McDonald fires Carlow to victory over Westmeath

Carlow halted a losing streak against their old rivals Westmeath in their Allianz Hurling League Division 2A clash at Netwatch Cullen Park, digging out a 1-20 to 1-14 win.

After league and Joe McDonagh successes over the Barrowsiders the visitors were favourites going into this one, but from a long way out there only looked like there'd be one winner.

Kevin McDonald spearheaded the victory, scoring three points in the opening four minutes to get Carlow off to a great start. Fiachra Fitzpatrick also split the posts and Kevin Regan's strike eventually got Westmeath off the mark.

Carlow were solid in defence and the Midlanders lived on scraps. Jack Gillen was the Westmeath danger man and scored four points in the half as the entire Carlow half-forward line scored from play.

The youthful pairing of Conor Kehoe and Fitzpatrick at midfield belied their relative inexperience, accounting for a combined total of 0-03 as the home side went into the interval leading 0-14 to 0-08.

The experienced Aonghus Clarke scored a point immediately on the turnaround but it didn’t rock the Carlow confidence. Paul Doyle, Conor Lawlor and Michael Doyle picked up anything which passed a solid half-back line and even though they were playing against the wind Carlow still stretched their lead.

With seven minutes left a high ball was not collected by the Westmeath defence and McDonald flicked on the sliotar into space. He ran on and letting fly the resultant three-pointer ensured there would be no comeback for Westmeath.

They did convert a penalty through Gillen but it was too little, too little for a visiting side who failed to fire.

Carlow: B Tracey (0-1f); P Doyle, C Lawlor, M Doyle; J McCullagh, D Byrne (0-1), J Kavanagh (0-1); C Kehoe (0-1), F