Leinster U20: Lacklustre Kildare fall to Westmeath

Leinster U20 champions Kildare lost out to Westmeath in the opening game in this season's U20 championship going down by six points in the end 1-10 to 0-10 at Manguard Plus COE in Hawkfield this evening.

It was two second half goals from Matthew Wittaker and Brian Cooney that did the damage, both from defensive lapses by Kildare.

Kildare lined out with seven of the side that lost to Tyrone in the All-Ireland final of 2022 but at no stage did they look like they would get this campaign off to a winning start.

Kildare led at the break by just two points (0-5 to 0-3) having had most of the possession, but with only one point from play from Callum Bolton, three frees from Shane Farrell, with Adam Fanning converting a mark.

However when you take  into consideration that Westmeath were down to 13 for part of that half, with their two midfielders, Dylan Murtagh and Ben Killian both shown blacks in 9th and 16th minute; Kildare only scoring one point during that period.

Westmeath having gone for a long part of that opening half without even having a shot at the Kildare posts finished the half strong with points from Matthew Wittaker (2) and a fine free from full forward Senan Baker.

Westmeath dominated for most of the second  half, drew level on 37; Kildare regained the lead through Rian Synkey but Westmeath took the initiative when finding the net through Brian Cooney who outjumped the Kildare defence from a long free in to punch to the net on 42 minutes, a lead they were never to relinquish.

Senan Baker and Shane Hanley added points and while Kildare hit back with points from Kevin Cummins (free) and Adam Fanning, Matthew Wittaker extended the lead to three again.

Shane Farrell converted his fifth point of the game but there was no denying the visitors; Shane Corcoran added a point before Senan Baker capitalised on a short kick-out to find the net and gain his side an unexpected but totally deserved victory.

Final score: Kildarae 0-10 Westmeath 1-10.

Kildare return to action next Tuesday when they trvel to Chadwicks Wexford Park to take on the home side, 7.30 throw-iin; a win imperative if Kildare are to have any chance to progress.

Scorers: Westmeath, Matthew Wittaker 1-3, Brian Cooney 1-1, Secnan Baker 0-3 (3 frees), Tom Kelleher 0-1, Shane Hanley 0-1, Shane Corcoran 0-1.

Kildare, Shane Farrell 0-5 (5 frees), Callum Bolton 0-1, Adam Fanning 0-2 (mark), Ryan Sinkey 0-1, Kevin Cummins 0-1 (free).

KILDARE: Cormac Barker (Kilcullen); Harry O'Neill (Clane), Ryan Burke (Caragh), Jack McKevitt (Naas); James Harris (Castlemitchell), James McGrath (Athy), Fionn Ó Gioláin (Maynooth); Luke Killian (Sallins), Sean Hanafin (Naas); Callum Bolton (Sarsfields), Colm Dalton (Sallins), Shane Farrell (Kilcock); Kevin Cummins (Naas), Niall Dolan (Raheens), Adam Fanning (Clane). Subs: Ryan Sinkey (Naas) for Sean Hanafin (38 minutes); Oisin O'Sullivan (Clane) for Niall Dolan (43 minutes); Tomas von Engelbrechten (Johnstownbridge) for Fionn Ó Giolláin (51 minutes); Eoin Cully (Carbury) for Kevin Cummins (56 minutes); Daire Guerin (Naas) for Luke Killian (62 minutes).

WESTMEATH: Mickey Lynham; Liam Daly, Sam Smith, Daragh Lowry; Daniel Scahill, Tom Kelleher, Jack Geoghegan; Dylan Murtagh, Ben Killian; Podge Quinn, Danny McCartan, Matthew Wittaker; Brian Cooney, Senan Baker, Shane Hanley. Subs: Shane Corcoran for Podge Quinn (52 minutes); Peter Pierson for Shane Hanley (59 minutes); Tadgh Baker for Matthew Wittaker (61 minutes).

REFEREE: Andrew Smith, Meath.