Leinster Special Under-21 Final: Westmeath 1-18 Carlow 1-9 Losing by 1-1 to no score after just four minutes, Westmeath, beaten narrowly by Carlow in the previous two deciders, took complete control of yesterday's Leinster Special under-21 hurling championship decider in Dr Cullen Park, Carlow.
In the end, the midlanders ran out deserving nine-point winners.
The visitors led by 1-5 to 1-3 at half-time, Brian Murphy's early strikes for Carlow negated by Daniel Carty's sixth-minute goal and a couple of Mark McNicholas long-range points.
On the changeover, Westmeath outscored the holders 0-13 to 0-6, with Carty and McNicholas continuing to find the range and Brendan Murtagh inspirational at centre half back.
WESTMEATH: K Fitzpatrick; E Murray, J Fagan, D Clune; D Kiernan, B Murtagh (0-1), S Owens; P Dowdall (0-1), E Loughlin (0-1); R Whelan, J Shaw (0-5), M McNicholas (0-5); N Flanagan (0-1), D Carty (1-4), C Flanagan.
CARLOW: E Spruhan; S Shiels (0-1), S Kavanagh, M Kehoe; C Nolan, D Shaw, T Minchin; K English (0-3), W Hickey; B Nolan, S Smithers (0-1), P Kehoe; B Murphy (1-1), J Coady (0-1), P Quirke (0-2)
Referee: B Gavin (Offaly)
