Loughlin leads way in second victory for Westmeath Schools’ outfit

Westmeath Schools 2-15, Offaly Schools 2-9

Westmeath Schools advanced to the group teams final of the Leinster Schools Senior Hurling ‘A’ championship when they proved too strong for their Offaly counterparts at Clonkill on Friday evening.

Wintry weather prevailed and the rain and soft sod made for tricky hurling conditions, but the sides coped well and it was generally a decent match, although not quite reaching the levels that will be required when the serious games arrive. Westmeath led by 1-8 to 0-6 at half-time with Kian Loughlin’s 15th-minute goal the key score of the opening 30 minutes - the Offaly defence not alert when the Clonkill ace stood up to a 20-metre free and he duly rifled the sliotar to the net.

The game was in the balance for some time even though Westmeath looked superior and it was their lacklustre start and subsequent failure to really kill off the match early that provided most food for thought. Also, some sloppy defending that gifted Offaly a late goal when they led nine points - Harry Sweeney with a long-range shot that ended up in the net. Earlier Offaly’s Conor Egan attacked through the heart of the Westmeath cover for fellow substitute MacDara Mitchell to find the net.

In the end, Westmeath were fairly comfortable winners and it’s another fine result that now sets them up for the group teams final and an opportunity to progress to the Leinster championship proper. They will need more than just Kian Loughlin firing on all cylinders if they are to be successful and while placed balls are vital, a bigger return from play will be important.

Westmeath, who overcame Dublin North their first outing, started brightly despite being without Limerick's Donal Dawson (a student of Marist College), with Kian Loughlin converting a free in the opening minute. Offaly Schools responded quickly as Patrick Lyons opened their account 90 seconds later, before Odhran Fletcher added a free in the third minute. Lyons then capitalised on a slack Westmeath puckout to notch his second point, giving Offaly an early edge.

Dylan Corrigan settled Westmeath with a fourth-minute free, and another Loughlin free two minutes later, after Ben McNamee was fouled, edged them in front. Corrigan added a fine point from play in the seventh minute, but Offaly's centre-back Harry Sweeney levelled matters with a fantastic long-range effort from his own half in the eighth minute.

Neale Pierson restored Westmeath's lead with a well-taken score, before a moment of brilliance from Loughlin in the 14th minute. Spotting the Offaly defence off guard, he fired home a goal from a 20-metre free, much to the delight of his teammates. Pierson added another point in the 20th minute to extend their advantage.

James O’Sullivan pulled one back for Offaly after Westmeath goalkeeper Cathal Óg Fagan denied Fletcher with a solid save. However, Westmeath regained control as Loughlin slotted over back-to-back frees in the 23rd and 24th minutes. Offaly nearly struck a goal in the 26th minute, but desperate defending from Westmeath preserved their lead. Fletcher added a 27th-minute free for Offaly but Westmeath were still five in front at half-time.

Offaly began the second half with renewed purpose, Brian Guinan firing over a point in the sixth minute. However, Loughlin responded two minutes later, finishing off a clever move started by Conor Heffernan, who worked the ball back from the endline to create the scoring chance. Cormac McKeogh pointed in the 10th minute, before Loughlin struck again with a sublime effort from an acute angle.

Defender James Hennessy kept Offaly in contention with a 16th-minute score, but Westmeath soon dealt their opponents a hammer blow. Substitute Darragh Kenny pounced in the 20th minute, drilling the ball low into the Offaly net to open up a nine-point lead. Fletcher replied with a point but Offaly’s task became even tougher when wing-back Tim Carey received a straight red card in the 26th minute for a heavy challenge on Westmeath midfielder Finn Higgins. From the resulting free, Loughlin added another point to his tally.

Loughlin followed this up with a point, but Offaly were handed a lifeline when substitute Macdara Mitchell found the net with a powerful finish in the 28th minute. Loughlin continued to dominate for Westmeath, landing an excellent free in the 30th minute, before adding another point from a '65' in added time.

Offaly managed a late consolation goal four minutes into added time, as a long-range effort from Sweeney deceived Fagan and ended up in the back of the net. However, it was too little, too late, as Westmeath emerged worthy winners by six points after a performance that will give further encouragement.

Westmeath Schools: Cathal Óg Fagan; Ben McNamee, Conor Daly, Mikey Weir; Seán Hayes, Darragh Smith, Cian Kinnarney; Cody Ward, Finn Higgins; Kian Loughlin (1-11; 1-8f; 0-1 ‘65’), Dylan Corrigan (0-1), Neale Pierson (0-2); Padraig Casey, Cormac McKeogh (0-1), Conor Heffernan. Subs: Darragh Kenny (1-0) for Corrigan (40), Eoin Meehan for Casey (50), Alex Eighan for McNamee (inj., 60), James Baird for Kinnarney (inj., 60).

Offaly Schools: Charlie Loughnane; James Hennessy (0-1), Niall Kelly, Joey McLoughney; Tim Carey, Harry Sweeney (1-1), Michael Dooley; James O’Sullivan (0-1), Brian Guinan (0-1); Patrick Lyons (0-2), Dan Scully, James Morkan; Odhrán Fletcher (0-3; 2f), Andrew Hogan, Oisín Carroll. Subs used: Seán Carey (HT), MacDara Mitchell (1-0) (42), Conor Egan(51).

Ref: Seán Higgins (Laois).