Kildare power on to claim Leinster minor glory

Kildare 2-15 Westmeath 2-7
Kildare captured their first Leinster minor title since 1991 in impressive fashion at Croke Park yesterday.

Trailing by two points early on Brian Murphy’s charges scored seven points without reply to take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Wayne Fitzpatrick was central to Kildare’s first half charge, with the Monasterevin clubman registering five points as Kildare claimed an 0-8 to 0-3 interval lead.

The Lilywhites registered 11 first-half wides and brought that tally to 17 by the full-time whistle, but they continued to impress in the second half.

Westmeath edged back with scores from Luke Loughlin, Darren Giles and Darragh Clinton, but Mark Sherry’s 39th minute goal kick-started a spell which saw Kildare register 2-5 without reply, including their second goal from man of the match Chris Healy.

Westmeath battled on with Loughlin netting a 53rd-minute penalty and Andrew McCormack scored another in injury time.