Westmeath U15 hurlers beat Kilkenny

Westmeath Schools 4-23 Kilkenny Schools 3-7

It’s not often that a black and amber-clad hurling side from the Marble County leaves Mullingar having lost by 19 points.

That is exactly what happened in TEG Cusack Park yesterday afternoon, with a Westmeath schools second year combination outfit – effectively, the Lake County’s U15 hurling development squad – eased past their Kilkenny counterparts to claim Leinster honours.

With students from Coláiste Mhuire and St Finian’s College, Mullingar forming the backbone of the panel, and St Joseph’s Rochfortbridge, Mercy Kilbeggan, Castlepollard CC and Marist College, Athlone well represented, this Westmeath outfit is well-drilled by the management team of Ger Beehan (Cullion), Greg Gavin (St Oliver Plunkett’s), Fintan Clarke (Castletown Geoghegan) and Martin Geary (Southern Gaels).

It's worth noting, however, that the Kilkenny Schools team was drawn from the schools in the county outside of those competing at 'A' level. Therefore players from the famed St Kieran's College were among those not involved.

Leading 3-13 to 2-2, the hosts were out of sight at half-time, with Conor Williams, Aaron Connaire, Hugo Corroon and Dean Kelly among the stars. Though they shipped a couple of soft goals, the winners played high-quality hurling throughout, posting 4-20 from play.

Kelly capped a memorable individual display with Westmeath’s fourth goal on 55 minutes, by which time the Maroons had emptied their bench. Despite introducing 15 subs, they never eased off the gas, with each replacement as hungry to make his mark as the next.