By Mike Fitzpatrick
Kilkenny 3-22, Westmeath 2-11
The Cats are back. Having endured a nightmare senior hurling season last year, when they failed to win a single game, the knives were out for this fine old club. With sides such as Limerick, Waterford, Tipperary, and indeed Westmeath all enjoying favorable results, Kilkenny clearly had to step up a notch or two were they to avoid another humiliating season.
Closer to the playoffs than they have been in some time the Cats are well in line for a playoff position. After that, it’s who outplays who on the day. Opening Sunday’s game at Gaelic Park very much on the upper hand, Kilkenny moved forward in droves from the early stages of the contest. With sanctioned intercounty imports such as David Buggy and Patsy Moore over for Kilkenny for the day, their forward line never appeared wanting, and alongside regulars such as Mark O’Brien and Vinnie Norton also claiming scores for themselves, Kilkenny had opened up a sizeable halftime lead.
Westmeath, as is the norm, did not just lay back and take the onslaught. They had their own potential matchwinners in the likes of Finian O’Sullivan, who grabbed a fine personal tally of 1-5, and the old reliables such as Brian McCabe and Brian Daly, both of whom ended up on the scoresheet. Westmeath had difficulty though in the second half in attempting to catch up with their rivals. Kilkenny continued to attack, perhaps to be on the safe side, fearing a late Westmeath backlash, as they have known to do before. Tom Nugent’s maroon men still have an outside chance of making the playoffs, but they must surely step up a gear or two in their next game to make the knockout stages.
Kilkenny: James Joyce, Liam Byrne, John Nolan, Eoin Mullally, Patsy Brophy, Peter Breen, Rory Moore (0-5), Vinnie Norton (0-2), Kevin Corbett (0-2), Brendan Ryan, Tommy Lehart (1-1), James Fitzgerald (0-3), David Buggy (2-5). Subs: Mark O’Brien (0-4), Mark Kennedy, Richie Hogan, Davie Stafford, David Brennan, Jerome Edge.
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Westmeath: Davie Fitzpatrick, Barry Smith, Peter Dalton, Cathal O’Shaughnessy, Paul Cuddy (0-1), Collie O’Reilly, Jimmy Hughes, Cyril Cuddy, Brian Daly (0-1), Paddy Corcoran, Kenneth Barry (0-2), Brian McCabe (0-2), Fionnan O’Sullivan (1-5). Sub: Lorcan Coll.