Brian Cooney ensures Westmeath U-20s have the final say in win over Carlow

Westmeath had the aid of a slight wind in the first half but there was never much between the teams.

They were tied at 0-2 each with 13 minutes elapsed when Ronan Murray found the net after being cleverly picked out by Jack Duncan.

A Brian Cooney free and a great score from Shane Hanley put the home team ahead by five points after 16 minutes, but they failed to score again during the remainder of the half.

Carlow, with Liam Gavin impressive from frees, had the gap down to the bare minimum by the break (1-4 to 0-6), their last point coming from a Brandon Kelly mark in the 28th minute.

The ever-dangerous Cooney had the ball in the Carlow net within 15 seconds of the resumption of play and the same player scored two of their next three unanswered points to put Westmeath seven points clear (2-7 to 0-6) by the 36th minute.

The visitors were still hanging in there until a Westmeath counterattack in the 52nd minute ended with Hanley scoring their third goal.

On the hour mark, a fine delivery by Cialan Brady saw the ball ricocheting to the Westmeath net off the head of sub Aaron Kelly, but it merely amounted to a consolation goal for Carlow.

Scorers – Westmeath: B Cooney 1-4 (0-1f), S Hanley 1-2, R Murray 1-1, J Duncan, S Ormsby 0-1 each. Carlow: L Gavin 0-5fs, A Kelly 1-0, B Kelly 0-2 (1m), Kieran Nolan, C Brady, J Brady 0-1 each.

Westmeath: S McNevin; A Keane, C Monaghan, S Bracken; D Lowry, J Macken, L Daly; T Baker, S Ormsby; J Duncan, B Cooney, E Bracken; R Cole, S Hanley, R Murray. Subs: S Corcoran for Cole (37), T O’Donovan for E Bracken (41), D Franzoni for Duncan (57), D Hall for Murray (57), M Thornton for Lowry (57).

Carlow: A Power; Kieran Nolan, J Whelan, S Cormican; M Mullen, A Delaney, T Dillon; Kyle Nolan, A Burgess; B Kelly, C Brady, J Egan; J Brady, J Phiri, L Gavin. Subs: E Corr for Dillon (50), C McGrath for Kieran Nolan (59), A Kelly for Brady (59).

Ref: E O'Connor (Offaly).