Westmeath and Kerry advance

CHRISTY RING CUP SEMI-FINALS  KERRY REACHED their first Christy Ring Cup final, thanks to a thrilling late comeback at Nenagh on Saturday afternoon. Andrew Keane the Kerry corner back, was red-carded for an off-the ball-strike after three minutes.

Darragh O’Connell (who finished with 10 points), Garry O’Brien and Mikey Boyle helped Kerry move 0-7 to 0-3 ahead but Andy O’Brien’s goal saw Wicklow retire level, 0-10 to 1-7, at the interval. O’Brien’s second goal helped Wicklow lead 2-11 to 0-12.

But goals from Mikey Boyle and Gary O’Brien levelled the tie at 2-14 apiece and three points from O’Connell sealed Kerry’s win.

KERRY:B Rochford; C Harris, T Murnane, A Keane; J Godley, L Boyle, J Fitzgerald; M Conway, J Griffin; J Egan (0-1), M Boyle (1-1), D O'Connell (0-10, eight frees) J M Dooley (0-1), G O'Brien (1-1), S Nolan (0-1). Subs:J Flaherty (0-1) for Egan, C Harty (0-1) for Dooley, A Healy for Harris, S Young for Boyle.

WICKLOW:T Kennedy; E O'Neill, G Keogh, W Collins; B Cuddihy, L Kennedy, G Bermingham; M A O'Neill, E Kearns; T Collins, J O'Neill 0-7 (six frees), R Keddy (0-2), A O'Brien (2-2), D Hyland, E Glynn (0-3). Subs:L Browne for Kearns, S McGrath for M A O'Neill. Referee: D O'Driscoll (Lim).

WESTMEATH’S EARLY blitz, which saw them establish a whopping 2-7 to 0-0 lead by the 18th minute assured them of their place in the Christy Ring Cup final. Goals from Blain Leharte and Brendan Murtagh gave them a 2-9 to 0-4 interval lead, with Kildare’s best player, Martin Fitzgerald, hitting three of their points.

Westmeath goalkeeper Pat Burke saved two penalties in the second half and Andrew Dermody’s 47th-minute goal killed any hopes of a Kildare comeback.

WESTMEATH:P Burke; G Gavin, J Shaw, E Price; R Whelan (0-3), A Mitchell (0-1 free), D McCormack; L Smyth, J Clarke; E Loughlin, B Murtagh (1-5, 1-2 frees), S Bardon (0-1); A Dermody (1-0), B Leharte (1-4), D Carthy (0-3). Subs:A Dowdall (0-2) for Loughlin (50); K Brazil for Smyth (64)

KILDARE:Damien Byrne (0-1 free); P Reidy, Danny Byrne, P Keegan; N Ó Muineacháin, D Kennedy (0-2, free 65), R Hoban; B White, A McAndrew (0-2); F Ó Muineacháin, M Moloney (0-2), T Murphy; D Carter, D Harney, M Fitzgerald (0-9, six points). Subs:M Divilly (0-1) for F Ó Muineacháin (20); P Fitzgerald (0-1) for Murphy (34); P Curtin for Danny Byrne (ht); C Kenny for Harney (54); C Bonus for White (54). Referee:E Morris (Dublin)