Westmeath make extra man count to book 2A final date

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, thereby qualifying for a 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 0-02 apiece when Kerry were dealt a major blow with the red-carding of the experienced Mikey Boyle in the 11th minute.

The Kingdom led by 0-05 to 0-03 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, but the visitors made light of their numerical disadvantage and were in attack mode in the third minute of added-time.

However, a counter-attack 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 2-09 to 0-10.

The fare on offer in the second half was much improved, with Killian Doyle for the home team and both Shane Conway and Padraig Boyle for Kerry remaining 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 and Tommy Doyle excelled.

Dual star Fionan Mackessy was regularly to the fore in defence for Stephen Molumphy’s