Kilkenny 2-10 Westmeath 1-11:KILKENNY WERE pushed all the way by a skilful and determined Westmeath side, before emerging from Mullingar with a two-point victory on Saturday afternoon.
The winners were nine points ahead at the interval (2-5 to 0-2), thanks to goals from Johnny Hayes and Kevin Kelly. However, Westmeath were transformed on the change of ends and a Niall O’Brien goal in the 54th minute brought them level. But Kilkenny pulled clear with late scores from Kelly and Robert Moran.
KILKENNY: A Duggan; L Hickey, C Doyle, E Morrissey; D Cody, O McGrath, E Moriarty; D Kearns (0-1), C Bolger; C Martin, K Kelly (1-6, 4f), P Vickery; T O’Hanrahan, R Reid (0-1), J Hayes (1-1). Subs: M Mansfield for Vickery (26 mins), R Moran (0-1) for Reid (47 mins), D Lenihan for Bolger (55 mins).
WESTMEATH: J Moore; T Gallagher, T Doyle, D McDermott; D Fennell, C Scally (0-3, three frees), L Varley; D Lynch, D McCormack; J Boyle, A Clarke (0-2), P Fennell; N O’Brien (1-4, 3f), D Higgins, R Greville (0-2). Subs: M Glennon (for McCormack 39 mins), N Kirby (for P Fennell 42 mins).
Referee: J Heffernan (Wexford).
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)