Hurling C'ship: Carlow get deserved win over Westmeath

Carlow 2-13, Westmeath 0-14 (full-time)

Carlow extended their Championship as a result of a fully meritted five point victory over Westmeath in their Guinness Leinster Senior Hurling C'Ship preliminary round at Dr Cullen Park.

And, as a result of this victory, they have given themselves every chance when they come up against Laois in the next round in two weeks time.

Carlow showed from an early stage they had the hurling and commitment, while Westmeath struggled in attack where they were sorely dependent on the accuracy of Andrew Mitchell from frees.

Having lead 0-03 to 0-01 Carlow struck for their first goal after 15 mins. Corner-forward Johnny Kavanagh sent in a 30-metre speculative shot which deceived goalie Brian Conaty to finish in the corner of the net.

Westmeath - through Mitchell's accuracy from frees - managed to reduce the deficit but it was Carlow who held a 1-08 to 0-05 interval lead.

Westmeath got off to a dreadful second-half start, as they allowed Des Murphy to shoot two points in the opening minute for the home side. With Carlow leading 1-10 to 0-08 the crucial second goal arrived on 18 mins when Thomas Walsh pounced on a breaking ball to send a ground shot to the corner of the net.

A succession of Westmeath pints from Noel Gavin, two from Andrew Mitchell and Barry Kennedy, helped to keep the Midlanders in touch, but it was Carlow who finished wiht a flurry, getting points through Thomas Walsh and Micheal Slye to emerge with a marvellous victory.