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

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.

Sarah Cawley had not long taken her place back in the stand having sung Amhrán na bhFiann when Rónán Walsh fired over a great point after 45 seconds. Other Kerry points quickly ensued from the sticks of the aforementioned O’Connor (two frees) and Niall Mulcahy, before Killian Doyle opened the home team’s account with a converted free in the 11th minute. Niall Mitchell and Joey Boyle almost got in for an opportunist goal within seconds, with the latter firing the sliotar wide. Doyle added two more points – the first of them from open play – to leave his side trailing by 0-4 to 0-3 with a quarter of an hour played.

However, most of the good hurling on display was coming from the Munster men and they pounced for four unanswered points by the 24th minute, courtesy of O’Connor (two more frees), Darragh Shanahan, and Walsh’s second great score. A neat flick by Mitchell at the end of a Tommy Doyle delivery brought out a clever save from Louis Dee following the first of the two O’Connor frees. Westmeath trailed by five points and already looked in real trouble.

Joe Fortune was forced to introduce U20 stars David O’Reilly and David Williams earlier than had been probably anticipated, and they helped Westmeath to outscore their opponents by three points (Killian Doyle, Tommy Doyle and Shane McGovern) to one (a gift for Fionán Mackessy) by the half-time break. However, Kerry still led by an unflattering 0-9 to 0-6 at the interval.

Killian Doyle reduced the deficit just ten seconds after play resumed, but a brace of O’Connor frees followed at the other end by the 40th minute. Doyle converted two very good frees for the losers, with O’Connor replying with another for his side. Great scores from play by Aonghus Clarke and Killian Doyle had the gap at the bare minimum (0-12 to 0-11) with 47 minutes on the clock.

Boyle was narrowly wide with a goal as his target before Kerry rattled off four points without reply from the sticks of Killian Hayes, outstanding defender Mackessy, O’Connor (a free, moved closer to the target for dissent), and a long-range free from Mackessy. Killian Doyle (a free) and Walsh (his third fine score of the afternoon) traded points before veteran defender Tommy Doyle had the home crowd on their feet, taking Kevin Regan’s pass in his stride, careering goalwards and duly flicking the ball past Dee for a tonic goal in 59th minute. Kerry now led by just 0-17 to 1-12.

However, not even this wonder score managed to spur the home team into serious action, and successful frees from O’Connor and Mackessy stretched the lead for Stephen Molumphy’s charges to four points by the 68th minute. A monster free from Killian Doyle kept Westmeath very much in touch (0-19 to 1-13) by the end of normal time.

A minimum of four minutes added-time was announced. The ploy of lobbing high balls in the direction of Mitchell didn’t work, and it was soon a case of ‘game’ set and match’ to Kerry when a Mackessy delivery fell kindly for O’Connor who found the net in the second added minute. Robbie Greville was wide with an ambitious goal attempt before O’Connor and Doyle traded points from late frees.

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).

Examiner's Eye on the game

Man of the match

Fionán Mackessy (Kerry). The powerfully-built winning skipper was outstanding all through as defensive pivot, and he chipped in with four points (including two frees) and the ‘assist’ for the decisive goal for good measure.

Key moment

If Joey Boyle had found the net in the 48th minute from a great position, Westmeath would have led by two points (albeit against the overall run of play).

Stats watch

Wides - Kerry 6 (first half, 5); Westmeath 15 (7)

‘65’s - None

Yellow cards - Kerry 3 – F McCarthy, M Leane, B Barrett; Westmeath 5 – T Doyle, K Regan, D Egerton, R Greville, D Williams

Black/red cards - None

Ref watch

Sean Cleere awarded a lot of frees against Westmeath (to the annoyance of the losers’ management), but he did not unduly influence the outcome overall. Robbie Greville seemed fortunate not to pick up a second yellow card late in the contest.

Talking point

Westmeath are already very much up against it if they are to make the Joe McDonagh Cup final as their inconsistent 2024 form continues.

Next up

Westmeath are away to Offaly next Saturday, with Kerry hosting Down the following day.