Manager Michael Ryan is hoping for an improved performance when Westmeath visit Newbridge for an Allianz Hurling League Division 2A clash against Kildare.
Westmeath were beaten 1-13 to 1-11 by Carlow, and Ryan is aware that a tricky contest awaits with the Lilywhites.
“That won’t be simple, they won in Armagh. We won’t look beyond that. We will look at the entire process, we will prepare properly to go to Newbridge to perform.
“We are very disappointed, that game was there for the taking. We had chances to win it, we just probably didn’t have enough firepower up front. I thought we hurled reasonably well in patches. Even though we were only four points up at half time I was happy enough. I felt the game would open up in the second half, but if you only score three points in the second half of a national league game the chances are you won’t win it. We didn’t win it.”
Ryan maintained that a burst of Carlow scores before half time were critical. “The seven or eight minutes before half time they went from being six or seven points down to three or four.
“That was a crucial period, it always is in games. I thought we had weathered the storm. In the second half we were comfortable enough, they got a goal, but even after the goal we had chances, we didn’t take them.
“We lacked up front for some reason, some of our lads didn’t play to their full potential. We are disappointed, but this isn’t the end because this team will come out fighting next Sunday.”
