Westmeath too strong for depleted Antrim
FORMER Galway star Davy Glennon came off the bench to seal Westmeath’s first win of the season as the Lakesiders cruised to a six-point over Antrim in Mullingar yesterday.
Glennon made an immediate impact and his goal 10 minutes from the end ensured Joe Fortune’s charges won the bottom-of-the-table Division 1B clash.
In truth, with relegation not in play and both teams certain to be in Division 1B – effectively Division 2 in a reformatted league – next season, the result will have little impact. But it is a timely boost for Westmeath who are one of the favourites to win the Joe McDonagh Cup this summer.
They always looked the more likely to take the points against an Antrim side that could only bring 21 players to Cusack Park for yesterday’s clash, with the losers’ cause not helped by the fact that their under-20s were also in action.
Eoin Keyes set Westmeath on their way when he pounced on a handling error from Antrim goalkeeper Tiernan Smyth in the 23rd minute but the visitors responded almost immediately when Niall McKennan batted Scott Walsh’s puck to the net.
However, Westmeath quickly reestablished their control to lead by four points at the interval.
Meanwhile, Kildare recorded their first win of the season with a 1-21 to 1-14 victory over struggling Kerry in yesterday’s Division 2 clash at Hawkfield.
The visitors looked to have found a way back into the game when Maurice O’Connor found the net just before halftime as Kildare led by just 0-11 to 1-7 at the interval. But the game’s defining moment arrived seven minutes into the second-half when Kildare were awarded a penalty and, having missed two against Down in the previous round, goalkeeper Paddy McKenna converted.