Minor hurlers lose to Westmeath in tight battle

LEINSTER MHC QUARTER-FINAL

WESTMEATH 1-12 DUBLIN 1-9

Dublin minor hurlers were knocked out of the Leinster MHC on Sunday afternoon after being outfought by Westmeath in their provincial quarter-final at Cusack Park, Mullingar.

The Westmeath hero was deadball expert Eamonn Cunneen who tallied 0-9 in total including four frees, three '65's and a brilliant sideline late in the second-half as the midlanders progressed to a Leinster semi-final meeting against Offaly.

The Dubs played for over half the contest a man down following the dismissal of Jack O'Shea late in the first half while they were left to rue 13 wides, seven in the opening half as Westmeath deservedly advanced.

The sides were level at the three-quarter marker, 1-8 each, after points from Daniel Peel and a Neil Hogan free, with Diarmuid O Dulaing involved on both occasions, bringing the sides level.

Diarmuid O Dulaing created a goal chance shortly after the second half water break but didn't make a full connection, his shot was parried by Westmeath keeper Jack Geoghegan but fell invitingly for Neil Clerkin who lost his footing in the soft ground conditions with the goal at his mercy.

Westmeath had a goal opportunity shortly after but Fionn Boyd brilliantly saved the influential Darragh McCormack's angled effort.

With five minutes to go a James O'Brien point, following good defence from Dublin's centre-back Paddy Doyle, cut the deficit to one point, 1-10 to 1-9, but Westmeath finished the stronger with scores from Eamonn Cunneen, a 55-metre free, and Brian McGrath from wide on the right to emerge victors.

Westmeath led at the break 1-4 to 0-6 with midfielder Eamonn Cunneen closing out the first-half scoring when converting a '65' in the fifth minute of added time.

Playing into the wind Dublin had started the better. After the hosts opened the scoring with an Eamonn Cunneen '65' in the third minute the Dubs hit four points in-a-row to lead 0-4 to 0-1 after 12 minutes.

Wing-forward Tom Brennan hit three of these scores with Neil Clerkin grabbing the other score, a free following a foul on Diarmuid O Dulaing.

The first of Brennan's points came after Neil Clerkin had a goal attempt saved by Jack Geoghegan following good approach play by O Dulaing.

Dublin had looked strong at times with Paddy Doyle and Conor Dolan in defence the source of several attacks.

However, just before the first half water break Westmeath struck for goal when Mark Cunningham was rewarded for his graft when blocking a Dublin clearance and cutting through on goal before driving low to the net past Fionn Boyd.

Westmeath held a 1-3 to 0-4 advantage at the water break before Neil Hogan took over Dublin's freetaking duties and pointed from 50 metres following a foul on Tom Brennan in the 26th minute.

Dublin were reduced to 14 players when wing-forward Jack O'Shea was red-carded in the 29th minute.

Before half-time both sides raised a white flag - Neil Hogan with a close-range free after a foul on Daniel Peel and Eamonn Cunneen converting his second '65' of the half.

SCORERS - Westmeath: E Cunneen 0-9 (0-4f, 0-3 '65', 0-1 sline), M Cunningham 1-0, D McCormack, D Williams, B McGrath 0-1 each. Dublin: T Brennan, N Hogan (0-3f) 0-3 each, D O Dulaing 1-0, N Clerkin (0-1f), D Peel, J O'Brien 0-1 each.

WESTMEATH: J Geoghegan; M Lynam, J Mulkearns, D Weir; D McCartan, S Leech, C McCarthy; E Cunneen, M Cunningham; B McGrath, W Kirby, D McCormack; B Gaffney; D Williams, P Clarke. Subs: C Dowd for McCarthy (ht), D Maloney for Lynam (52), K Bolger for Gaffney (56), O Loughlin for Dowd (60+1).

DUBLIN: F Boyd; S O’Brien, S Gallagher, S Carthy; C Dolan, P Doyle, L Ó Lochlainn; N Hogan, J O’Brien; J O’Shea, H O’Sullivan, T Brennan; D Peel, N Clerkin, D Ó Dúlaing. Subs: S Purcell for Carthy (42), S Cooney for Peel (53).

REF: A Kinahan (Offaly).