Westmeath 3-10
Carlow 0-07
Carlow have been eliminated from the Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Hurling Championship following a 12-point defeat to Westmeath in Friday’s preliminary quarter-final.
The visitors got off to a good start in Mullingar as they raced into an early two-point advantage, but the home side took control of the game in the 16th minute when corner-forward Conor Heffernan ended a 12-minute scoreless period by finding the back of the net to give his team the lead for the first time.
In a competitive first half, two evenly-matched teams exchanged scores before Westmeath full-forward Caolan Ready gave the hosts a 2-04 to 0-05 lead at the interval.
That proved to be the key moment in this clash as Westmeath eased to a comfortable victory in the second half.
A second goal from Heffernan ended any realistic hopes of a comeback from the Barrowsiders who could not kick on from their opening round victory over Wicklow last month.
Westmeath await the remainder of Friday’s results before their last-eight opponents are confirmed.
