Lake men sweep Kildare aside

WESTMEATH took full advantage of their numerical supremacy yesterday as they advanced to the O’Byrne Cup semi-final with a six-point win over Kildare at The Downs. Pascal Connell was dismissed just before half-time with the game firmly in the balance. David Slattery’s 19th-minute goal boosted the visitors into a 1-5 to 0-7 interval lead. That goal was then cancelled out by Joe Halligan just seconds after the restart. Boss Jack Cooney would have been pleased as his side made the most of their advantage in the second-half. Ger Egan was instrumental to everything the Lake men did, the Tyrrellspass clubman top scoring with 0-6 (three from play). Mattie Kenny kept his 100 per cent record with Dublin intact as the Blues secured a Walsh Cup semi-final clash against Galway. Kenny’s joy came at Laois’ expense at O’Moore Park, with the hosts losing by a margin of two points, 1-18 to 1-16. It was John Hetherton’s return of seven points that did the damage. Dublin’s Eamonn Dillon netted their goal in the fourth minute, but that was cancelled out by Aaron Dunphy and the sides went in level at the break, 1-8 apiece. Laois weren’t about go quietly, though. With 15 minutes gone in the second-half, Eddie Brennan’s charges led by the narrowest of margins but Fergal Whitely levelled matters shortly after and the visitors went on to win. Meanwhile, Carlow got the better of Offaly by 2-18 to 0-18 in Netwatch Cullen Park. Goals in either half from Chris Nolan and Martin Kavanagh proved to be the difference between the teams while the Faithful County were left to count the cost of 18 wides. In round three of the Kehoe Cup, it finished Wicklow 0-10 to Kildare’s 3-20.