Joe McDonagh Cup Final
Westmeath 2-28 – 1-24 Kerry
Kerry have lost the Joe McDonagh Cup Final for the second time in the space of a year falling to a 2-28 to 1-24 loss to Westmeath at Croke Park.
Kerry got the first score of the game through Barry O’Mahony inside the opening minute. Their joy was short lived however as Westmeath responded instantly with Niall Mitchell scoring a rocket of a goal, followed quickly by a point from Davy Glennon. Kerry settled back into the game and came to within one point thanks to two points from Shane Conway the first of which from a free.
The first Westmeath goal:
Westmeath however replied with points from Ciaran and Killian Doyle. Another free from Conway and a fine point from Daniel Collins had Kerry just a point back with a little over ten minutes played. Westmeath were undeterred firing over points through Niall O’Brien and Aonghus Clarke. The game’s frantic start continued with Padraig and Michael Boyle splitting the posts along with Barry Mahony cancelling out scores from Glennon.
At the first half water break Kerry trailed 1-07 to 0-09 but were growing into the game, with 19 minutes played they drew level through a Padraig Boyle point. Westmeath hit back instantly through Joey Boyle, Robbie Greville and goal scorer Mitchell stretching their lead to three points. Kerry needed the next score and they duly obliged, a fine ball from Padraig Boyle found Conor O’Keeffe who made no mistake. Killian Doyle restored the three point lead but an instant response came through the hurl Jason Diggins however points from Ciaran Doyle and Greville followed for Westmeath. A superb effort gave Padraig Boyle his third point of the game, Kerry thought they had reduced the deficit to 2 when Shane Conway fired over however Hawkeye ruled the ball was wide. This reprieve allowed Westmeath to kick on with further points from Greville and Mitchell. Davy Glennon’s fourth point of the game gave Westmeath a 1-16 to 0-13 lead. A Kerry attack broke down Westmeath worked the ball down field instantly and punished Kerry with Joey Boyle setting up Ciaran Doyle who found the back of the net. Conway spit the posts again but as the half-time whistle blew Kerry trailed 2-16 to 14 points.
Ciaran Doyle finds the net for Westmeath:
Kerry made one change at the break with Michael Leane replacing Paudie O’Connor in midfield. The first point of the second half came for the men from the Lake County with Killian Doyle notching his third point. Conway was once again denied by Hawkeye as Kerry looked to get back into the game in the early stages of the second half. Greville sent over his fourth point of the game, Cian Hussey and Michael Boyle fired over for Kerry but Westmeath were matching the Kerry scores with Killian Doyle firing over his fourth and fifth point. Hussey reduced the gap to eight points with forty two minutes played however Mitchell’s third point of the game, another from Glennon and a monster point from Aaron Craig increased the gap to 11. A Padraig Boyle free, a Michael Boyle point from play and third point from Hussey had Kerry eight points behind at the second half water break.
A Killain Doyle free was cancelled out by Padraig Boyle with Hawkeye keeping Kerry’s slim hopes alive ruling out a point from Niall O’Brien. Michael Boyle reignited Kerry’s hopes scoring a fine goal with a little over ten minutes remaining. Just when momentum seemed to swing in Kerry’s favour a free for Westmeath saw Killian Doyle fire over yet another point with Aongus Clarke’s second point of the game edging Westmeath closer to victory.
Michael Boyle finds the net for Kerry:
Padraig Boyle’s sixth point of the game after 64 minutes kept Kerry in the hunt but they would need another goal. That goal would not arrive with Westmeath adding a further point through O’Brien. Shane Nolan and Padraig Boyle added further points for Kerry with minutes remaining in ordinary time.
Three minutes of added time were played with Eric Leen shown a yellow card for bringing down Shane Williams allowing Derek McNicholas to get on the score sheet from the resulting free. The early goal scorer Mitchell added the last point of the game for Westmeath with the final score in Croke Park 2-28 to 1-24.
Kerry manager Fintan O'Connor
