Clarke-inspired Lake County dispel Carlow’s decider hopes

WITH Aonghus Clarke in top form, Westmeath were far from flattered by their five-point winning margin against Carlow in the last round robin game of the Joe McDonagh Cup in Mullingar on Saturday.

Westmeath were already out of contention before a ball was pucked, but Carlow still harboured very slim hopes of a spot in the final if they pulled off a huge victory, and if Meath defeated Antrim in nearby Navan. As it transpired, neither outcome looked remotely likely on the day.

Westmeath started the better and led 0-4 to 0-1 after seven minutes, the best of their four points coming from teenage corner forward, Shane Williams. However, a fine individual goal from John Michael Nolan levelled the scoring. Carlow led by two points (1-5 0-6) when a wonderful run from Robbie Greville teed up Niall Mitchell for a well-taken goal in the 27th minute. Fine goalkeeping by Eoin Skelly helped Westmeath to lead by 1-9 to 1-7 at the interval.

A Chris Nolan free halved the deficit within two minutes of the resumption, but the same player spurned a very good opportunity from his next free. A fine point from the hard-working Cormac Boyle and two from Clarke put Westmeath into a lead they weren’t relinquishing. The home team were still three points clear (1-13 1-10) by the time of the second water break.

Damien Jordan pulled off a great save from Clarke in the 56th minute at the expense of a ‘65’ which the latter converted. Kevin McDonald responded with a free for Carlow, but that man Clarke proceeded to score the next six points, three each from frees and open play. A 70th-minute goal from Jon Nolan - who poked the ball home from point-blank range - was merely a consolation score for a very disappointing Carlow side.

The game marked the end of the inter-county careers of two of Westmeath’s marquee players in recent times – former Railway Cup star, Brendan Murtagh, and former Irish shinty captain, Eoin Price – while Colm Bonnar stepped down as manager of Carlow.

SCORERS – Westmeath: A Clarke 0-13 (6f, 2‘65); C Boyle 0-4; N Mitchell 1-0; S Williams, J Galvin, L Loughlin, B Murtagh 0-1 each.

Carlow: C Nolan 0-5 (2f); K McDonald 0-4 (3f); J Nolan 1-1, JM Nolan 1-0, J Kavanagh 0-2, E Byrne 0-1.

WESTMEATH – E Skelly; B Doyle, D Egerton, C Shaw; A Craig, T Doyle, A Cox; C Boyle R Greville; J Boyle, A Clarke, J Galvin; D Clinton, N Mitchell, S Williams. Subs: L Loughlin for Williams (35), B Murtagh for Galvin (50), C Kane for Cox (52), E Price for Clinton (55), D McNicholas for Mitchell (65).

CARLOW – D Jordan; R Smithers, P Doyle, M Doyle; G Coady, D English, D Byrne; J Kavanagh, A Amond; JM Nolan, P Coady, E Byrne; C Nolan, K McDonald, J Nolan. Subs: J Doyle for C Nolan (43), R Coady for Amond (57).

REF – T Walsh (Waterford).