Hurling & Camogie

NHL Matchbox: Patrick Horgan key as Cork overcome battling Westmeath

Patrick Horgan racked up 2-8 of Cork's total against Westmeath yesterday Picture by Séamus Loughran
Patrick Horgan racked up 2-8 of Cork's total against Westmeath yesterday Picture by Séamus Loughran Patrick Horgan racked up 2-8 of Cork's total against Westmeath yesterday Picture by Séamus Loughran

National Hurling League

Division One Group A

Westmeath 1-14 Cork 3-12

PATRICK Horgan scored 2-8 from placed balls as Cork overcame a battling Westmeath at Cusack Park yesterday.

Scores from Luke Meade, Conor Lehane, who retired injured after only 12 minutes, and Horgan helped Cork to a 0-7 to 0-1 lead after 20 minutes before the hosts finished the half strongly with three Allan Devine points and another from Joey Boyle to leave a goal in it, 0-5 to 0-8, at the break.

Horgan doubled the Munster side's lead from a penalty in the first minute of the second-half before Devine replied with a goal directly from a '65. A Derek McNicholas point narrowed the gap before a fortuitous Bill Cooper goal with 15 minutes remaining gave Cork some daylight.

Westmeath rallied with points from Devine and Aonghus Clarke to bring themselves within striking distance, 1-10 to 2-10, with 10 minutes to go. However, a second Horgan penalty, which followed a foul on Séamus Harnedy, finally put the game beyond them.

Both teams finished with 14 men after Damien Cahalane (straight red card) and Joey Boyle (second yellow) were dismissed following a 43rd minute incident.

Limerick v Waterford

POSTPONED

Galway v Tipperary

POSTPONED

Division One Group B

Carlow 0-9 Dublin 0-20

A RUTHLESS second-half display helped Dublin to an 11-point win over Carlow at Cullen Park on Saturday evening.

The Dubs enjoyed more than their fair share of possession in the opening 35 minutes, but had only six points to show for their efforts at the break. The impressive Rían McBride raised three white flags in that period while Seán Moran (0-2) and Oisín O’Rorke found the target from placed balls.

At the opposite end of the field, three converted Marty Kavanagh frees and a John Michael Nolan point kept the Barrowsiders in touch and a low-scoring half finished with the visitors 0-6 to 0-4 ahead.

Dublin issued a statement of intent early in the second-half with three unanswered points from substitute Davy Keogh, Daire Gray and Chris Crummey.

Two quick-fire points from Kavanagh reduced Dublin’s lead to seven with 13 minutes left, but normal service was soon restored.

Clare 0-17 Laois 0-9

CLARE made it three wins from three in the National League thanks to a strong finish against Laois.

Conditions in Cusack Park were atrocious but despite playing into the teeth of Storm Dennis in the first-half, Brian Lohan's side led by 0-9 to 0-4 at the break with former Hurler of the Year Tony Kelly leading the way. Ross King and Willie Dunphy were on target at the other end for the visitors.

James Keyes and Willie Dunphy passed up on goal-scoring chances for Eddie Brennan's charges early in the second half, but they persevered and points from Aaron Dunphy and Ross King left just a goal in it, 0-7 to 0-10, entering the final quarter.

Ultimately, Clare's strong bench proved decisive as they scored six of the last seven points to put the result beyond doubt.

Aron Shanagher shot three points after coming on, while Domhnall McMahon and Ian Galvin also got in on the scoring act following their introductions.

Division 2A

Mayo 1-13 Wicklow 1-16

WICKLOW were pushed all the way by their hosts at the Connacht Centre of Excellence yesterday afternoon.

The visitors were 1-9 to 0-6 ahead at half-time, Enda Donohoe's goal giving them a decent cushion heading into the second period.

Mayo rallied whoever, hitting the net themselves through a penalty and getting to within two points of the Garden county, who lost Jack Doyle to a red card in the closing stages.

The 14 men closed it out though to take home a hard-earned two points.

Offaly v Antrim

POSTPONED

Division 2B

Roscommon 0-13 London 0-10

ROSCOMMON got their first points on the board thanks to a three-point victory over London at Dr Hyde Park yesterday.

Derry v Kildare

POSTPONED

Division 3B

Fermanagh v Sligo

POSTPONED