Westmeath 2-20
DCU 2-17
By Paul O’Donovan
Westmeath senior hurlers got their 2016 campaign off to a winning start when they recorded a hard earned three-point victory over DCU in this very competitive opening round game of the Walsh Cup, played in Lakepoint Park, Mullingar, last Sunday afternoon.
Not too much can be read into these early pre-season matches and it gives managers the opportunity to experiment with players, and for new younger players to show what they can do at inter-county level.
Westmeath manager Michael Ryan certainly did that last Sunday, with Darragh Qamar, Conor Shaw, Warren Casserly, Paddy Lynam, Darragh Egerton, Jack Galvin, Phelim Burke and Robbie Gillen amongst those to get an early taste of competitive hurling in the maroon and white of Westmeath.
Strangely, on this occasion, there was also a strong Westmeath representation on the opposing side last Sunday, as college side DCU were managed by Raharney’s Nick Weir, with Castlepollard’s Andrew Dermody one of their selectors, while Cathal Scally of Clonkill, Mick Heeney of Castletown and Micheál Daly of Lough Lene Gaels were amongst the DCU players.
Unfortunately, already this early in the season, a worrying aspect for Westmeath manager Michael Ryan is the injury situation, as Ciaran Doyle picked up what appeared to be a hamstring injury in this game, and he is now sidelined, along with his twin Killian, who has a shoulder injury, while Niall Mitchell is also out injured for a number of weeks with a hand injury.
Westmeath’s ace free-taker Brendan Murtagh was in top form last Sunday, rarely missing the target, as he amassed thirteen points, twelve of them from placed balls.
Having finished the first half strongly Westmeath went in leading at the break by 0-13 to 1-5 but by the 43rd minute DCU had cut the deficit back to a single point. Then a goal by Warren Casserly gave Westmeath a decisive edge in the second half and when Niall Dowdall set up Killian Murphy for Westmeath’s second goal in the 66th minute, the home side led by seven, but DCU responded late on with a goal and a point to ensure a tense finish. But in the end Westmeath just held on for a deserved victory.
MURTAGH ON TARGET
Westmeath got off to a very good start and led by 0-5 to 0-1 after ten minutes, thanks to points from Brendan Murtagh (three frees) and Killian Murphy and Ciaran Doyle both from play, with Pauide Foley supplying DCU’s opening point.
DCU then rallied and cut the deficit to a single point, 0-5 to 0-6, by the 20th minute as Conor Joyce, Sean Gray, Niall O’Connor and Daire Barden all pointed for the college side, with Warren Casserly’s point for Westmeath just keeping them in front at this stage.
DCU’s consistent fouling was costing them dearly and Brendan Murtagh added two more points from frees, before DCU levelled matters when Sean Gray buried a 25-metre free low into the Westmeath net through a wall of Westmeath players standing on the goal line. This left the score 1-5 to 0-8, but Westmeath finished the half strongly scoring five points without reply.
Firstly, Brendan Murtagh set up Niall Dowdall for a point, and then Murtagh converted three successive frees, before Liam Varley added the final point of the half to leave Westmeath ahead by 0-13 to 1-5 at the break.
DCU RALLY
DCU manager Nick Weir introduced three substitutes at half time and his side improved after the break scoring four unanswered points as Killian Fitzgerald (2), Sean Gray (free) and Paudie Foley were all on target.
So the college side, who were using this game as a workout for their forthcoming Fitzgibbon Cup games, were now trailing by just a point, 1-9 to 0-13.
Crucially though Westmeath struck for a goal at this stage, the impressive Warren Casserly collecting possession from a good line ball before racing through to fire to the DCU net.
This began a good period for Westmeath in which Brendan Murtagh excelled, adding four more points from frees, while DCU’s only reply in this period was a converted free by Sean Gray.
Westmeath looked set for victory as they led by seven now, 1-17 to 1-10, but once again DCU replied strongly. Points from Sean Gray (3), two frees and a ’65, as well as one each from play from Gary Howard, Danny Sutcliffe and Conor Joyce, in response to Westmeath points from play by Brendan Murtagh, Warren Casserly and Liam Varley, left Westmeath just four ahead with seven minutes left.
However the crucial Westmeath goal arrived when good work by Niall Dowdall created the opening for Killian Murphy to fire through a crowd of players into the bottom corner of the net from 25 metres to open up a seven-point lead.
DCU weren’t finished though, and a point from Killian Fitzgerald, followed by a goal by Conor Joyce, after a good pass by Sean Gray, cut the margin back to just three points once more.
Westmeath came under severe pressure in the final minutes and only good defensive play by Alan McGrath, Shane McGovern, Ciaran Duncan and Conor Shaw prevented DCU snatching a late equalising goal.
In the end Westmeath held on and of the newcomers to the Westmeath side, Castlepollard’s Warren Casserly will be very pleased with his contribution of 1-2, as will Killian Murphy with 1-1.
Scorers- Westmeath; Brendan Murtagh 0-13 (0-12 frees), Warren Casserly 1-2, Killian Murphy 1-1, Liam Varley 0-2, Ciaran Doyle 0-1, Niall Dowdall 0-1.
DCU: Sean Gray 1-6 (1-5 frees, 0-1 ’65), Conor Joyce 1-2, Killian Fitzgerald 0-3, Paudie Foley 0-2, Niall O’Connor 0-1, Daire Barden 0-1, Gary Howard 0-1, Danny Sutcliffe 0-1.
Westmeath: Shane McGovern; Darragh Qamar, Conor Shaw, Kieran Duncan; Aaron Craig, Gary Greville, Alan McGrath; Killian Murphy, Paddy Lynam; Warren Casserly, Brendan Murtagh, Ciaran Doyle; Darren Kilcoyne, Niall Dowdall, Darragh Egerton. Subs: Jack Galvin for Darragh Qamar (21 minutes), Liam Varley for Ciaran Doyle (injured, 28 minutes), Robbie Gillen for Darren Kilcoyne (53 minutes), Phelim Burke for Killian Murphy (68 minutes).
DCU: Darren Renehan (Dublin); Lee Richardson (Dublin), Eoghan O’Donnell (Dublin), Paul O’Dea (Dublin); Tony French (Wexford), Paudie Foley (Wexford), Cathal Scally (Westmeath); Killian Fitzgerald (Waterford), Eoghan McHugh (Dublin); Niall O’Connor (Dublin), Conor Joyce (Kilkenny), James Tyrrell (Kilkenny); Sean Gray (Dublin), Dan Staunton (Wicklow), Daire Barden (Wexford). Subs: Mick Heeney (Westmeath) for Lee Richardson (half time), Micheál Daly (Westmeath) for Niall O’Connor (half time), Gary Howard (Tipperary) for James Tyrrell (half time), Danny Sutcliffe (Dublin) for E McHugh (46 minutes).
Referee: Tony Carroll (Offaly).
