Michael Ryan’s hurlers overcame London in Division 2A by 2-20 to 2-7 last Sunday (March 12 ) in Mullingar.
Ryan was disappointed with the display, but feels his team will be ready for the Leinster SHC Round Robin series when at full strength.
“I thought we started reasonably well, we were four or five points up,” Ryan remarked in an interview with Midlands Sport 103. “Then we gave away a poor goal. That probably gave them a bit of momentum; the first half was very disappointing. There was a strong wind, but the first half was disappointing. I know we won the game by 13 points, but I certainly wouldn’t be happy with the performance.”
Ryan lamented the fact that Westmeath suffered a couple of early losses in the league, but is looking forward to the trip to Antrim. “We have loads of work to do, loads of improving to do. Lads are coming through putting their hands up for places, so it will be very interesting. We will know a lot more about our team after the game against Antrim, that will be the acid test.
“We were expecting ourselves to win this division, we knew it wouldn’t be easy, that we would have to work hard, but the first game is so crucial. When you look back on the first game against Carlow, we were in control, we had chances, we didn’t take them, they won the game. Then we were on the back foot. We have Cormac Boyle and Niall O’Brien back training, they are quality players.”
