Westmeath 1-12 Kildare 1-11
Westmeath evoked some of their famous 2015 Leinster semi-final win over Meath with a second half purple patch to reach a second successive provincial final, writes John Fogarty.
Kildare were six points up in the 42nd minute but saw their lead dissolve in the space of six minutes thanks to points from Paul Sharry, Ray Connellan (two) and then James Dolan’s goal, the result of a slick move involving John Heslin and Callum McCormack.
The Lilywhites’ goal came in the 40th minute when Tommy Moolick palmed to the net having taken advantage of Darren Quinn’s failure to judge Neil Flynn’s hand-pass. Kildare were fully in control at that stage but fell apart after going six up.
Westmeath could have really made it embarrassing for Kildare had they converted some of their seven second-half wides but they’ll be content enough to have upset the odds once more.
Kildare went without a score for 28 minutes and not even a late brace of points could give them the impetus to force a replay, Eoin Doyle frustratingly touching the ball on the ground when Kildare were attacking.
This game had all the appeal of a damp pillow in the first half, which finished in Kildare’s favour, 0-7 to 0-6. With both teams committing so many behind the ball and little in the way of ingenuity, the pace of the game suffered as a result and Kildare’s shooting left a lot to be desired.
Westmeath were out of the traps quickest and led by 0-2 to 0-0 after eight minutes. Although Kildare were back on level terms in the 12th minute, Westmeath strung together three points in a row, Heslin so impressive with his free-taking.
Kildare eventually woke up, scoring a brace of points either side of a Kieran Martin point and took the advantage for the first time in the 34th minute when Adam Tyrrell curled over a point from distance in the 34th minute.
Scorers for Westmeath: J Heslin (0-4, frees); P. Sharry (0-3, 1 45); J. Dolan (1-0); R. Connellan, K. Martin (0-2 each); C. McCormack (0-1).
Scorers for Kildare: N. Flynn (0-4, frees); T. Moolick (1-0); E. Bolton (0-2); F. Conway, N. Kelly, J. Byrne, A. Tyrrell, E. O’Flaherty (0-1 each).
WESTMEATH: D. Quinn; K. Maguire, J. Gonoud, A. Stone; F. Boyle; J. Dolan, K. Daly; G. Egan (c), D Corroon; R. Connellan, P. Sharry, D. Lynch; J. Connellan, J. Heslin, K. Martin.
Subs for Westmeath: J. Egan for K. Martin (blood, 8-16); C. McCormack for A. Stone (47); J. Egan for J. Connellan (58); R. Foley for R. Connellan (63); R. Gorman for K. Maguire (70+4).
KILDARE: M. Donnellan; P. Kelly, D. Hyland, O. Lyons; J. Byrne, E. Doyle (c), E. Bolton; T. Moolick, F. Conway; M. O’Flaherty, E. O’Flaherty, C. O’Donoghue; A. Tyrrell, N. Flynn, N. Kelly.
Subs for Kildare: C. McNally for A. Tyrrell (45); K. Murnaghan for E. Bolton (50); C. Healy for N. Kelly (black, 55); C. Fitzpatrick for C. O’Donoghue (57); E. Callaghan for E. O’Flaherty (60); R. Houlihan for J. Byrne (67).
Referee: D. O’Mahoney (Tipperary)
