Cork defeat Westmeath in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A Round 3
Allianz Hurling League Division 1
Cork 2-21 Westmeath 0-21
First-half goals from Shane Kingston and Shane Barrett set Cork on their way to victory over Westmeath at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.
However, while the Rebels are now within touching distance of a semi-final spot after picking up a third straight win, they didn’t have things all their own way against the Lake County. A seven-point half-time lead for Cork was extended to nine early in the second half but a spirited response from the visitors saw them come to within five points on two occasions. Unfortunately for them, the third consecutive loss leaves them bottom of the Division 1 Group A table.
Cork led throughout, with Kingston opening the scoring in third minute with his goal, set up by a good Tommy O’Connell pass. Though former Galway man Davy Glennon replied with Westmeath’s first point, six points on the trot for the Rebels – with debutant Ben Cunningham, Brian Hayes and Conor Cahalane all on target – put them firmly in control.
Even though Westmeath came back well as Killian Doyle proved accurate from dead balls, the second Cork goal, set up by Ethan Twomey and Hayes for Barrett to finish, made it 2-9 to 0-6 with eight minutes left until half-time.
A third goal might have resulted but Noel Conaty saved well from Kingston, however even though Westmeath reduced the deficit slightly before half-time, Cork were comfortable with a 2-11 to 0-10 interval lead.
That margin was extended further with points from Barrett and Kingston but Westmeath had five of the next six scores, all from Doyle, who brought his tally to 13 as the lead was reduced to five.
After Cahalane’s third point, Cork sub Pádraig Power had a good chance for another goal after Twomey picked him out but he didn’t make good enough contact and Conaty saved.
A superb sideline cut from Jack Galvin again brought Westmeath back to within five but they couldn’t reduce the arrears any further and suffered the lose of Doyle to injury.
The visitors never really looked like getting a goal and Cork were able to pick off late points to ensure that they stayed on top until the end.
Scorers for Cork: Shane Kingston 1-7 (0-6 frees), Shane Barrett 1-2, Conor Cahalane 0-3, Brian Hayes, Pádraig Power 0-2 each, Cormac O’Brien, Ethan Twomey, Cathal Cormack, Tommy O’Connell, Ben Cunningham 0-1 each.
Scorers for Westmeath: Killian Doyle 0-13 (0-11 frees), Jack Galvin (0-1 sideline), Ciarán Doyle (0-2 frees) 0-2 each, Davy Glennon, Shane McGovern, Darragh Clinton (0-1 free), Robbie Greville 0-1 each.
CORK: Patrick Collins; Eoin Roche, Niall O’Leary, Ger Millerick; Cormac O’Brien, Tommy O’Connell, Dáire O’Leary; Sam Quirke, Ethan Twomey; Ben Cunningham, Luke Meade, Conor Cahalane; Shane Kingston, Brian Hayes, Shane Barrett. Subs: Eoin Downey for Millerick (half-time), Cathal Cormack for Dáire O’Leary (45), Pádraig Power for Cunningham (49), Dáire Connery for Quirke (61), Colin Walsh for Barrett (67).
WESTMEATH: Noel Conaty; Darragh Egerton, Tommy Doyle, Conor Shaw; Johnny Bermingham, Robbie Greville, Jack Galvin; Shane McGovern, Shane Clavin; Owen McCabe, Davy Glennon, Kevin Regan; Joseph Boyle, Killian Doyle, Peter Clarke. Subs: Eoin Keyes for Clarke (46), Darragh Clinton for Clavin (56), Adam Ennis for Shaw (61), Ciarán Doyle for Killian Doyle (61, injured), Gary Greville for Bermingham (70).
Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary).
