Two goals for Geary as Westmeath minor hurlers advance in style

Westmeath 3-26 Kerry 2-10

On a day when Storm Dave battered the Kerry landscape, talented Westmeath full-forward Conor Raleigh breezed through the Kingdom’s defence to wreak havoc in the Leinster Minor Hurling Championship at Joristown Park, Raharney.

Raleigh, an All-Ireland poc fada champion, was the pivotal player in Westmeath’s 19-point rout of Kerry, though only after a tentative start, the visitors leading at the end of the first quarter. Dara Geary’s goal eventually got Westmeath motoring and at half-time they led by 2-11 to 1-6.

In mitigation, conditions were difficult for hurling and the home side played against the strong wind in the first half, but it took some time for winners to find their rhythm - time they won’t have against stronger teams in this championship.

Once they opened up, Westmeath impressed and won the second half by 1-15 to 1-4, Raleigh, centre-back Conor Williams and Geary each making significant impacts. Kerry were outplayed as Westmeath surged 13 points clear at the end of the third quarter and Geary’s second goal on 58 minutes was the icing on the cake.

Westmeath opened the scoring inside the first minute when wing-forward Aidan Doyle fired over from play. Barely 80 seconds had elapsed when MJ Long, also operating on the wing, finished a slick Westmeath move to the net for the game’s opening goal.

Kerry responded on six minutes through corner-forward David Cullinan. Two minutes later, full-forward Seán Ross O’Gorman landed a superb score from distance, before wing-forward Ryan Carey tagged on another point in the ninth minute. Moments later, O’Gorman struck again - this time hitting the roof of the Westmeath net after being picked out by Luke Hanafin O’Meara for a brilliant Kerry goal.

Westmeath’s Conor Williams, attacking from centre-back, replied on 11 minutes with a point from a free. O’Gorman restored Kerry’s momentum on 13 minutes, converting from a ‘65. Westmeath’s accuracy from placed balls soon told: Conor Raleigh pointed a free from close to the sideline on 15 minutes, and a minute later added another from play, following Dean Kelly’s clever pass, to level matters at 1-4 apiece.

A minute later, corner-forward Dara Geary struck for Westmeath’s second goal and the Southern Gaels player quickly followed up with a point. O’Gorman reduced the gap with a free in the 19th minute, and Kerry’s Jason Gaynor added a point from play soon after.

Raleigh struck again on 24 minutes with another sideline-range free, before MJ Long knocked over a composed score following a patient Westmeath move. Raleigh then clipped two more points in succession, the first after an apparent overcarrying incident went unpunished, and Westmeath continued to press.

In the 30th minute, Doyle found Conor Cleary, who delivered inside to Tom Shaw; a goal chance beckoned, but Shaw fired his effort over the crossbar. Raleigh added another just before the break, sending Westmeath into half-time with an eight-point lead, a useful advantage in the blustery conditions.

Westmeath resumed on the front foot, Eoghan Beehan pointing within 30 seconds of the restart. Raleigh added a free in the third minute, before Kerry’s Jason Gaynor replied with a point.

Westmeath then produced a four-point burst: two from Raleigh, a booming effort by Conor Williams from 70 metres, and another from Doyle. O’Gorman steadied Kerry with a free on nine minutes, but from the puckout Dean Kelly split the posts for Westmeath.

Their dominance continued with fine points from Raleigh - after the referee played the advantage rule - and Beehan. Tom Shaw added another, their fourth in succession during a strong spell.

Kerry briefly clawed back momentum in the 15th minute when centre-back Thomas Scanlon lashed home a goal from a loose ball after Conor Cleary lost possession as Westmeath tried to clear.

Full-back Stephen Harty followed with a point on 20 minutes, trimming the margin, but Westmeath replied swiftly: Shaw pointed in the 23rd minute, and corner-back Dylan Gaffney joined the score sheet. Williams then landed a superb long-range point that clipped the inside of the upright, and substitute Thomas Wrafter followed with another to extend the lead.

Kerry’s sub Paddy Cronin pointed on 27 minutes, but any faint hopes were extinguished when Geary sliced through the opposing defence for his second goal a minute later, finishing emphatically past the Kerry ‘keeper. Beehan capped off a polished Westmeath display with the final point after Dean Kelly’s well-timed pass, sealing a comprehensive victory for Westmeath.

The Lake County will be pleased with a return of 3-26 on a challenging day, but must be more assured defensively. The number of dual players involved will be a major challenge going forward.

Scorers - Westmeath: C Raleigh 0-10 (3f), D Geary 2-1, MJ Long 1-2, T Shaw and E Beehan 0-3 each, C Williams and A Doyle 0-2 each, D Kelly, D Gaffney and T Wrafter 0-1 each. Kerry: S Ross O’Gorman 1-4 (0-2f, 0-1 ‘65’), T Scanlon 1-0, J Gaynor 0-2, D Cullinan, R Carey, S Harty and P Cronin 0-1 each.

Westmeath - Ryan McNamee; Cian Matthews, Cian McKeogh, Dylan Gaffney; Cillian Clarke, Conor Williams, Eoghan Goldrick; Conor Cleary, Dean Kelly; MJ Long, Eoghan Beehan, Aidan Doyle; Dara Geary, Conor Raleigh, Tom Shaw. Subs: Thomas Wrafter for Doyle (49), Jack Connaughton for Goldrick (52), Hugo Corroon for Cleary (56), Cathal Flanagan for Matthews (60), Shane Murray for Beehan (60).

Kerry - Ben Lynch; Aidan Beirne, Stephen Harty, Joseph Field; Billy Moriarty, Thomas Scanlon, Tadhg Diggin; Noel O’Sullivan, Shay Barrett; Luke Hanafin O’Meara, Jason Gaynor, Ryan Carey; Stephen Shanahan, Seán Ross O’Gorman, David Cullinan.Subs: Darren McElligott for O’Sullivan (h-t), Ben O’Connor for Carey, Matt Cronin for Cullinan (both 40), Alan O’Connor for Shanahan (46), Paddy Cronin for Diggin (54).

Referee: Kevin McDonnell (Dublin).