Leinster SHC Semi-final/Kilkenny 1-23 Westmeath 1-9: Winning the Christy Ring Cup and attempting to ambush Kilkenny are incompatible exercises on the hurling pitch.
The message for gallant, if relatively immature, Westmeath was graphically portrayed as the National League holders carved out a 14-point winning margin without any great difficulty at Cusack Park on Saturday.
Kilkenny's slow-burning power and strength of delivery placed Westmeath in a subservient role from which they strove hard but failed to escape.
The combined post-match comments made by one of the game's greatest icons, Eddie Keher, and Kilkenny's manager Brian Cody suggests that the black and amber brigade have a lot of work to do before even anticipating another Leinster crown.
Keher opined: "After winning the league you would think that they would have a settled team. There are quite a number of question marks over some players who to my mind are not up to the standard of other teams."
Cody, whose son Donncha started a right-full back in place of the injured Noel Hickey, contended: "We are happy with the win although I wasn't very happy with the performances of some of our players. Nevertheless we won comfortably enough."
Kilkenny's half-back line of team captain Jackie Tyrell, John Tennyson and Tommy Walsh formed the rock on which many Westmeath attacks floundered. Midfielders Derek Lyng and Richie Mullally were prolific links with the front runners.
Henry Shefflin bagged seven points, four from placed balls. Westmeath's full back Christy Murtagh was never going to be intimidated by the Kilkenny star's reputation and, along with corner backs Conor Jordan and Paul Greville, did well. Westmeath's centre back Darren McCormack was very sound throughout.
Westmeath's daring goalkeeper Mark Briody can claim much credit for two stunning saves. Enda Loughlin in midfield and Andrew Mitchell on the right wing were always impressive for the midland side.
Mitchell was deadly with the placed ball, scoring five points. His long delivery from play towards the end of the first half for Barry Kennedy to slot home the Westmeath goal was typical of his style and class.
Kennedy's goal, unlike that of Kilkenny's scored by Eoin McCormack sent through by Shefflin a couple of minutes earlier, was not the result of a defensive blunder.
Westmeath manager Séamus Qualter remarked: "Had they not scored that goal off a mistake in defence our goal would have made it a six-point game at a late stage in the first half."
Kilkenny led by 1-15 to 1-4 at the interval. The 6,891 crowd was the largest ever to visit Cusack Park for a hurling match.
The indications are, however, that Westmeath can do well in the qualifiers. Qualter added: "We have never played a quality team like Kilkenny ever. We were bound to make those mistakes. Some of our wides could have been kept in play. We went out wanting to perform to our best ability and I think we got close to that ambition."
KILKENNY: J McGarry; M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, D Cody; J Tyrell, J Tennyson, T Walsh; D Lyng, R Mulally (0-3); W O'Dwyer (0-1), M Comerford (0-2), E Larkin; E McCormack (1-3), H Shefflin (0-7, four frees), J Fitzpatrick (0-4). Subs: M Rice (0-3) for Comerford (49 mins), PJ Delaney for Tennyson (51 mins), P Cleere for Larkin (58 mins).
WESTMEATH: M Briody; C Jordan, C Murtagh, P Greville; J Shaw, D McCormack (0-1), N Gavin; B Connaughton (0-1), E Loughlin (0-1); G Gavin, B Murtagh, A Mitchell (0-5, two frees, two 65s); B Kennedy (1-0), D McNicholas, J Clarke (0-1). Subs: D Carty for McNicholas (40 mins), D Devine for G Gavin (49 mins); M Williams for Jordan (70 mins), P Gilsenan for Clarke (70 mins), D Faulkner for Connaughton (70 mins).
Referee: J Sexton (Limerick).
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