Allianz Hurling League Division 2A – Kerry 2-10 Westmeath 0-13

Kerry get early boost as Westmeath edged out

By Mortimer Murphy for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Kerry 2-10 Westmeath 0-13

New-look Kerry gained a valuable brace of league points after a deserved win over youthful Westmeath in this Allianz Division 2A opener in Tralee yesterday. It was a game decided by Kerry’s ability to score goals at vital junctures but in truth both sides were guilty of bad wides, Kerry amassing 12 while Westmeath managed 10 and also spurned two great goal chances. The first half skirmishes resulted in a one-point interval advantage for Westmeath (0- 8 to 1-4) with Aodan Boyle blasting the ball to the net in the 17th minute for Kerry’s goal after connecting with a Darragh O’Connell free. Kerry, buoyed by the introduction of John Griffin, started the second half well and it was in this opening five minute spell that Shane Nolan goaled and also added two points to give Kerry a four point lead.

They were always in control thereafter. The Kerry defence was superb with Tom Murnane outstanding at full back and with John Griffin and Daniel Collins dominant around the middle, the Westmeath attack never threatened except for the efforts of the Damian McNicholas. Nolan and Seanie Maunsell gave Kerry a six-point lead with just ten minutes left, too much of a gap for Westmeath to bridge though late points from McNicholas (two) and free from Eoin Price kept the home crowd on edge.

Scorers for Kerry: S Nolan 1-7 (0-3 frees, 0-1 ’65), A Boyle 1-1, P Boyle and S Maunsell 0-1 each

Westmeath: D McNicholas 0-4, N O’Brien 0-4 (0-1 free), E Price 0-2 (0-1 free), C Jordan, S Power and J Shaw 0-1 each

KERRY: B Rochford, R Horgan, T Murnane, P O’Keeffe, T Barrett, D Dineen, D O’Connell, D Collins, B Brosnan, B O’Leary, G O’Brien, W O ‘Dwyer, P Boyle , A Boyle , S Nolan

Subs: J Griffin for B Brosnan (29), S Maunsell for G O’Brien (46)

WESTMEATH: P Collins, M Keegan, A McGrath, T Gallagher, E Price, C Jordan, P Gilsenan, R Greville, S Power, J Boyle, J Clarke, A Clarke, D McNicholas, N O’Brien, J Shaw.

Subs: B Leharte for J Boyle (45), D Fennell for N O’Brien (54), C Glennon for J Shaw (65)

Referee: S Hourigan (Limerick)

Team News

The Kerry Senior Hurling Team to play Westmeath in the Allianz Hurling League Div 2A in Austin Stack Park on Sunday next at 1 pm is as follows:

1. Bernard Rochford Killeagh (Cork)

2. Rory Horgan St Brendans

3. Tom Murnane Kilmoyley

4. Patrick O’Keeffe Glenflesk

5. Tommy Barrett Causeway

6. Darren Dineen St Brendans

7. Darragh O’Connell Abbeydorney

8. Daniel Collins Kilmoyley

9. Brendan Brosnan Lixnaw

10. Brendan O’Leary Abbeydorney

11. Gary O’Brien Ballyduff

12. Willie O’Dywer Mullinavat (Kilkenny)

13. John Egan St Brendans

14. Aidan Boyle Ballyduff (Captain)

15. Shane Nolan Crotta O Neills

16. PJ Gorman Ballyduff

17. Brian O’Leary Abbeydorney

18. Pat Joe Connolly Ballyduff

19. Sean Maunsell Kilmoyley

20. Padraig Boyle Ballyduff

21. Sean Dowling Kilmoyley

22. Colm Harty Causeway

23. Jason Leahy Causeway

24. Mikey O’Halloran Ballyheigue

25. Cyril Lynch Crotta O’Neills

26. John Griffin Lixnaw

Mangement

Manager: Tom Howard

Trainer: Fergie O’Loughlin

Selectors : Padraig Regan, (Kilmoyley); Mike Burke (Causeway); Noel Browne (Ballyduff)