NHL Dvision 2 - Wexford 1-20 Westmeath 0-14:A LATE goal from substitute Jim Berry proved the insurance score as Wexford opened their campaign with an expected win over Westmeath at Cusack Park, Mullingar, yesterday.

The home side started well and Enda Loughlin’s two fine points helped them lead 0-5 to 0-3 after 13 minutes. Westmeath still led 0-6 to 0-5 after 25 minutes but the visitors, with PJ Nolan calling the shots in midfield, went on to score eight unanswered points (including three Diarmuid Lyng frees) before the break, to ease into a 0-13 to 0-6 lead at half-time.

Westmeath raised their game and five points without reply from Andrew Mitchell and Brendan Murtagh had the deficit down to just a goal in the third quarter.

However, Berry’s superb 63rd minute goal effectively ended the match as a contest.

WEXFORD:D Flynn; E Doyle, P Roche, K Rossiter; D Stamp (0-1), C Kenny (0-1), R Keogh; W Doran, C Farrell; D Lyng (0-9, seven frees, one '65'), PJ Nolan (0-3), D Nolan (0-1); R Jacob (0-1), S Banville (0-1), P Atkinson (0-1). Subs:M Travers (0-1) for Stamp (54 mins), J Berry (1-0) for Banville (57 mins), A Shore (0-1) (for D Nolan, 63 mins), D Kehoe (for Doyle, 68 mins).

WESTMEATH:P Burke; G Gavin, D McCormack, A Price; J Shaw, A Mitchell (0-5, three frees, one '65'), E Price; J Clarke, P Dowdall (0-1); E Loughlin (0-2), B Murtagh (0-5, five frees), C Curley (0-1), A Dowdall, D McNicholas, D Carty. Subs:P Greville for A Dowdall (28 mins), P Gilsenan for Carty (47 mins), R Jackson for McNicholas (53), K Cosgrove for Loughlin (58 mins), N Flanagan (for Clarke, 69 mins).

Referee:T Carroll (Offaly).