Allianz Hurling League: Antrim's losing run continued by Westmeath defeat

Antrim are yet to record a victory in Division One this season

Antrim's quest for a win in Division One this year rolls on as they were undone by Westmeath, losing 2-18 to 1-15 in a gloomy Mullingar.

A lengthy injury list and the Ulster U20 final taking place in Belfast left the Saffrons down to the bare bones.

Despite a valiant effort, they failed to bag a morale-boosting win.

Antrim never led in the game, with the hosts managing to respond any time Darren Gleeson's men mounted a charge.

Aided by a string wind, Westmeath hit the first three points with David Williams landing the first of his six in the opening period, while David O'Reilly and Eoin Keys would also get off the mark.

Conal Cunning put Antrim on the board after eight minutes as they began to grow into the game, with the Dunloy man and Conor McCann coming to the fore.

Antrim had crept to within one point on 22 minutes when disaster struck, as Keys sent in a shot for a point that was dropping but Antrim goalkeeper Tiernan Smyth fumbled into the net.

However, the Saffrons would wipe this out within two minutes as Scott Walsh availed of an advantage to go long and Niall McKenna met it in the air to bat to the net.

McKenna fired in Antrim's only goal of the game

Cunning levelled the game at 1-6 soon after, but Westmeath would finish the half well to lead 1-12 to 1-8, with Williams keeping the board ticking.

As daylight continued to fade, the second half was much more scrappy, but again it was Westmeath to make the better start with the opening two scores, but they would wait another 15 minutes for a third.

Antrim managed just two of their own in that time as they looked to play inside rather than shoot from distance, but Niall O'Connor would find his range from out the field.

There was just three points in it and Antrim were seemingly getting on top when they were hit with a second goal they will feel could have been prevented.

Mitchell delivered long from a free that broke and substitute Davy Glennon whipped home with 10 minutes to play.

He and Killian Doyle would make fine impacts in the second period with the hosts able to manage it out in the final stages to claim their first win of the campaign.

Antrim will now look ahead to round off their campaign against Tipperary next week knowing they are destined for the new-look Division 1B next year.