Allianz Hurling League Division 2A Final

Westmeath 0-10 Carlow 0-8

A strong first-half performance laid the foundation for Westmeath’s victory over Carlow in the Allianz Hurling League Division 2A Final.

Playing with the elements in their favour, the Lake County had established a 0-9 to 0-3 lead by the half-time break thanks to some sure free-taking from Brendan Murtagh and points from Cormac Boyle and Eoin Price.

Westmeath were glad of that six-point buffer, because Carlow came roaring back at them in the second-half.

Kevin McDonald’s accurate free-taking saw them steadily chip away at Westmeath’s lead, but in the end they ran out of time and were left to regret eight second-half wides.

Westmeath will now face the loser of next weekend’s Laois-Kerry play-off for a chance to play in Division 1B of the hurling league next year.

Scorers for Westmeath: Brendan Murtagh 0-7 (5f, 2 ‘65s), Cormac Boyle 0-1, Alan Devine 0-1, Eoin Price 0-1

Scorers for Carlow: Kevin McDonald 0-4 (4f), Martin Kavanagh 0-3 (2f) James Doyle 0-1

WESTMEATH: Paddy Maloney; Shane Power, Tommy Doyle, Tommy Gallagher; Aaron Craig, Aonghus Clarke, Alan McGrath; Cormac Boyle (0-1), Gary Greville; Alan Devine (0-1), Liam Varley, Derek McNicholas; Robbie Greville, Brendan Murtagh (0-7, 5f, 2 '65s'), Eoin Price (0-1). Subs: Niall O’Brien for Derek McNicholas (23); Niall Dowdall for Robbie Greville (57); Darragh Egerton for Alan Devine (61).

CARLOW: Jack Barron; Gerard Coady Michael Ryan, Alan Corcoran; Diarmuid Byrne, David English, James O’Hara; James Doyle (0-1), Jack Kavanagh; Kevin McDonald (0-4, 4f), Martin Kavanagh (0-3, 2f), Sean Murphy; John Michael Nolan, Seamus Murphy, Sean Whelan. Subs: Richard Kelly for Sean Whelan (HT); Ross Smithers for Sean Murphy (49).

REFEREE: John Keane (Galway)