NUIG 3-15 Westmeath 0-16:A second-half hat-trick by Niall Burke proved decisive as NUIG defeated a wasteful Westmeath side in the first round of the Walsh Cup on the all-weather pitch at St Loman's Lakepoint Park, Mullingar, yesterday afternoon.

Limerick’s Kevin Downes was also in top scoring form for NUIG, as was Niall O’Brien for Westmeath. However, the home team shot no less than 20 wides over the course of the game, 13 of them in the first half at the end of which they still led the students by 0-9 to 0-8.

The sides were tied at 0-13 each when Burke struck the first of his three goals in the 57th minute and NUIG always looked likely winners from then on. The Galway player pounced for further goals in the 63rd and 67th minutes to seal a flattering win for his team who next face Kilkenny.

NUIG: D Tuohy; D Magner, O Fahy, D Burke; L Markham, B Flaherty, S McCormack (0-1); E Glynn, B Lane; N Deasy, J Cooney (0-1), K Downes (0-7); A Cunningham (0-1), N Burke (3-5, 0-5 frees), G Donoghue. Subs: B Harkin for Markham (h-t), O Teagle for Harkin (67 mins).

Westmeath: P Maloney; P Fennell, P Greville, T Gallagher; D Fennell, A McGrath, E Price; S Power, J Clarke; D McNicholas (0-2), N O’Brien (0-9, 0-6 frees), R Greville (0-2); J Boyle, J Shaw (0-3, 0-2 frees), K Glennon. Subs: B Lehart for Boyle (h-t), M Keegan for Gallagher (50 mins), B O’Mara for Glennon (62 mins). Referee: T Carroll (Offaly).