Clinical Killian Doyle fires Westmeath to win over Carlow

The visitors will be looking to the Joe McDonagh Cup with a degree of confidence in four weeks’ time.

RUTHLESS: Paul Doyle of Carlow in action against Killian Doyle of Westmeath at Netwatch Cullen Park. PIC: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

Allianz NHL Division 1B:  Westmeath 3-18 Carlow 3-15 

A masterful display of marksmanship from Westmeath’s Killian Doyle who scored 1-15, inspired Westmeath to victory in this National Hurling League Division 1B game at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.

The visitors got off to a great start with Doyle firing over three points from play. There was an element of luck to the opening goal and while he was surely going for a point, Doyle saw his low 30-metre free find the top left-hand corner of the net for the first goal of the game.

Carlow hit back with a three-pointer of their own as Marty Kavanagh raided down the left before firing home. Carlow looked to have weathered the early Westmeath pressure and when a youthful Jake Doyle availed of good work by Donagh Murphy his rocket gave Westmeath goalkeeper, Jack Gillen, no chance.

Westmeath know this venue well and they replied with David Williams netting from close range. The corner forward was on hand again and when Carlow were caught flat-footed, his first time shot helped the visitors into a 3-8 to 2-7 interval lead.

Points were exchanged in the opening attacks of the second half and when Kavanagh picked out Conor Kehoe his fellow St Mullins clubman finished to the net. Both sides probed for the win at this stage. Carlow went ahead with a glorious one-pointer from Murphy but that failed to inspire the Barrowsiders.

Instead, Westmeath surged forward and two points from Doyle and another through Williams sandwiched a white flag from Carlow’s Fiachra Fitzpatrick. The visitors had the bit between their teeth and eased into a five-point lead with just over a minute to go. Even seven wides in the second half didn’t act as a distraction for the visitors and Doyle fired over two more points with a monster effort bringing an end to his contribution on the night. In that spell, Eamon Cunneen also got in on the scoring act for Westmeath who hit five points without replay.

Carlow hit back raising white flags through John Michael Nolan and Kavanagh (free) but the visitors were not going to be denied. Westmeath have revitalised their season and will be looking to the Joe McDonagh Cup with a degree of confidence in four weeks’ time.

Scorers Westmeath: K Doyle 1-15 (1-7fs 2-65s), D Williams 2-1, J Boyle, E Cunneen 0-1 each 

Carlow: M Kavanagh 1-7 (6fs), C Kehoe 1-1, Jake Doyle 1-0, D Murphy 0-2, F O’Toole, J Nolan, F Fitzpatrick, J Treacy, JM Nolan 0-1 each

WESTMEATH: Jack Gillen; Conor Gaffney , Eoin Keyes , Gary Greville; Aaron Craig, Robbie Greville, Shane Williams; Davy Glennon, Eamon Cunneen; Joseph Boyle, Killian Doyle, Mark Cunningham; David O’Reilly, Niall O’Brien, David Williams.

Subs: Peter Clarke for Cunningham (45), Darragh Clinton for Glennon (55)

CARLOW: Kyle Foley; Paul Doyle, Niall Bolger, Lorcan Doyle; Colm Beck, Kevin McDonald, Darragh Nolan; Jon Nolan Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Jake Doyle, Marty Kavanagh, Fiach O’Toole; Conor Kehoe, Jack Treacy, Donagh Murphy.

Subs: John Michael Nolan for O’Toole (53), Ted Joyce for J Doyle (60), Eric English for Treacy (66), Chris Nolan for Murphy (72), Richie Coady for Fitzpatrick (72), Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)