Westmeath teach Laois a lesson

WESTMEATH 2-17 LAOIS 1-14

Last year's beaten Christy Ring Cup finalists Westmeath ended their NHL Division 2 campaign on a positive note thanks to a six-point win over Laois at Cusack Park in Mullingar today.

In what was only the Lake County's second win of the league, the hosts backed up their victory in the previous round over Kerry with a well-merited win.

Goals in either half proved to be the crucial scores in an otherwise well-contested affair.

Westmeath bounded out of the blocks early on and settled quickest thanks to a Derek McNicholas goal inside the opening minute.

Laois started slugglishly and with Darren McCormack and Brendan Murtagh also on target Westmeath raced into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead.

But the visitors were not keen on letting Westmeath's early dominance effect them and a trio of scores, including points from James Walsh and Dayne Peacock, cut the gap to a goal by the seventh minute.

Peacock impressed for Laois and led the charge with the Abbeyleix clubman levelling the tie at 0-7 to 1-4 after 21 minutes.

There was nothing to separate the sides in the second quarter, as the teams matched each other score for score to ensured a 1-8 to 0-11 half-time scoreline.

Westmeath edged 1-11 to 0-12 in front on the restart and although Laois bounced in front thanks to a Brian Campion goal, Westmeath responded immediately with an Alan Devine effort which paved the way for victory.