot from Birr substitute Greg Pardy, but the winners were not to be denied two further points as the minutes ticked away, Tom Carroll and Adrian Hynes being the men on target. In effect, Philip Reilly's late converted free was merely a consolation score for the losers, who must now regroup if they are to maintain their interest in this prestigious championship. St. Brendan's CS, Birr: Joe Connors; Andrew Browne, Donal Regan, Cathal Murray; Declan Parlon, Brendan Murphy (0-2, both from '65's), Liam Brady; Sean Carroll, Eoin Dunne (0-1); Adrian Hynes (0-2), Aodán Kealey (0-1), Paul McCarthy (1-0); Damien Maher, Tom Carroll (1-1), Kevin Connolly (0-4, 0-1 from a free). Sub: Greg Pardy (for Carroll, 40 mins). Westmeath Schools: Conor Fitzgibbon (Marist College, Athlone); Daniel Kelleher (Moate CS), Aaron Craig (Mullingar CC), Paddy Laide (Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar); Shane Donoher (Moate Business School), Jordy Cassidy (Moate Business School), Cormac Boyle (St. Joseph's, Rochfortbridge); David Gavin (Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar) (0-2, 0-1 from a '65'), Conor Thompson (Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar); Joey Boyle (St. Joseph's, Rochfortbridge) (0-1), Philip Reilly (Castlepollard CC) (0-4, 0-3 from frees), Glen Flynn (Castlepollard CC); Darren Ruane (Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan), Thomas Doyle (Castlepollard CC) (0-1, from a free), David Higgins (St. Finian's, Mullingar) (1-0). Subs: Eoin O'Sullivan (St. Joseph's, Rochfortbridge) (for Higgins, 40 mins), Enda Kincaid (Moate CS) (for Thompson, 53 mins), Alan Fitzsimons (Columba College, Killucan) (for Doyle, 58 mins). Referee: John Weir (Raharney).