Offaly minor hurlers maintain 100% record to top their group by defeating Westmeath

Both sides were already through the the preliminary quarter-finals ahead of this game and the outcome was to decide who would finish top of the group.

After being level at half-time, Offaly improved their game in the second half and two goals in three minutes in the third quarter were decisive.

The first half was close, with the sides level on six occasions. The lead changed hands a couple of times, but the sides went in at the break deadlocked 0-8 apiece.

Offaly relied on the accuracy of Killian Wynne from frees in the first half as he accounted for five of Offaly's points and two early points from Brian Guinan were their only scores from play, while Kian Loughlin pointed three Westmeath frees, but they had a better spread of scorers from play with Cormac McKeogh, Eoin Meehan, Dillon Burke and Ryan Williams all on target.

It was still even early in the second half before Killian Wynne's goal put Offaly four ahead.

Cormac MeKeogh responded two minutes later with an excellent finish to get Westmeath back in it, but straight from the puck out, Offaly went back downfield and Conor Egan netted their second goal.

Westmeath did manage to get the gap down to two points with 10 minutes left, but Offaly finished stronger with late points to seal their win.

Scorers – Offaly: K Wynne 1-6 (6f); C Egan 1-1; O Fletcher 0-3 (1f); B Guinan 0-2; A Hogan (f), M Dooley, M Mitchell 0-1 each. Westmeath: C McKeogh 1-2; K Loughlin 0-5 (5f); R Williams, E Meehan 0-2 each; D Burke, D Corrigan 0-1 each.

Offaly: M Watkins; C Berry, J McLoughney, C Kinnarney; O Carroll, A Hogan, M Dooley; L Bracken, J O'Sullivan; B Guinan, K Wynne, E Maher; O Fletcher, C Egan, J Hennessy. Subs: M Mitchell for Kinnarney (47), M Feenane for Hennessy (51), J Sampson for Wynne (56), S Carey for Egan (61).

Westmeath: C Og Fagan; O McCauley, M Weir, D Mulligan; B McNamee, S Hayes, C Fleming; C Ward, F Higgins; C McKeogh, D Corrigan, E Meehan; K Loughlin, D Burke, R Williams. Subs: M Davis for Burke (43), S Gavigan for Ward (53).S

Referee: D Alford (Dublin)