Tommy Doyle solos forward to score a fine goal for Westmeath, in Sunday’s Joe McDonagh Cup game against Kerry at TEG Cusack Park. Pics: J McCauley.

O’Connor’s late goal seals victory for Kerry against disappointing Westmeath

Published: Mon 22 Apr 2024, 5:11 PM

Last updated: Fri 26 Apr 2024, 3:10 PM

Kerry 1-20, Westmeath 1-14

By Gerry Buckley

Producing a very flat, error-strewn and wasteful performance, Westmeath’s senior hurlers got their Joe McDonagh Cup campaign off to the worst possible start in sun-drenched TEG Cusack Park last Sunday afternoon, a hungry and focused Kerry outfit deservedly leaving Mullingar with a brace of precious championship points in the bag.

The men in the famous green and gold jerseys led from start to finish and, in truth, Joe Fortune’s troops seldom looked like overtaking them. Even the tonic of a sensational goal from Tommy ‘Jogger’ Doyle in the 59th minute (which left his side trailing by just two points) failed to ignite a dramatic late charge. Overall, Kerry were full value for their six-point winning margin, copper-fastened by an injury-time goal from the game’s top scorer Maurice O’Connor.

Of course, all is not lost as there are still four more round robin ties to come, starting with an extremely tough challenge in Tullamore next Saturday afternoon, where any semblance of a repetition of the very poor display from two days ago will surely bring dreams of tier two glory to a shuddering halt against an improving Offaly side.

Scorers - Kerry: M O'Connor 1-10 (0-10f), F Mackessy 0-4 (2f), R Walsh 0-3, D Shanahan, N Mulcahy, K Hayes 0-1 each. Westmeath: K Doyle 0-11 (7f), T Doyle 1-1, A Clarke, S McGovern 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Noel Conaty; Johnny Bermingham, Tommy Doyle, Kevin Regan; Darragh Egerton, Aonghus Clarke, Charlie McCormack; Robbie Greville, Shane McGovern; Niall Mitchell, Killian Doyle, Owen McCabe; Darragh Clinton, Joey Boyle, Jack Gillen. Subs used: David Williams for Clinton (29), David O’Reilly for Gillen (29), Peter Clarke for McGovern (42), Eoin Keyes for McCabe (50), Ciaran Doyle for Boyle (65).

Kerry: Louis Dee; Evan Murphy, Flor McCarthy, Daithí Griffin; Kyle O’Connor, Fionán Mackessy, Eric Leen; Darragh Shanahan, Colin Walsh; Rónán Walsh, Killian Hayes, Niall Mulcahy; Luke Crowley, Michael Leane, Maurice O’Connor. Subs used: Gavin Dooley for Mulcahy (45), Brandon Barrett for Crowley (56), David Woulfe for Leane (56), Bill Keane for Leen (67 – 70, blood), Bill Keane for McCarthy (70+2).

Ref: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny).