Early blitz sets Westmeath on the way to Ring Cup final

Powered by a very impressive first-quarter performance, at the end of which they led by 2-7 to 0-0, Westmeath's senior hurlers qualified for the Christy Ring Cup final against Kerry on July 3, with a ten-point win over Kildare in ideal weather conditions at Páirc Tailteann last Saturday evening. Westmeath's inconsistency in 2010 to date has been the subject of many column inches but, like the little boy in the ad, when they're good, they're very good, and that was certainly the case for lengthy periods on Saturday. In truth, in the National League fixture in Cusack Park in March, Westmeath were bad. And very bad at that, shipping an embarrassing 11-point drubbing. For that 21-point turnaround, Kevin Martin and his charges deserve enormous credit and, given the far greater numbers backing the Lilywhites during their gallant second-half comeback (due to their footballers' participation in the ensuing football game against Louth), all concerned with the Westmeath camp can feel very pleased with the heart, commitment and skill levels produced throughout the 70 minutes plus. Replacement referee Eamonn Morris got the game underway a minute before the scheduled throw-in time and, in truth, the Dublin whistler spent most of the 18 minutes which followed writing down a procession of Westmeath scores into his notebook, many of the highest quality. The Castletown-Geoghegan duo of Joe Clarke and Blaine Lahart took centre stage early on, with the midfielder setting up the full-forward for two very well-taken scores in the second and fourth minutes respectively. Lahart was on fire at this juncture and he opened up a five-point gap in the seventh minute with a great low finish to the net, to round off a move involving Leo Smith and Brendan Murtagh. The latter player then added 1-1 from frees, pointing from 55 metres and following up by blasting home a 20-metre free off a defender's hurley, after Adrian McAndrew was less than happy to have been adjudged to have fouled the ball. Four more unanswered points followed between the 14th and 18th minutes, from an Andrew Mitchell free (from all of 85 metres), Ronan Whelan (from almost as far out), Dan Carty and Whelan again. Kildare's first score came from former Tipperary All-Ireland medallist David Kennedy (65-metre free). The losers' impressive young corner-forward Martin Fitzgerald opened what was to prove to the biggest haul of any player on show with a neat point from 45 metres. Ronan Whelan then completed an unlikely, but richly-deserved, hat-trick of long-range points. After Martin Fitzgerald converted a pair of relatively straightforward frees, Blaine Lahart rounded off first-half scoring with a lovely point from 30 metres. At the break, Westmeath were firmly in control, leading by 2-9 to 0-4. Ironically, it was Kildare who returned after the interval to by far the loudest round of applause, with many of their large football fan-base now in situ in Navan for the main event of the programme. However, it was the winners who stretched their lead with Dan Carty pointing from a tight angle within 30 seconds of the throw-in. In the fourth minute, Damien Byrne raced up the pitch to attempt to blast home a goal from a 20-metre free, but the cúlbáire's shot flew over rather than under the crossbar. Darren McCormack caught the eye twice in quick succession with outstanding defensive work and Dan Carty displayed classy stickwork to put Westmeath 12 points ahead in the sixth minute. Kildare rallied briefly with three unanswered points, from Martin Fitzgerald, Mark Moloney and substitute Paul Fitzgerald. Stephen Bardon got his name on the scoresheet with a neat point, but another Martin Fitzgerald free and a fine point from Adrian McAndrew had the gap down to eight points by the tenth minute. However, Westmeath took control again and effectively wrapped up the game by rattling off 1-4 without reply between the 12th and 15th minutes. A great block from Leo Smith precipitated a move which freed Andrew Dermody to fire home the great goal his hard work deserved. Further points followed from Brendan Murtagh (three - the third from a free) and Blaine Lahart. After Martin Fitzgerald pointed another free, Mark Moloney landed a well-worked point at exactly the midpoint of the half. A foul on the ever-dangerous Martin Fitzgerald then resulted in a Kildare penalty. Again Damien Byrne raced downfield to take the puck, but his opposite number Pat Burke produced a fabulous save at the expense of a '65' which David Kennedy duly converted. Brendan Murtagh and Martin Fitzgerald (free) exchanged points, before a pair of replacements, Michael Divilly and Alan Dowdall also traded fine points. Pat Burke did very well to keep out David Kennedy's effort as a focused Westmeath rearguard held firm to keep out a goal-hungry Kildare forward line. Three Kildare points ensued via Martin Fitzgerald (two, one free) and Adrian McAndrew, with Pat Burke again called into impressive action with a great save from Paul Fitzgerald. Paddy Dowdall scored his second point in the dying moments of normal time. There was still time for Kildare to be awarded another penalty after a foul on Chris Bonus in the second minute of added-time. This time Richie Hoban was entrusted with the shot, but again Pat Burke rescued the winners and Hoban's effort from the rebound was blocked by a massed defence. Moments later, Eamonn Morris blew the full-time whistle with Kevin Martin's troops safely ensconced in a record-breaking fourth tier two championship final. So will the real Westmeath senior hurling team please stand up? All maroon and white-clad Gaels will certainly be hoping that the side which hurled so well so often during the last two Christy Ring Cup games takes the field on July 3, rather than the lacklustre crew who played poorly in many league games and recently in the Ring Cup against Kerry in Tralee. WESTMEATH: Pat Burke; Greg Gavin, John Shaw, Eoin Price; Ronan Whelan (0-3), Andrew Mitchell (capt, 0-1f), Darren McCormack; Leo Smith, Joe Clarke; Enda Loughlin, Brendan Murtagh (1-5, 1-2f), Stephen Bardon (0-1); Andrew Dermody (1-0), Blaine Lahart (1-4), Dan Carty (0-3). Subs: Alan Dowdall (0-2) for Loughlin (50 mins), Kevin Brazil for Smith (64). KILDARE: Damien Byrne (0-1f); Paudie Reidy, Danny Byrne, Paul Keegan; Neil " Muineacháin, David Kennedy (0-2, 0-1 '65', 1f), Richie Hoban; Billy White, Adrian McAndrew (0-2); Fiachra " Muineacháin, Mark Moloney (0-2), Tony Murphy (capt); David Carter, David Harney, Martin Fitzgerald (0-9, 6f). Subs: Michael Divilly (0-1) for F." Muineacháin (20 mins), Paul Fitzgerald (0-1) for Murphy (34), Patrick Curtin for Danny Byrne (h-t), Conor Kenny for Harney (53), Chris Bonus for White (53). REFEREE: Eamonn Morris (Dublin).