Westmeath’s senior hurlers made the long trip to Ballycran, Co. Down, last Saturday morning clinging on to slim hopes of making the Joe McDonagh Cup final, but a very hard-earned draw against Down later in the afternoon copper-fastened the fact that they will definitely not make the decider in Croke Park in June.
Despite a blistering start, the visitors to the picturesque venue ended up very grateful to Tommy Doyle for a last-gasp point which at least opened their account on the Tier Two championship table following on from bitterly disappointing defeats to Kerry and Offaly.
