Kilkenny stars as Westmeath bow out of league campaign

The word 'Kilkenny' is synonymous with greatness in the game of hurling, but it was an individual rather than a team who tormented Westmeath Schools at St. Loman's Lakepoint Park.Dublin North's dashing full forward, Ciaran Kilkenny gave a master class to dent the home side's ambitions of progressing to the knockout stages of this year's Leinster Colleges senior hurling 'A' league.As was the case in their debut against Birr CS a week earlier, the lads in maroon and white could easily have taken the spoils in this entertaining floodlit encounter. Indeed, a six-points cushion midway through the second half looked certain to see the Lake County lads garner two precious league points. However, a Kilkenny-inspired metropolitan outfit finished by far the stronger and they retain an interest in this pre-Christmas tournament, in preparation for the serious business of the Leinster Championship in the spring of 2010.The home side got off to a fine start, Joey Boyle (who had a fine game throughout) pointing in the opening minute, after receiving a great pass from Eoin O'Sullivan. Ciaran Kilkenny put the Dubs ahead with two pointed frees, from 25 and 60 metres, in the third and fifth minutes respectively. The tit-for-tat scoring continued with a lovely pick-up and strike by Shane Donoher, followed a neat point from Joey Boyle (astutely picked out by Philip Reilly), putting the losers a point to the good by the eighth minute. However, within a minute, an error by Westmeath goalkeeper Niall Kelly gifted Des Rushe a goal for the visitors. An underhit free by Aonghus Clarke was not cleared by the Dublin defence and the latter player made the most of the second chance to leave just a point between the sides.Both teams missed scoreable chances before Aonghus Clarke levelled the contest in the 19th minute from a routine free. Ciaran Kilkenny should have put the Dubs in front from a placed ball, but Aonghus Clarke was more accurate at the other end after an error by the Dublin netminder Cormac Ryan. Philip Reilly then batted the sliotar wide from close range when a goal looked certain after Joey Boyle's delivery. Westmeath then had to be content with a point from Reilly, at the end of a flowing move in the 24th minute. With three minutes of normal time remaining, Emmet Ó Conghaile rifled over a superb individual point for the sky blue and navy-clad lads. Wind-assisted Westmeath then got an unexpected boost when Philip Reilly's seemingly innocuous shot deceived Cormac Ryan for a fortuitous goal. The last score of the half fell to Ciaran Kilkenny, who showed the crowd a glimpse of his ability with a lovely point from 45 metres. At the break, Westmeath Schools led by 1-7 to 1-4.Within a minute of the resumption, Darragh Casey got away with an illegally-taken free, but no score resulted for the visitors. A foul on the strong-running Shane Donoher gave Aonghus Clarke the chance to convert another free in the third minute. Ciaran Kilkenny soon cancelled this out with a neat point and his team-mate Eoghan Quinn followed up with a fine score from 55 metres. Substitute Paul Poynton replied with a coolly-taken point. Three points in as many minutes - two Aonghus Clarke frees and a fabulous solo effort from Joey Boyle - put Westmeath firmly in control by the 14th minute, leading by 1-12 to 1-6.However, the final quarter of the game was dominated by Ciaran Kilkenny. He kicked an opportunist goal from close range when Niall Kelly advanced from his line and followed up with a fine point from 45 metres. Joey Boyle replicated his earlier solo score in the 19th minute, before Dublin North sub Shane Boland briefly stole some of Kilkenny's thunder with three rapid-fire points (two frees and a terrific point from play).With five minutes of normal time remaining, Aonghus Clarke wrapped up Westmeath's tally when he converted a difficult 40-metre free to edge his side in front. However, the Dubs finished strongly and two more great points from Ciaran Kilkenny put them in front. Emmet Ó Conghaile ensured victory for the visitors with a brace of his own in the dying moments.Westmeath now face a trip to Leinster kingpins Castlecomer CS today (Wednesday, November 18th ) with only pride at stake for the visitors to the County Kilkenny venue. A change of fortune for a talented Lake County team would not go astray.Dublin North Schools: Cormac Ryan; Aidan Keogh, Gareth Cronin, Mark O'Dea; Shane Donoghue, Matthew McCaffrey, Sean Burke; Darragh Casey, Eoin Keogh; Liam McClelland, Eoghan Quinn (0-1), Emmet Ó Conghaile (0-3); Kevin McMahon, Ciaran Kilkenny (1-7, 0-2 from frees), Des Rushe (1-0). Subs: Conor Prunty (for A.Keogh, half-time), Shane Boland (0-3, 0-2 from frees) (for E.Keogh, half-time), Denis Forde (for McClelland, 42 mins), Conor McStay (for Donoghue, 50 mins).Westmeath Schools: Niall Kelly (Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan); David Fennell (Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan), Aaron Criag (Mullingar CC), Thomas Doyle (Castlepollard CC); Alan Fitzsimons (Columba College, Killucan), Jordy Cassidy (Moate Business School), Cormac Boyle (St. Joseph's, Rochfortbridge); Conor Thompson (Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar), Paul Fennell (Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan); Joey Boyle (St. Joseph's, Rochfortbridge) (0-4), Aonghus Clarke (Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar) (0-7, 0-6 from frees), Shane Donoher (Moate Business School) (0-1); Philip Reilly (Castlepollard CC) (1-1), Eoin O'Sullivan (St. Joseph's, Rochfortbridge), Neal Kirby (Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar). Subs: Paul Poynton (Columba College, Killucan) (0-1) (for Thompson, inj, 22 mins), Niall McDermott (Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan) (for Doyle, 52 mins).Referee: Barry Kelly (St. Oliver Plunkett's).