Westmeath 0-14
Antrim 0-12

Fourteen-man Westmeath got the 2012 hurling championship off to a sensational start when they came from six points down to shock Antrim at Cusack Park, Mullingar this afternoon.

Brian Hanley's underdogs looked to be facing a heavy defeat at the break when they trailed by 0-3 to 0-8 and were reduced to 14 players after defender Conor Jordan was dismissed on a second yellow card. But inspired by their brilliant minor star Niall O'Brien, who top-scored with 0-8 (0-6 from frees), and Paul Greville and Adam Price at the back, Westmeath outscored the Saffrons by 0-11 to 0-4 in a breathtaking second half to set up a Leinster SHC quarter-final meeting with Galway at the same venue next month.

And after pushing the Tribesmen all the way in the corresponding fixture last summer, the Lake County will fancy their chances of causing another upset. They were superb in the second half with Antrim having no answer to their industry and never-say-die attitude. Their perseverance finally paid off when O'Brien gave them the lead for the first time with six minutes remaining and it was left to veteran Brendan Murtagh to seal the Saffrons' fate from a long-range free two minutes from the end.

Both teams lined out as selected with the wind favouring Antrim in the first half. Neil McManus, who was man of the match when the sides met in last year's All-Ireland qualifier in Belfast, opened the scoring for the visitors from a fourth-minute free before Liam Watson doubled their lead within a minute with a point from a tight angle, and he made it 0-3 to 0-0 in the ninth minute after collecting a long ball from Michael Gettins.

The home side had racked up three wides before Castletown-Geoghegan sharpshooter O'Brien finally opened their account from a free in the 15th minute. This followed a long stoppage that saw players from both sides become involved in an off-the-ball incident at the on the Westmeath half back line. Referee Anthony Stapleton booked Westmeath's Jordan and Antrim full forward Liam Watson, while he also banished Antrim water carrier and regular full back Cormac Donnelly (who is currently injured) to the stand.

McManus slotted over his second free to restore the Saffrons' three-point lead after 20 minutes before the same player set up Shane McNaughton for his first score. McNaughton made it 0-6 to 0-1 in the 28th minute after Francis Boyle appeared to be fouled at the opposite end. The Lake County were further aggrieved when Jordan received his second yellow card following a foul on McNaughton, who slotted over the resultant free.

A foul on John Shaw presented O'Brien with Westmeath's second point before Watson hit his third from play. O'Brien scored his third point, and first from play, in the fourth minute of injury-time to leave five in it at the break.

The signs looked ominous for Westmeath when Neil McManus rifled over his third point to give Antrim a 0-9 to 0-3 lead three minutes after the restart. But the 14 men refused to roll over and proceeded to dominate the remainder of the game. The home side put back-to-back scores together for the first time when O'Brien (from a free) and former county footballer Francis Boyle both found the target.

Barney McAuley and Boyle then traded points before Aonghus Clarke closed the gap to three points, 0-10 to 0-7, with 45 minutes on the clock. O'Brien converted another free following a foul on fellow minor Robbie Greville before Liam Watson restored Antrim's three-point lead.

But the momentum remained with the hosts who reduced the deficit to the minimum thanks to two more O'Brien frees. Paddy Dowdall and John Shaw both missed chances to bring Westmeath level before Brendan Murtagh finally restored parity - 0-11 apiece - after a great catch by Adam Price under his crossbar and an even better clearance from Paul Greville.

After O'Brien had a rare wide, Antrim regained the lead through Conor McCann, who had only been on the field a matter of seconds. John Shaw hit an immediate equaliser for the maroons and then came the biggest cheer of the day when O'Brien landed his eighth point to edge them in front for the first time.

A foul on Joe Clarke yielded Westmeath's 14th point from Murtagh, who figured prominently in the home side's comeback. There was still time for the Ulster side to salvage something from the game, but after Liam Watson's goal-bound free was turned away for a '65, the same player was frustrated for a second time when Adam Price made another fantastic fetch in his goalmouth.

The final whistle followed, sparking wild celebrations among the home support who hadn't seen a win of this magnitude since Dublin were downed in the Portlaoise rain six years ago.

Scorers - Westmeath: N O'Brien 0-8 (6f), B Murtagh (1f), F Boyle 0-2 each, A Clarke, J Shaw 0-1 each. Antrim: L Watson 0-4, S McNaughton (1f), N McManus (2f) 0-3 each, B McAuley, C McCann 0-1 each.

Westmeath: S McGovern, C Jordan, A Price, P Fennell, P Dowdall, A McGrath, P Greville, A Clarke, J Clarke, B Murtagh, F Boyle, R Greville, N O'Brien, J Shaw, E Price. Subs: D Fennell for Boyle (62), P Gilsenan for R Greville (72)

Antrim: DD Quinn, J Kerr, C Carson, A Graffin, M Gettens, N McManus, N McAuley, B McAuley, P Shiels, M Herron, B McFall, E McCloskey, D Hamill, L Watson, S McNaughton. Subs: K Stewart for Hamill (46), PJ O'Connell for Herron (56), C McCann for McFall (61), S McCrory for Kerr (67)

Referee: A Stapleton (Laois). Tweet

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