Limerick secure facile Westmeath victory as Byrnes and Gillane return

Westmeath 1-15
Limerick 1-27

By Tom Clancy, in TEG Cusack Park

Limerick secured a third win on the trot in the Allianz National Hurling League, with a 12-point victory over Westmeath in TEG Cusack Park.

John Kiely called Tom Morrissey into the starting side, with Gearoid Hegarty missing out altogether. He was also able to have Patrickswell duo Diarmaid Byrnes and Aaron Gillane available for the first time, with the latter introduced in the second half.

Goalkeeper Jamie Power made his first senior appearance for Limerick, while Donnacha Ó Dálaigh got his first start for the senior side. Limerick strolled to victory, aided by a strong first half showing which saw them into a 12-point half time lead. It was 1-14 to 0-5 at the short whistle, with eight different scorers.

The goal arrived through Conor Boylan, who receiving a pass near goal, finished one-handed to the net. He had another goal chance moments later, following up on a save from Noel Conaty, who denied Seamus Flanagan.

Limerick had plenty of threats from different areas with the full forward line, with Peter Casey, Ó Dálaigh and Flanagan all chipping in with a brace of first half points.

For Westmeath, their reply was disappointing. Short their key forward Killian Doyle, they flirted with a number of different free-takers and struggled for possession up front.

Limerick put any doubt of the result with a decent third quarter, with Tom Morrissey very efficient in his performance.

Jamie Power was powerless to prevent a late penalty being scored by Niall O’Brien. But he denied Eoin Keyes in stoppage time with a point-blank save.

Limerick finished with late scores from Aaron Gillane and a free on debut from Aidan O’Connor.

The Treaty entertain Wexford at TUS Gaelic Grounds next Sunday at 2pm.

Scorers for Westmeath:
Niall O’Brien 1-6 (0-5 frees, 0-1 ’65’, 1-0 pen); Kevin Regan 0-2; Tommy Doyle, Ciaran Doyle, Robbie Greville, Jack Gillen (free), Shane McGovern, Darragh Clinton (sideline), Joey Boyle 0-1 each

Scorers for Limerick:
Tom Morrissey 0-9 (0-4 frees); Donnacha Ó Dálaigh 0-5; Conor Boylan 1-0; Peter Casey 0-3
Diarmaid Byrnes 0-2 (0-1 free, 0-1 ’65), Seamus Flanagan, Cathal O’Neill 0-2 each; Barry Murphy, William O’Donoghue, Aidan O’Connor (free), Aaron Gillane 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Noel Conaty; Darragh Egerton, Tommy Doyle, Conor Shaw; Aaron Craig, Robbie Greville, Jack Galvin; Shane Clavin, Shane McGovern; Joseph Boyle, Killian Doyle, Kevin Regan; Owen McCabe, Davy Glennon, Jack Gillen.

Subs: Niall O’Brien for McCabe (inj – 14 mins), Johnny Bermingham for Clavin (h-t), Eoin Keyes for Gillen (52), Gary Greville for Craig (52), Darragh Clinton for C. Doyle (54)


Limerick: Jamie Power; Fergal O’Connor, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, Ronan Connolly, Colin Coughlan; Barry Murphy, William O’Donoghue ©; Tom Morrissey, Cathal O’Neill, Conor Boylan; Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Seamus Flanagan, Peter Casey.

Subs: Darragh O’Donovan for Murphy (Blood – 31 – 35), Mike Casey for Morrissey (52), Oisin O’Reilly for Ó Dálaigh (52), Mark Quinlan for Byrnes (57), Aaron Gillane for Flanagan (63), Aidan O’Connor for Morrissey (69).

Referee: Colum Cunning (Antrim)

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