Historic result for Westmeath hurling as Cats fall in Cusack

Westmeath's U21 hurlers have grasped the nettle and pulled off one of the biggest hurling shocks in recent times – by beating Kilkenny 1-11 to 0-12 in a Leinster championship quarter-final at TEG Cusack Park this evening.

With the Cats widely tipped to progress to the semis, Westmeath hoped to carve out as good a result as they could – and instead, gave Kilkenny an exhibition in just how far Westmeath hurling has come in recent years.

The outcome was one of the most important results in the history of the small ball game in Westmeath, if not the most important.

Adrian Moran's troops led 0-9 to 0-8 at half time, with Delvin's Darragh Clinton converting seven frees and Kilkenny left in awe of a spirited home side.

Ciaran Doyle (Raharney) and Liam Varley (Castletown-Geoghegan) also tagged on crucial scores from play.

The major breakthrough came early in the second half, when Castlepollard's Warren Casserly poked Killian Doyle's delivery home from close range to make it 1-9 to 0-9 in Westmeath's favour. The tenacious midfielder later went off to get bandaged up for a head injury.

The Cats – last year's defeated Leinster finalists – always kept within touching distance, but couldn't draw on enough of their trademark verve and ruthlessness to stem the Maroon tide.

Clinton finished the game with eight points as Westmeath faced into six minutes of injury time 1-11 to 0-12 ahead.

Lives flashed before the eyes of the vocal and sizeable Lake County support when Kilkenny were awarded a last-gasp penalty, but in dramatic fashion, this potentially match-winning puck was missed by sub Andrew Gaffney.

The sound of the final whistle cued wild celebrations from the home support, and a place in the last four for the Maroons. Phenomenal.

Westmeath panel
Sean Maher (Castletown-Geoghegan); Alan Cox (Delvin), Conor Shaw (Brownstown), Mick Heeney (Castletown-Geoghegan); Joe Rabbitte (Castlepollard), Liam Varley (Castletown-Geoghegan), Robbie Gillen (Cullion); Warren Casserly (Castlepollard), Killian Doyle (Raharney); Niall Mitchell (Clonkill), Liam Cassidy (Castletown-Geoghegan), Darragh Egerton (Clonkill); Jack Galvin (Cullion), Ciaran Doyle (Raharney), Darragh Clinton (Delvin). Subs: Conor Bracken (St Oliver Plunketts), Darragh Qamar (Lough Lene Gaels), Paddy Lynam (St Oliver Plunketts), Peadar Scally (Clonkill), Ian Kilcoyne (Ringtown), Fionn Dowd (Southern Gaels), Darren Giles (Raharney), Paddy Doody (Castletown-Geoghegan), Sean Flanagan (St Oliver Plunketts).

Scorers
D Clinton 0-8 (8f), W Casserly 1-0, L Varley (f), K Doyle, C Doyle 0-1 each.