Westmeath continue fine start with onerous victory

WESTMEATH 1-20 KILDARE 2-11

WESTMEATH maintained their perfect start to the league campaign in Mullingar yesterday afternoon with a hard-earned six-point win against Kildare.

The Lilywhites had surprised the same opponents in last year’s corresponding fixture in Newbridge, thereby denting the Lake County’s promotion hopes.

The sides were tied at 0-2 apiece after six minutes when Niall Mitchell, who earlier had converted a sublime lineball, beat Paddy McKenna at the second attempt. The home team led by 1-7 to 0-5 when Kildare’s Martin Fitzgerald scored a great goal in the 24th minute after being teed up by Brian Byrne but Westmeath were full value for their fourpoint interval lead (1-10 to 1-6).

Westmeath continued to look the better team on the change of ends but an opportunist goal by substitute Shane Ryan in the 45th minute brought them to within a point of their hosts (1-12 to 2-8). Some quality points, especially from Killian Doyle and Niall O’Brien, put Westmeath back in control, but James Burke’s outstanding free taking kept the visitors in touch and his quickfire hat-trick of converted frees had the margin down to three points (1-17 to 2-11) with an hour elapsed.

However, Westmeath’s superior class told in the end and they wrapped up a fully deserved victory with unanswered late points from Robbie Greville, O’Brien and John Gilligan, who earlier had spurned a guilt-edged goal opportunity. The outcome never looked in doubt despite the Lilywhites’ last-gasp attempts to garner a consolation goal.

Scorers – Westmeath: N Mitchell 1-2 (0-1 lineball), A Devine 0-5 (4fs), N O’Brien 0-4, C Doyle 0-3, R Greville, K Doyle 0-2 each, C Boyle, J Gilligan 0-1 each. Kildare: J Burke 0-9 (7fs), S Ryan 1-1, M Fitzgerald 1-0, E O’Neill 0-1.

WESTMEATH: S McGovern 6; S Power 6, T Doyle 8, C Shaw 6; L Varley 6, P Greville 7, D McNicholas 6; R Greville 7, C Boyle 6; J Gilligan 6, K Doyle 7, N Mitchell 7; N O’Brien 8, C Doyle

7, A Devine 6. Subs: G Greville 6 for Varley (41), E Price n/r for Mitchell (64), D Egerton n/r for Boyle (70), A Cox n/r for Devine (70 + 2).

KILDARE: P McKenna 6; C Forde 6, J Doran 6, P Sullivan 6; N Ó Muineacháin 5, M Moloney 6, M Grace 6; E O’Neill 7, B Byrne 6; J Burke 8, R Ryan 5, B Deay 6; J Sheridan 5, M Fitzgerald

7, C Bonus 5. Subs: S Ryan 6 for R Ryan (21), K Whelan 6 for Bonus (h-t), D Cahill 6 for Ó Muineacháin (52), S Gainey n/r for Grace (64).

REF: G McGrath (Wexford).