Allianz Hurling League Division 2A – Westmeath 0-19 Kerry 3-8

Murtagh seals Westmeath win

Westmeath 0-19 Kerry 3-08

By Paul O’Donovan for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Not even a hat-trick by Kerry’s Padraig Boyle could prevent Westmeath from getting off to a winning start in their Allianz Division 2A campaign at Cusack Park, Mullingar, yesterday. Westmeath led at the break by 0-12 to 1-6, with Boyle grabbing the first of his three goals in the 14th minute. The home side should have been out of sight 10 minutes into the second half, but they struck too many wides and wasted too much possession. This allowed Kerry to stay in contention and when Boyle flicked his second goal to the net, the Munster men trailed by just a point.

Boyle’s third goal in the 54th minute put Kerry one point in front, but Westmeath rallied and four points by the excellent Brendan Murtagh ensured a win for the Lake County. Murtagh was certainly the star for Westmeath as he finished the match with a personally tally of 13 points.

Scorers for Westmeath: B Murtagh 0-13 (8fs, 1 65), A Mitchell 0-2, A McGrath, J Gilligan, F Boyle, P. Dowdall 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kerry: P Boyle 3-0, S Brick 0-4 (3fs), W Dwyer 0-2, S Nolan, A Boyle 0-1 each.

WESTMEATH: S. McGovern; P. Fennell, A. Price, C. Jordan; J. Gilligan, E. Price, P. Gilsenan; P. Dowdall, J. Clarke; B. Murtagh, A. McGrath, P. Greville; F. Boyle, A. Mitchell, C. Boyle.

Subs: D Carty for C Boyle (53), A Clarke for A Mitchell (60), D McCormack for Jordan (60), C Jordan for Fennell (65).

KERRY: B Rochford; R Horgan, T Murnane, P Costello; J Godley, J Casey, C Harris; D Dineen, J Griffin; D O’Connell, M Boyle, W Dwyer; P Boyle, S Brick, S Nolan.

Subs: A O’Connor for Godley (25), C Harty for Casey (33), A Boyle for O’Connell (47), D Walsh for Harty (55).

Referee: Garrett Duffy (Antrim)