A couple of last-gasp goals from substitute Niall Mitchell completed a seismic Westmeath fight-back as they sunk Wexford's hurling summer with Sunday’s stunning Leinster championship fourth round victory at Chadwicks Wexford Park.
Wexford’s much anticipated crucial victory appeared in the bag as they led by 17 points after 32 minutes (2-14 to 0-3).
But Darragh Egan’s charges were second-rate thereafter, with a couple of Niall O’Brien goals stirring a Westmeath resurgence completed by a late double of majors from substitute Niall Mitchell.
It’s the second summer when Westmeath managed by Wexford native Joe Fortune have upset the purple and gold having held them to a draw 12 months ago.
Wexford cannot qualify for the knockout stages as instead they are facing the threat of relegation dependant on next Sunday’s home showdown with Kilkenny.
Westmeath too are battling to avoid the drop as they face Antrim.
If the Saffrons were to beat Westmeath next Sunday, and the Yellowbellies suffer defeat to the Cats, the 2019 Leinster champions would be relegated as Westmeath would survive on the head-to-head record, with both teams on two points.
There certainly were no indications of what was to befall Wexford as they out-hurled Westmeath by 1-7 to 0-1 inside the first quarter.
A fourth minute pointed free from Ciarán Doyle – pegging it back to 0-2 to 0-1 - proved Westmeath’s only submission for the first twenty-one minutes as the hosts ruled the roost.
Indeed, before Doyle’s second submission on 22 minutes, Wexford had generated a 1-8 to 0-1 gulf as they scorched into the action on a sun-drenched afternoon.
Rory O’Connor crafted two early points before being denied a goal by a superb intervention from Darragh Egerton.
But O’Connor hurt Westmeath in the tenth-minute when turning-over an opposition puck-out and feeding Conor McDonald to blast a 1-6 to 0-1 lead.
That combination worked a treat again on 24 minutes, with the elder of the O’Connor brothers, Jack, robbing Westmeath possession to supply Rory, who released to McDonald for his second major.
Three Lee Chin frees together with a sublime line-ball from Jack O’Connor helped ease Wexford firmly into the comfort zone at the break (2-15 to 0-5).
Westmeath shook things up with a couple of personnel alterations for the resumption, and the midlanders suddenly had alarm-bells whirring in the Wexford camp when landing 1-4 without reply to whittle it back to 2-15 to 1-9 by the 43rd minute.
Ciarán Doyle sprayed over three points (two frees) while Niall O’Brien motored through for an uplifting 38th minute goal.
Three Lee Chin scores and another Jack O’Connor line-ball suggested Wexford were rediscovering their mojo when reasserting by 2-19 to 1-11 on 53 minutes.
But then came a couple of crucial near goal misses for the home-side, as Jack O’Connor saw his 55th minute penalty saved after a foul on his brother, before Jack, and Conor McDonald were also denied in quick fashion.
Westmeath’s recovery gained fresh momentum in the 62nd minute when Niall O’Brien latched onto a long delivery to net and cut the gap to 2-22 to 2-13.
Points from Joe Boyle, Niall O’Brien and sub Derek Nicholas further fuelled the fight-back, before the game was absolutely turned on its head by a double salvo of Niall Mitchell goals to seize the initiative by 4-16 to 2-21.
The first on 70 minutes arrived after a long delivery from Cormac Boyle, before Mitchell repeated the dose two minutes into added-time from a Peter Clarke assist.
Wexford couldn’t repair the damage as their 2023 championship was left in tatters by Westmeath’s stunningly resilient pack.
Westmeath: Noel Conaty; Conor Shaw, Tommy Doyle, Johnny Bermingham; Aaron Craig, Robbie Greville, Darragh Egerton; Shane McGovern, Ciarán Doyle (0-11, 10 frees); Eoin Keyes (0-1), Niall O’Brien (2-3, 0-1 free), Charlie McCormick; Owen McCabe, Joseph Boyle (0-1), Davy Glennon.
Sin-bin: Darragh Egerton (55).
Subs: Peter Clarke (0-1) for McGovern (HT), Cormac Boyle for McCormick (HT), Niall Mitchell (2-0) for Glennon (51), Derek McNicholas (0-1) for Doyle (66).
Wexford: James Lawlor; Shane Reck, Liam Ryan, Conor Devitt; Ian Carty (0-1), Matthew O’Hanlon, Simon Donohoe; Jack O’Connor (0-4, 2 line-balls), Cathal Dunbar (0-1); Liam Óg McGovern, Lee Chin (0-6, 4 frees), Oisín Foley (0-2); Rory O’Connor (0-3), Conor McDonald (2-2), Mikie Dwyer (0-1).
Subs: Charlie McGuckin for Dunbar (60), Conor Hearne (0-2) for Dwyer (60), Diarmuid O’Keeffe for Foley (70).
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).
