Gift goals spur Lake men to meeting with Galway

THREE gift goals proved the undoing of Carlow hurlers in this sub-standard preliminary Leinster SHC tie at Dr Cullen Park yesterday as a focused Westmeath side deservedly advanced to a home meeting with Galway.

The Tribesmen will not be shaking in their boots at that prospect though. The overall standard of hurling was disappointing with a distinct absence of good first touches supplemented by some very unimpressive striking and slack marking. There was nothing to choose between the sides for the opening 22 minutes as Westmeath led 0-3 to 0-1, playing with the aid of the blustery wind.

Then Carlow ‘keeper Kevin Kehoe, who had just made a brilliant save from substitute Derek McNicholas, allowed a tame 35m shot from the same player creep into his net.