Westmeath get into Leinster Minor hurling semi

Westmeath 1-10 Offaly 1-7

Despite leaking a late goal it was a strong defensive display which carried Westmeath into an ESB Leinster Minor Hurling Championship semi-final as they got the better of Offaly at Cusack Park, Mullingar this afternoon.

Barry O'Meara top-scored with 1-3, including a 30th minute first half goal which helped his side to a 1-6 to 0-5 interval lead.

Offaly had the aid of a strong wind assistance on the restart and although the Johnny Pilkington-managed visitors outscored their opponents by two points to one inside 18 minutes of the restart, the Lake county finished strongly.

Offaly failed to score again until substitute David King despatched the ball to the Westmeath net two minutes into injury-time as Westmeath got on top.

O'Meara brought his tally to 1-3 with a 53rd-minute pointed free before points from Niall Dowdall and Alan McGrath opened up a six-point cushion as injury-time approached.

King broke through for Offaly's only goal of the contest in the 63rd minute, however this was mere consolation for the visitors as Seamus Qualter's charges secured a semi-final berth.