Round-up: Electric Ireland Leinster MHC action
The Kilkenny and Galway minor hurlers met at UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Electric Ireland Leinster MHC, Phase 2, Round 2
Westmeath 1-19 Dublin 0-15
Galway 0-22 Kilkenny 3-11
Wexford 6-23 Laois 1-10
By Paul Keane
Conor Raleigh showed all his quality with 10 terrific points as Westmeath gave their hopes of progression in the province a big boost.
Westmeath were desperate for an improved performance after coughing up four goals and losing their opening encounter to Kilkenny - and duly delivered.
Raleigh was excellent from both frees and in open play and MJ Long's third minute goal gave the hosts the platform to go on and dominate Dublin in Castletown Geoghegan.
With six Tier 1 teams broken into two three-team groups, and two teams from each group making it through to the semi-finals, Westmeath knew a win would give them a fighting chance of advancing.
They were aided by a powerful defence that was led by the excellent Conor Williams, pressurising Dublin at every opportunity and ensuring no goals were conceded this time.
Westmeath led by 1-9 to 0-7 at half time and stretched their lead to nine with four points in a row after the restart, from Raleigh, Williams and Dean Kelly.
Midfielder Kelly added a second point and substitute Thomas Wrafter got on the scoresheet too for Westmeath.
Free-taker Richie Hession was Dublin's main scoring outlet, finishing with seven points while Evan Forde, Brian Farrell and Derry Ware weighed in with Sky Blues scores as well.
But Raleigh capped a brilliant personal performance with a stunning point after a turnover in the Dublin defence at the death, summing up a great afternoon for Westmeath.
It was tighter at UPMC Nowlan Park where free-taker Anthony Poniard and Eoghan McClearn struck late insurance scores in their two-point win over back-to-back provincial winners Kilkenny.
Kilkenny led 1-9 to 0-11 at half time thanks in part to Padraic Meany's goal and Joe Dowling, who finished with 2-9, contributed two more second half goals.
But Kilkenny never led in the second half against a Galway side that restarted with six points in a row.
Tadhg MacCarthaigh was on point for Galway in attack during that second half along with Athenry's Poniard.
Wexford picked up their first win in Group 2 when they stormed beyond Laois at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
Robbie Kehoe netted twice, either side of a Bobby Murray goal, as Wexford hit the visitors hard and early and opened up a 3-16 to 1-3 half time lead.
Bryan Kennedy added Wexford's fourth goal in the 51st minute and their fifth came close to the hour when Murray rocketed in his second of the afternoon.
There was still time for one more Wexford goal which was scored by Joe Tobin, helping to secure a mammoth 28-point win following their Round 1 defeat by Dublin.
It all means that Kilkenny and Dublin are tied on two points in Group 1, ahead of Laois who have suffered two defeats.
In Group 2, Galway are top on four points, with Wexford and Westmeath behind them on two points each. There is one round of games left to play.
