Westmeath show great resilience

Westmeath rounded off a topsy-turvy National Hurling League Division Two campaign on a real high at Cusack Park. The game was played in glorious sunshine before about 200 spectators and was very competitive from start to finish, without ever becoming overly aggressive. Despite this both sides suffered injuries, with Westmeath"s Brian Smyth and Paddy Dowdall - who had an outstanding game - having to be helped from the pitch in the second half. There was to be no denying Eamonn Gallagher"s charges a second brace of league points following the vital win in Tralee, to go with the draw against Antrim. An unanswered 1-5 in the closing stages, starting with a wonderfully intuitive goal from substitute Alan Devine, ensured a richly deserved victory. Westmeath could not have hoped for a better start. Good approach play from Brian Connaughton and Brian Smyth ended with Derek McNicholas superbly fielding the sliotar under pressure before burying it past Tadhg Doran with just 59 seconds on the clock. Brian Dunne opened the Laois account with a well-taken point in the fourth minute. The home side was clearly up for the challenge and they rattled off three points in as many minutes. Sandwiched between a brace from Brendan Murtagh (the first from a free and the second a monster effort from play), Darren McCormack whipped over a great score from 45 metres. These scores left the winners in firm control when leading by 1-3 to 0-1, with less than six minutes elapsed. Laois added two points before a wonderful score from Ciaran Curley put Westmeath ahead by four points in the 13th minute, but Laois wiped this out with four unanswered points between the 14th and 21st minutes. Dayne Peacock, midfielders Seamus Dwyer and James Walsh (the latter an excellent score under pressure) and a Peacock free left the sides tied on a scoreline of Westmeath 1-4 Laois 0-7. Westmeath almost found the net but keeper Tadhg Doran foiled corner forward Niall Flanagan. The men in blue and white then took the lead for the first time with a neat point from Seamus Dwyer, but Brendan Murtagh soon equalised from a 45-metre free. The sides swapped points from frees before Laois quickly went two points ahead. A fine solo point from Paddy Dowdall ensued and Westmeath deservedly equalised again deep in added-time, through a tidy Killian Cosgrove finish. At the break, the scoreboard read: Westmeath 1-8 Laois 0-11. The withdrawal of Niall Flanagan at the interval also resulted in some positional switches by Eamonn Gallagher and his mentors, the most significant of which was that the versatile John Shaw was now operating in attack. Westmeath edged ahead again in the third minute when Killian Cosgrove fired over a marvellous point from near the terrace sideline. Jason Phelan tied up what was a gripping contest with a seventh minute score, electing to take a point when a goal looked on. Brendan Murtagh then gave his side the lead from a 45-metre free before Dayne Peacock (65 metres) and Brendan Murtagh (35 metres) exchanged points from placed balls. Disaster struck for the home side in the 21st minute when a 90-metre free from Laois full back and captain, Brian Campion deceived a plethora of Westmeath defenders and ended up in the roof of Jimmy Greville"s net. Dayne Peacock followed up with a pointed free from 65 metres to put the O"Moore County two points to the good. However, they failed to score again in the time remaining as a resilient Westmeath side took firm control of proceedings. A trademark solo run from Paddy Dowdall ended with the Clonkill man whipping a dangerous ball goalwards and substitute Alan Devine displayed marvellous wristwork by flicking the ball past Tadhg Doran from close range. Inspired by this tremendous score, the winners tacked on points from John Shaw and Alan Devine Despite Laois pressure, it was only the maroon and whites who managed to trouble the scoreboard operator as time ticked away. A neat score from Derek McNicholas, a massive free from Brendan Murtagh and a lovely score from John Shaw rounded off a very encouraging Westmeath display. A whopping 42 minutes was correctly played in the second half but there was to be no denying the Lake County a rare win over their age-old rivals. This deserved victory will again raise the thorny subject of why Westmeath will ply their trade this summer in the Christy Ring Cup, while Laois (rightly) participate in their own provincial championship, this year bolstered by the inclusion of an Ulster and a Connacht side. However, that is now a done deal and all Westmeath can do is to do their utmost to regain the Tier Two trophy. This will certainly not be easy, but the signs have generally been good over the past three months. The trick now is to treat games against so-called "weaker counties" with the same intensity and focus shown against Offaly, Antrim, Wexford and Laois in the league. Westmeath: Jimmy Greville; Adam Price, Paul Greville (capt), Eoin Price; John Shaw (0-2), Andrew Mitchell, Conor Jordan; Paddy Dowdall (0-1), Brian Connaughton (0-1); Brian Smyth, Brendan Murtagh (0-7, 0-6 from frees), Ciaran Curley (0-1); Derek McNicholas (1-1), Darren McCormack (0-1), Niall Flanagan. Subs: Killian Cosgrove (0-2) (for McNicholas, inj, 28 mins), Greg Gavin (for Flanagan, half-time), Derek McNicholas (for Curley, 47 mins), Alan Devine (1-1) (for Smyth, inj, 51 mins), Luke Folan (for Dowdall, inj, 70 + 5 mins). Laois: Tadhg Doran; John A. Delaney, Brian Campion (capt) (1-0, from a free), Brian Stapleton; Matthew Whelan, John Walsh, Michael McEvoy; Seamus Dwyer (0-2), James Walsh (0-2); Dayne Peacock (0-7, 0-6 from frees), Owen Holohan, Brian Dunne (0-1); Tommy Fitzgerald, John Rowney, Jason Phelan (0-2). Subs: Eamon Jackman (for Dwyer, half-time), Willie Hyland (for Dunne, 39 mins), Ross Young (for John Walsh, inj, 57 mins), John Purcell (for Rowney, 63 mins), Patrick Carroll (for Doran, 65 mins), David O"Mahoney (for James Walsh, yellow card, 70 + 2 mins). Referee: Fergus Smith (Meath).