O’Brien the hero for Westmeath

VICTORY over Antrim next weekend could qualify Westmeath for a Leinster quarter-final spot, but manager Michael Ryan insisted he was merely happy to get off to a winning start at Cusack Park. Brendan Murtagh’s goal on 50 minutes and Niall O’Brien’s sharp shooting gave the hosts a sufficient lead in the second half that three late points from Carlow couldn’t derail them. Relegation to the Christy Ring Cup is the punishment for the side finishing bottom of the four-team group and the top-two teams set for the Leinster Championship, getting off to a good start was vital, but Carlow manager Pat English refused to wave the white flag just yet. ‘There was a huge amount up for grabs, but it’s the same next Sunday and the same the following Sunday,’ said English. ‘We are disappointed, gutted and upset, and we have to channel that and get back for next week.’ Murtagh’s goal came at a crucial point in the game. Some sloppy defending from Westmeath had allowed Séamus Murphy and Martin Kavanagh in for goals that squared the match at half-time, 1-12 to 2-9. However, following a tense opening to the second period, Murtagh shot to the top corner of the net. It put three in it and after Niall O’Brien and Derek McNicholas pointed even Carlow’s late surge couldn’t claw back the deficit. ‘To win the first game in the group was very, very important for us and puts us in a good place,’ said Ryan. ‘There was a great intensity about that game today. People might look down on Carlow and Westmeath playing hurling and Antrim and other teams, but that was a game of a very high standard.’