Kilkenny 1-23 Westmeath 1-16
Kilkenny secured a place in the 2012 Walsh Cup final when they defeated Westmeath in an entertaining semi-final in Castlecomer yesterday. A developmental Kilkenny team played some excellent hurling in the first half to lead at the interval 0-14 to 0-6 and when the impressive John Power goaled immediately on the resumption an easy victory seemed on the cards. However, when Kilkenny full back Eamon Walsh was dismissed for a second yellow card offence six minutes into the second half, Westmeath rallied and reduced the deficit to two points with eight minutes remaining. As impressive as Kilkenny’s first half performance was, it was matched by an excellent finish in which John Power hit four points added to one from Ger Aylward to see their side win by seven points.
Scorers – Kilkenny: J. Power 1-8 (0-6 frees), M. Bergin 0-4, G. Aylward 0-3, P. O’Flynn, C. Buckley, M. Aylward 0-2 each, L. Harney and P Walsh 0-1 each. Westmeath: B. Murtagh 1-10 (1-8 frees), A Mitchell 0-3 (0-1free), D. Fennell, C. Boyle, D. Carty 0-1 each.
Kilkenny – D. Walsh; J. Corcoran, E. Walsh, B. Kennedy; P. Walsh, W. Phelan, J. Holden; C. Buckley, D. McCormack; P. O’Flynn, L. Harney, M. Bergin; M. Aylward, J. Power, G. Aylward.
Subs: M. Gaffney for P.O’Flynn (half-time), C. Tobin for D McCormack (46m), S. Phelan for J.Holden (46m), R. Reid for M. Aylward (56m).
Westmeath – C. Scally; P. Fennelly, A. Price, C. Jordan; D. Fennell, E. Price, P. Gilsenain; P.Dowdall, C.Boyle; A.Mitchell, F. Boyle, P. Greville; D Higgins, B. Murtagh, J. Shaw.
Subs: A. Dermody for D. Higgins (22m), D. Carty for C. Boyle (55m), J. Gilligan for A. Dermody (55m), D. McCormack for BGilsenain (57m).
Referee – Patrick Murphy (Carlow)
By Mary Morgan Mon 6th Feb
