Westmeath 2-16
Kerry 1-21
Conor McKenna reports from Cusack Park, Mullingar
KERRY CLAIMED VICTORY away to Westmeath in their second game of the Joe McDonagh Cup, with Fintan O’Connor’s side full value for their two-point win on Saturday afternoon at Cusack Park.
Westmeath were flat on the day in complete contrast to their victory over Offaly last week, while Kerry were excellent on the other hand.
Kerry lost out to Antrim in their first game,but were a different animal on this occasion and were far hungrier and more organised than their Midland counterparts.
It was the visitors who opened the scoring, courtesy of a point from talisman Shane Conway — who scored 0-13 during an impressive performance — in the opening minute, which was quickly cancelled out by a free from Killian Doyle.
Doyle added another free to double his sides lead, as Kerry opted to play with Michael Boyle as an extra defender.
Westmeath held a 0-5 to 0-2 lead with 14 minutes on the clock, but Kerry came back into the game superbly and registered five successive scores to turn a three point deficit into a two point lead.
There lead could have been ever greater had Conor Lynch not produced an excellent save to deny Padraig Boyle, although Kerry were full value for their two point advantage.
The teams were tied at 0-8 points apiece at half time, with Killian Doyle responsible for seven of his sides eight scores.
Westmeath had a great start to the second half, after Killian Doyle’s effort was saved by John B O’Halloran and Allan Devine reacted quickest to the rebound, with the Castlepollard native finishing to the Kerry net with just 25 seconds elapsed in the second half.
Kerry responded superbly to the set-back however and the Kingdom had a three point lead heading into the last ten minutes of proceedings.
Killian Doyle levelled the game with a superb solo goal, but it was immediately cancelled out with a goal from Colum Harty, after he was picked out superbly by Michael Slattery.
Westmeath trailed by three at this juncture, but Kerry were dealt a major blow when Tomas O’Connor was shown a second yellow card in the 66th minute.
Westmeath added the next three scores to level the game and the teams were tied heading into four minutes additional time, before Shane Conway stepped up with a “65” to restore his sides advantage.
Both sides traded scores in stoppage time, before Patrick Murphy blew for full time, much to the delight of the Kerry contingent, who held on for a narrow two-point win.
Scorers for Westmeath: K Doyle 1-11 (8f), A Devine 1-0, D Clinton 0-2, R Greville, S Clavin and E Price 0-1 each.
Scorers for Kerry: S Conway 0-13 (0-7f, 0-2 ’65), C Harty 1-1, J Conway 0-3, P Kelly, M O’Leary, J O’Connor and P Boyle 0-1 each.
Westmeath
1. Conor Lynch (St. Oliver Plunketts)
2. Darragh Egerton (Clonkill)
3. Tommy Doyle (Lough Lene Gaels)
4. Gary Greville (Raharney)
5. Conor Shaw (Brownstown)
6. Aonghus Clarke (Castletown Geoghegan)
7. Paul Greville (Raharney)
8. Cormac Boyle (Raharney)
9. Shane Clavin (Castletown Geoghegan)
10. Joey Boyle (Raharney)
11. Killian Doyle (Raharney)
12. Robbie Greville (Raharney)
13. Niall Mitchell (Clonkill)
14. Derek McNicholas (Lough Lene Gaels)
15. Ciarán Doyle (Raharney)
Substitutes:
26. Darragh Clinton (Delvin) for Mitchell (24)
17. Allan Devine (Castlepollard) for C Doyle (h-t)
25. Eoin Price (Clonkill) for McNicholas (h-t)
24. Shane Power (Clonkill) for Shaw (58)
23. John Gilligan (Fr. Dalton’s) for J Boyle (70 + 3)
Kerry
1. John B O’Halloran (Kilmoyley)
2. James O’Connor (Abbeydorney)
3. Bryan Murphy (Causeway)
4. Seán Weir (Crotta O’Neill’s)
5. Evan Murphy (Causeway)
6. Patrick Kelly (Clarecastle)
7. Daniel Collins (Kilmoyley)
8. Dan Goggin (Causeway)
9. Tomás O’Connor (Crotta O’Neill’s)
10. Michael O’Leary (Abbeydorney)
11. Shane Conway (Lixnaw)
12. Jack Goulding (Ballyduff)
13. Padraig Boyle (Ballyduff)
14. Michael Boyle (Ballyduff)
15. Colum Harty (Causeway)
Substitutes:
19. Jordan Conway (Crotta O’Neill’s) for Kelly (40)
20. Michael Slattery (Abbeydorney) for Goggin (61)
Referee: Patrick Murphy (Carlow)
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Serious atmosphere here in Cavan. This is exactly where you want to be playing the All Ireland Champions. Whatever the result these games against the top 4 will stand to us in the summer months
It’s exactly the gate the county board needed as well
Mind blowing that people would actually travel to watch that rubbish sport.
@Ordinary lad: the much “hyped” Irish Rugby team lost yesterday. How much money do those lads earn?
Mind blowing that someone would take the time to open an article about a sport they consider to be ‘rubbish’ and then take the time to comment on it.
How can a team that receives €120k in funding compete against a team that receives €1.4million
Hahaha give over Al . Deep down you love the gaa
@Alan b..: Sure all the money we’ll be spending here we’ll double that funding for you pal ;)
a decent workout so far get rid of the Jamaican rum and redstripe against another nordie team who’s sole intention is to pull drag and hit off the ball.
Don’t know what game your watching. The hits off the ball have been 50:50.
Eh cavan is in the south of Ireland Einstein
fergal reilly should count himself lucky to share a pitch with these wonderful dublin footballers instead of going around like a drunk at a wedding looking for a fight.
That was stared by the Dublin man on the ground. You’re incredibly anti ulster football
And then mdma was the first man to get involved.
And who look for a figth at a wedding
ah lorcan stop it now.
fergal reilly would.
it’s north of me ya tit
@Alan b..: that explains why the dubs were late they looked at a map and headed north. When did this geographical transplant take place.
don’t be a tit like alan cavan play in ulster which is up north so they are nordies.
Cavan is not in Northern Ireland you don’t cross the border or use sterling
I didn’t say it was in Northern Ireland .
What do you mean by nordie then?if you are calling them that cos they’re north of you does that mean someone from cork would class Dublin as a nordie team
if they wanted to yes beacuse they would be northern to a Cork person now cavan is in ulster and part of the Republic of Ireland beacuse the brits didn’t want the kip so yes you are nordies which we where stuck with.
Stop you’re just embarrassing yourself
What part of Dublin are you from?
what difference does it make?
cavan play in the ulster champions with the other 8 nordie counties it’s no big deal just accept it is the way it is don’t be embarrassed alan.
All the complaints about dublins fans. Have any other county brought a few thousand fans with them today ?
@Gavin Byrne: In comparison Dublin have a fan base of about 10 times what other counties have. So of course they will bring large numbers with them.
Fair play today they really brought a fantastic atmosphere and plenty of money to Cavan town today
That a few time in the last three years the cavan has been delayed because of the fans.
If the dubs can’t make it to croke park on time how do you expect them to make it to cavan on time
@Lorcán Coyle: Should know by now that nothing in Cavan ever starts on time, nearest fifteen minutes, sure that’ll do.!!!
Ref jersey looks too like Dubs
We’ll save that excuse for later
Massive achievement if Roscommon can some how stay up in Division 1.
Lorcan are u watching the match