Westmeath minors fade away in second half as Kildare take title

An 11-point turnaround in the second half resulted in Kildare being crowned All-Ireland minor hurling "B" champions at Semple Stadium on Saturday afternoon last, with Westmeath only managing a miserly two points in the second half of a reasonably entertaining encounter. A small but enthusiastic crowd - mainly from Kildare - was present in Thurles for the first of Saturday"s All-Ireland final double-header and it was the supporters clad in all-white who went away happy after a great fightback saw their captain, Sean Whelan, deservedly receive the silverware from GAA President, Nickey Brennan, after a topsy-turvy 60 minutes. Kildare"s hunger was a vital factor in the second moiety and Westmeath were outhurled and outfought in the second half hour. Westmeath, who had the advantage of a slight wind in the first half, could not have hoped for a better start, when a long delivery by Stephen Bardon (Lough Lene Gaels) set up Barry O"Meara who duly whipped the ball to the net, with only 22 seconds on the clock. However, the Lilywhites responded well and Martin Fitzgerald rifled over a "65", after a great block by Conor Sleator on Johnny Byrne, and the same player (who had a really outstanding game all through) followed up with a second point from a 40-metre free. Stephen Bardon (Castlepollard) soon displayed his prowess from placed balls with a well-struck "65" and, after Darrach MacDonncha effected a great hook as Michael Heffernan seemed set to goal, Barry O"Meara put the Lake County a goal ahead with a fine pointed free from an acute angle. The respective number 8s, Johnny Byrne and Stephen Bardon (Castlepollard), exchanged points, sandwiched between which Martin Fitzgerald"s "65" for the winners came back off the upright. At the midpoint of the half, a neat Westmeath move ended with Killian Murphy pointing. At the other end, Westmeath netminder, Michael Boyle had to be alert to deflect Martin Fitzgerald"s rasping shot over the crossbar. Fine defending by Kildare"s Ryan McGrath kept out Barry O"Meara"s goal attempt, but Daniel Riggs pointed stylishly in the follow-up. In the 22nd minute, an eye-catching first touch by Kildare substitute, Eoin Doyle set up Michael Purcell for a great point. Westmeath replied with an exquisite 30-metre lineball from Barry O"Meara which dissected the posts. Castlepollard"s Stephen Bardon followed up with a great long-range free in the 25th minute, but nine scoreless minutes ensued (including injury-time), leaving Westmeath looking poised for victory as they led by 1-7 to 0-5 at the interval. However, the second moiety was almost all-Kildare and a brace of points from Martin Fitzgerald (one from a free) had the gap down to a goal by the fifth minute. Westmeath responded with a converted 50-metre free from Barry O"Meara (when the referee needlessly brought back play, after disallowing a great "point" from Darren Kilcoyne) but the game turned completely on its head between the ninth and the 11th minutes, with a scoring blitz of 2-1 without reply giving the Lilywhites a lead they would not relinquish. A 50-metre shot from Eoin Doyle, which came off Michael Boyle"s hurley, went over the Westmeath crossbar (and could easily have gone under), before a great solo run from Martin Fitzgerald ended with the star corner forward setting up the unmarked Ross Kelly, who fired an unstoppable shot to the Westmeath net from 15 metres. The umpire had hardly put the green flag back in its slot when he was bending again, Michael Boyle being deceived by Martin Fitzgerald"s innocuous 45-metre shot for a soft goal. Out of the blue, Kildare were a goal ahead (2-8 to 1-8) and firmly in the driving seat. In the 12th minute, Stephen Bardon (Castlepollard) pointed a free from the halfway line but it was to prove to be Westmeath"s last score of the match. Midway through the half, two points in as many minutes, the first from Martin Fitzgerald and the second a sublime effort from Eoin Doyle (it seemed strange that he did not start the game) put the winners four points ahead. A similar two-point haul in the 21st and 22nd minutes, from a Martin Fitzgerald "65" and another point from a sub, Philip Cocoman rounded off match scoring with all of eight minutes of normal time remaining. To their credit, Westmeath rallied and a great burst goalwards from Darren Kilcoyne ended with Kildare captain, Sean Whelan pulling off a fine save. In the closing exchanges, Barry O"Meara tried unsuccessfully to blast home a 30-metre free, before a foul on substitute Stephen Boylan resulted in the latter player taking the ensuing penalty, but a combination of full back Eanna O"Neill and the butt of the post kept out his low-trajectory effort. In one last throw of the dice, Castlepollard"s Stephen Bardon was thwarted by mass Kildare defending. This was an undoubted setback for underage hurling in Westmeath, following on from a noteworthy semi-final win over Meath. On Saturday, Seamus Qualter"s young charges were best served by defenders Derek Healy and Conor Sleator, both Stephen Bardons in midfield, with Barry O"Meara the liveliest of a disappointing attack. Over the hour, Kildare deserved their triumph. They had a very strong central spine in Eanna O"Neill and Stephen Piggott, while Brian Ahern worked tirelessly in and around centrefield. Unquestionably, corner forward Martin Fitzgerald was the best player on show and he got most help in attack from Paraic Cullen and impressive substitute, Eoin Doyle. KILDARE: Sean Whelan (capt); Darrach MacDonncha, Eanna O"Neill, Ryan McGrath; Donal Sweeney, Stephen Piggott, Michael Purcell; Johnny Byrne (0-1), Brian Ahern; Conor Kenny, Ross Kelly (1-0), Paraic Cullen; Conor O"Hehir, Marcus Kinsella, Martin Fitzgerald (1-7, 0-2 "65"s, 0-2f). Subs: Eoin Doyle (0-2) for Kinsella (21 mins), Philip Cocoman (0-1) for O"Hehir (h-t), Gavin Sunderland for Kenny (h-t), Danny Butler for Cullen (56). WESTMEATH: Michael Boyle; Mark Conroy, Conor Sleator (capt), Derek Healy; Cormac Boyle, Alan McGrath, Seamus Savage; Stephen Bardon (Castlepollard, 0-4, 1 "65", 3f), Stephen Bardon (Lough Lene Gaels); Killian Murphy (0-1), Darren Kilcoyne, Daniel Riggs (0-1); Michael Heffernan, Phelim Burke, Barry O"Meara (1-3, 0-1 lineball, 0-2f). Subs: Stephen Boylan for Burke (36 mins), Stephen Grace for Riggs (41), Brian Melia for Savage (53). Referee: Declan Magee (Down).