Westmeath make early gains

Christy Ring Cup Final/Westmeath 2-15 Kildare 0-13:Westmeath captured their second Christy Ring title in three seasons with a comfortable eight-point victory over Kildare at Croke Park yesterday.

The result was never really in doubt after John Shaw scored Westmeath's opening goal after 15 minutes.

Kildare were then the architects of their own downfall seven minutes later when Conor Cunningham palmed the ball to defender Ronan Tynan who was challenged by Derek McNicholas.

The loose ball was lashed home by Andrew Mitchell and Westmeath went on to lead by 2-7 to 0-3 at half-time.

Kildare outscored their Leinster rivals 0-10 to 0-8 in the second half but they never looked like mounting a comeback.

Kildare had Tipperary's 2001 All-Ireland senior medallists David Kennedy and Paddy O'Brien in their ranks yet the team as a unit looked off the pace.

Westmeath had too much craft and hurling know-how for their outclassed opponents but, despite this victory, Séamus Qualter's men will not be rewarded with MacCarthy Cup hurling next season after the GAA ruled that the current three-tier format should be retained.

WESTMEATH: E Price; N Gavin, P Greville, C Jordan; P Dowdall, D McCormack, B Connaughton; J Shaw (1-2), P Clarke (0-1); R Whelan, B Murtagh, A Mitchell (1-3, three frees); B Kennedy (0-2), D McNicholas (0-1), D Carty (0-5). Subs: E McLoughlin (0-1) for Whelan (26 mins), A Price for Gavin (half-time), J Clarke for P Clarke (54 mins), B Smyth for Murtagh (66 mins), C Murtagh for Connaughton (70 mins).

KILDARE: C Cunningham; T Finnerty, P Reidy, R Tynan; D Harney, D Kennedy, M Moloney; C Buggy, B White (0-7, six frees); K Divilly, T Spain, P O'Brien (0-2, frees); B Byrne, A McAndrew, O Lynch (0-3). Subs: J Doran for Tynan (23 mins), R Hoban for Spain (half-time), B Coulston for Divilly (47 mins), M Dowd for Byrne (47 mins), D Nolan (0-1) for O'Brien (59 mins).

Referee: J Sexton (Cork).