Success against Carlow is vital for Westmeath hurling

The U21 grade in Gaelic games celebrates its Golden Jubilee at inter-county level this year. It has its detractors, mainly due to the whole 'burnout’ debate which rightly rears its head regularly when the health and welfare of our wonderful amateur players is discussed at various forums.

In this county, our limited success (by national standards) - but wonderful (by our standards) - in senior football in the noughties can easily be traced to outstanding progression at U21 level where we made serious inroads in the 1990s, culminating in the never-to-be-forgotten All-Ireland triumph against Kerry in 1999. In hurling, we have yo-yoed between the Leinster 'proper’ and various tier two competitions under a number of 'B’ and 'special’ guises, even being called 'A’ when it was actually 'B’, if you catch my drift.

In the 50 years between 1964 and 2013, Westmeath have played 112 championship games in U21 hurling. However, only 28 of these (exactly a quarter) have been against the 'stronger’ Leinster counties where our record is downright poor – Kilkenny (P3, L3), Wexford (P5, L5), Dublin (P10, L7, W2, D1), Offaly (P7, L5, W2) and Laois (P3, L3). 

Incidentally, the latter county deserves enormous praise for their marvellous showing against Galway last Sunday. Am I right in saying that is where we should be at senior level? Ok, I’ll answer my own question. I am right!
A whopping 70 of our U21 matches have been against the lesser lights in Leinster hurling – Meath 23, Carlow 17, Kildare 16 and Wicklow 14 (I can almost hear Mícheál ” Muircheartaigh’s voice saying, “none of them hurling strongholds”). It is Carlow who provide us with our 113th game tonight in Cusack Park. Am I right in saying it is a 'must-win’ contest for us? Ok, I’ll answer my own question. I am right!

All the incessant talk of 'building’ in the small ball game in the Lake County will be despatched to the 'waffle’ bin (which has already needed many new black bags) if a talented bunch does not progress to a home Leinster semi-final against Dublin later this month.

Three years ago at minor level, these players (under our own Ray Gavin) pushed Dublin all the way in Parnell Park in the provincial penultimate round, having walloped Carlow, defeated Laois and Offaly, and run Kilkenny to two points en route. A number of that bunch (see team below) are no longer involved for various reasons (some of them unacceptable, frankly), but there is still sure to be the backbone of a very decent side lining out against the Barrowsiders tonight (throw-in 7.30 pm).

A plethora of hurlers with senior league and championship experience will take the field in maroon and white, among them the likes of Tommy Doyle and Aonghus Clarke who appear to be hitting top form at just the right time.
Westmeath have won ten and lost seven of the previous 17 clashes at U21 championship level between the counties, as follows:

1974 Newbridge, Carlow 4-9 Westmeath 2-8
1976 Portlaoise, Westmeath 8-9 Carlow 2-10
1977 Mullingar, Westmeath 9-11 Carlow 2-7
1979 Carlow, Westmeath 6-10 Carlow 0-4
1981 Carlow, Carlow 4-8 Westmeath 4-6
1983 Mullingar, Westmeath 3-7 Carlow 2-4
1984 Carlow, Westmeath 3-7 Carlow 2-7
1985 Mullingar, Westmeath 5-8 Carlow 4-6
1987 Turin, Westmeath 2-5 Carlow 1-5
1993 Castletown Geoghegan, Westmeath 0-13 Carlow 0-7
1995 Castletown Geoghegan, Westmeath 1-16 Carlow 1-2
1997 Bagenalstown, Carlow 4-9 Westmeath 2-13
2001 Carlow, Carlow 1-13 Westmeath 0-12
2002 Portlaoise, Carlow 1-13 Westmeath 2-8
2003 Carlow, Westmeath 1-18 Carlow 1-9
2005 Castletown-Geoghegan, Carlow 4-15 Westmeath 0-5
2008 Mullingar (St Loman’s), Carlow 0-16 Westmeath 0-11

It is an interesting exercise to examine the teams and scorers from the minor game between the sides three years ago. Having played the men in the multi-coloured jerseys quite a lot (and fared badly) in senior competitions in the interim, it is clear that Carlow have some talented hurlers to pick from also. However, Westmeath won that game by a whopping 18 points (2-24 to 1-9) in 2011 in Dr Cullen Park. Yes, a lot less will still do fine tomorrow evening, but a defeat simply can not be countenanced.

Westmeath: James Moore; Tommy Gallagher, Tommy Doyle, Dean McDermott; David Fennell, Cathal Scally (0-2, 0-1 from a free), Liam Varley; David Lynch (0-2), David McCormack (0-2); Joey Boyle (0-1) Aonghus Clarke (1-7, 0-4 from frees), Paul Fennell (0-1); Niall O’Brien, David Higgins (1-1), Neal Kirby (0-5). Subs: Robbie Greville (0-2) (for Boyle, 39 mins), Kieran Glennon (for O’Brien, 45 mins), Thomas Egan (for McDermott, inj, 46 mins), Gary Greville (for Varley, 53 mins), Michael Murray (0-1) (for Higgins, 59 mins).
Carlow: Brian Treacy; Daniel Slye, Paul Doyle, Gary Bennett; Barry Nolan (0-1), David Corcoran, Sean Murphy; Craig Wall, Peter Fortune; Michael O’Grady, Darren Dalton (0-1), Marty Kavanagh (0-2, both from frees); Jack Murphy, Andrew Beaton (0-4, 0-3 from frees), Ross Smithers (1-1). Subs: Michael Malone (for O’Grady, 44 mins), Christian Dermody (for Corcoran, 47 mins), Conor Fenlon (for Beaton, 53 mins).

 

Gerry Buckley