Galway get by despite bad defence

A comprehensive ten-point win for the hot favourites in this Leinster SHC quarter-final in Mullingar yesterday but a whopping 4-12 conceded to the underdogs.

It says much though for the ambition of Westmeath that afterwards captain Paddy Dowdall wasn’t in the least consoled by his team’s brave display.

“Not a bad performance I suppose but very disappointed to lose,” he said. “Playing against the wind in the first half made it more difficult but we’re most disappointed with the goals we left in. A few of those could have been prevented, a couple of clearances that we missed and they snuck in for handy goals.”