WALSH CUP: Westmeath 2-13 Offaly 0-12WESTMEATHS SENIOR hurlers pulled off a big surprise with a rare, but thoroughly deserved, win over near neighbours Offaly in the quarter-final of the Walsh Cup at Kinnegad yesterday afternoon.
The game got off to an amazing start when referee Paud O’Dwyer brandished red cards to midfielders Aonghus Clarke (Westmeath) and Shane Kelly (Offaly) within a few seconds of the throw-in. Offaly had the advantage of a very strong wind in the first half, but, apart from corner forward Shane Dooley’s accuracy from placed balls, the pre-match favourites posed little threat in attack in a scrappy first half.
Aa great goal from star forward Brendan Murtagh in the fourth minute of injury-time gave the home side a lift and left them ahead by 1-5 to 0-6 at the interval.
Murtagh pounced for his second goal in the 45th minute, to cap an encouraging display by Brian Hanley’s men.
WESTMEATH: S McGovern; P Fennell, A Price, C Jordan; D Fennell, E Price, P Gilsenan; P Dowdall (0-2), A Clarke; P Greville (0-1), F Boyle (0-1); A Mitchell (0-2, 1f, 1 65), B Murtagh (2-6, 0-5f), D Higgins, J Shaw. Subs: A Dermody for Boyle (half-time); D Carty for Higgins (47 mins); J Gilligan (0-1) for D.Fennell (65).
OFFALY: J Dempsey, M Verney, P Healion, S Wynne, E Murphy, R Hanniffy, D Horan, J Bergin, S Kelly, D Dunne, C Egan, B Murphy, S Dooley (0-9, 7f), D Molloy, S Ryan (0-1). Subs: G Healion (0-1) for Molloy (34 mins); M Morkan (0-1) for Dunne (46); S Coughlan for P Healion (47).
Referee: P O'Dwyer (Carlow).
