Kerry hurlers led from start to finish as they sprung a big surprise in sun-drenched Mullingar when they deservedly overturned Division 1 side Westmeath by a deserved six-point margin.
Stephen Molumphy's side charged straight out of the traps and Rónán Walsh fired over a great point after 45 seconds.
Further Kerry points ensued from the sticks of Maurice O’Connor (two frees) and Niall Mulcahy, before Killian Doyle opened the home team’s account with a converted free in the 11th minute. The 2022 All Star nominee added two more points – the second of them from open play – to leave his side trailing by 0-04 to 0-03 with a quarter of an hour played.
However, despite Westmeath not availing of two half-chances of goals, most of the good hurling on display came from the Munster men and they pounced for four unanswered points by the 24th minute courtesy of O’Connor (two more frees), Darragh Shanahan, and Walsh’s second great score.
Joe Fortune was forced to introduce U20 stars David O’Reilly and David Williams earlier than was probably anticipated, and Westmeath outscored their opponents by three points (Killian Doyle, Tommy Doyle and Shane McGovern) to one (a gift for Fionán Mackessy) by the half-time break. However, Kerry still led by 0-09 to 0-06 at the interval.
Westmeath had the deficit down to the bare minimum (0-12 to 0-11) by the 46th minute, their last two scores superbly taken by Aonghus Clarke and Killian Doyle. However, Kerry always looked to have a little in hand, and with O’Connor unerring from placed balls and Mackessy a dominant figure at centre half back, the gap was five (0-16 to 0-11) at the end of the third quarter.
Killian Doyle (a free) and Walsh (his third of the afternoon) traded points before veteran defender Tommy Doyle had the home crowd on their feet, careering goalwards before flicking the ball past Louis Dee for a tonic goal in 59th minute.
The Lake County men continued to lob high balls in the direction of the towering Niall Mitchell, but the winners’ defence invariably read the situation well.
The deficit was three points (0-19 to 1-13) at the end of normal time. A minimum of four minutes added-time was announced, and in the second of these a Mackessy delivery fell kindly for O’Connor who found the net to add to his nine converted frees. O’Connor (entering double figures) and Doyle traded points from late frees.
Kerry: L Dee; E Murphy, F McCarthy, D Griffin; K O’Connor, F Mackessy (0-04, 0-02 frees), E Leen; D Shanahan (0-01), C Walsh; R Walsh (0-03), K Hayes (0-01), N Mulcahy (0-01); L Crowley, M Leane, M O’Connor (1-10, 0-10 frees).
Subs: G Dooley for Mulcahy (45), B Barrett for Crowley (56), D Woulfe for Leane (56), B Keane for Leen (67 – 70, blood), B Keane for McCarthy (70+2).
Westmeath: N Conaty; J Bermingham, T Doyle (1-01), K Regan; D Egerton, A Clarke (0-01), C McCormack; R Greville, S McGovern (0-01); N Mitchell, K Doyle (0-11, 0-07 frees), O McCabe; D Clinton, J Boyle, J Gillen.
Subs: D Williams for Clinton (29), D O’Reilly for Gillen (29), P Clarke for McGovern (42), E Keyes for McCabe (50), C Doyle for Boyle (65).
Referee: S Cleere (Kilkenny).
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