2022 Allianz Hurling League Division 2A Semi-Final – Westmeath 2-18 Kerry 0-21

Westmeath defeated Kerry by 2-18 to 0-21 in the Division 2A semi final of the Allianz Hurling League on Saturday March 26th at TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar.

Match Highlights

GAANOW has the action from the Allianz Hurling League Division 2A semi-final as Westmeath overcame Kerry. Watch it here! pic.twitter.com/aqsY3YqPre

— The GAA (@officialgaa) March 29, 2022

Westmeath beat Kerry to advance to Division 2A final https://t.co/Mr9MtpLoyC

— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) March 26, 2022

Westmeath beat 14 man Kerry to advance to Division 2A final

Report by Gerry Buckley for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Westmeath 2-18 Kerry 0-21

Despite having an extra man for over an hour, Westmeath had to work very hard to defeat a plucky Kerry side in glorious sunshine at TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar. The win saw them qualify for the Division 2A final against Down next weekend.

Three wides in the opening 100 seconds (two from Kerry) preceded a point exchange between Joey Boyle and Paudie Ahern. It was 0-2 apiece when Kerry were dealt a major blow with the red-carding of the experienced Mikey Boyle in the 11th minute.

Kerry led by 0-5 to 0-3 when wind-assisted Westmeath pounced for a well-taken kicked goal in the 19th minute by Niall Mitchell at the end of a long delivery by Robbie Greville.

Despite some fine shooting by Killian Doyle and Shane Nolan at either ends, the standard of hurling was generally disappointing. The Kingdom were making light of their numerical disadvantage and were in attack mode in the third minute of added-time.

However, a counterattack saw Mitchell tee up Lake County sub and former Galway player Davy Glennon, who superbly rifled the sliotar to the roof of the net. Colin Walsh pointed neatly for Kerry two minutes later, but at the end of a stop-start first half, Westmeath still led by 2-9 to 0-10.

The fare on offer in the second half was much better for the small crowd. Killian Doyle for the home team and both Shane Conway and Padraig Boyle for Kerry remained on song from placed balls, but Westmeath were unable to open any meaningful gap despite the extra man.

Glennon was very influential for Joe Fortune’s charges, while at the other end long deliveries by the Kerry men were generally mopped up by the Westmeath defence, where Darragh Egerton (in particular) and Tommy Doyle excelled.

Dual star Fionan Mackessy was regularly to the fore in defence for Stephen Molumphy’s troops and his great point in the 67th minute left his side trailing by the bare minimum (2-15 to 0-20).

However, Westmeath finished the stronger despite a goalbound strike from Glennon being superbly saved by Louis Dee deep into added-time. A last-gasp effort by Conway to manufacture a goal from a ‘65’ was thwarted and Westmeath will now try to avenge a round robin loss to the Mourne men in next weekend’s decider.

Scorers –

Westmeath: K Doyle 0-9 (8fs), D Glennon, N Mitchell 1-0 each, J Boyle 0-3, R Greville, E Keyes, D McNicholas, J Gillen, N O’Brien, C Boyle 0-1 each.

Kerry: S Conway 0-8 (5fs), P Boyle 0-5 (2fs), F Mackessy, S Nolan 0-2 each, C Walsh, P O’Connor, P Ahern, M O’Connor 0-1 each.

Westmeath: N Conaty; D Egerton, C Shaw, J Galvin; A Craig, T Doyle, A Clarke; R Greville, C Boyle; K Regan, J Boyle, K Doyle; E Keyes, D McNicholas, N Mitchell.
Subs: D Glennon for Clarke (inj., 30), N O’Brien for Keyes (43), J Bermingham for Craig (53), J Gillen for McNicholas (60), S McGovern for Regan (70 + 2).

Kerry: L Dee; C O’Keeffe, E Leen, F Mackessy; E Ross, M Leane, C Walsh; M Boyle, D Collins; S Conway, S Nolan, G Dooley; P O’Connor, P Boyle, P Ahern.
Subs: M O’Connor for Nolan (h-t), N Mulcahy for Ahern (45), F O’Sullivan for Dooley (51), S Weir for Ross (70 + 5).

Referee: P Murphy (Carlow).