February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Westmeath 6-16
Clare 2-6
By Peter Nolan
In the second hurling mismatch of the afternoon Sunday at Gaelic Park, Westmeath earned a facile victory over Clare. The poor attendance didn’t get much for their money as the Leinster men dominated from the start.
Westemeath scored early and often with Paddy Barry opening with a long-range goal and Laois import Geroid Cleere quickly adding a second goal to get the route started in earnest. Clare’s record fell to 0-5 as their long season continues.
Westmeath were simply too much for the Banner men and this match was never a test for the Midlanders. Westmeath will be happy to have the point, but will have learned little from this outing. Gary Wade and Paddy Barry led the onslaught with big games at midfield and Westmeath scarcely missed Jonathan O’Callaghan, recently returned to Ireland.
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Man of the Match: Paddy Barry.
Westmeath: Darren Fitzpatrick, Robbie Nolan, Barry Smyth, Colm Reilly, Peter Dalton (0-1), Cathal Shaughnessey, Gary Wade (0-3), Paddy Barry (2-5), Ronan Fagan, Martin Finn (2-1), John Murtagh (1-0), Geroid Cleere (1-4), Lorcan Coll (0-1). Sub Brendan Kirby (0-1).
Clare: Steve O’Hara, Kevin Moore, Seamus Pender, Owen Concannon, Denis Ryan (0-1), Brian Adams, Gary Dowd, Sean Grennan (0-1), Joe O’Meara (0-3), Owen Vaughan (1-1), Liam Briodie, Cormac Hayes, Joe Brennan (1-0).