Sport

Donaghy goal puts gloss on Kerry's win

NFL DIVISION ONE Kerry 1-12 Westmeath 0-6 EVERYTHING APPEARS rosy in Jack O’Connor’s garden as his experimental Kerry side put…

Mon Mar 23 2009 - 00:00

NFL DIVISION ONE Kerry 1-12 Westmeath 0-6EVERYTHING APPEARS rosy in Jack O'Connor's garden as his experimental Kerry side put Westmeath to the sword with a powerful second-half display and so its five wins on the trot .

The opening half was a scrappy affair with Séamus Scanlon giving Kerry the edge at midfield, while Tom O’Sullivan, Tomás Ó Sé, and Aidan O’Shea kept the Westmeath forwards under wraps.

Donnacha Walsh opened the scoring in the third minute but Westmeath, thanks to two Glennon points and a fine effort from wing back Doran Harte, had the visitors 0-3 to 0-1 in front by the 15th minute.

Three points from Kieran O’Leary, Scanlon and Paul O’Connor edged Kerry in front but Westmeath thanks to a couple of Glennon frees, led 0-5 to 0-4 at the interval.

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Paul O’Connor levelled the game and then the momentum changed. Kieran Donaghy punched a point and Darren O’Sullivan crashed a shot off the crossbar.

Denis Glennon got Westmeath’s solitary second half score from a 47th-minute free as Tomás Ó Sé restored Kerry’s lead with a 48th-minute trademark point. Darren and Seán O’Sullivan stroked over points for Kerry and then came the turning point in the 56th minute.

Wing back Francis Boyle was checked by Donnacha Walsh in the square and Westmeath were awarded a penalty as Walsh saw yellow but Glennon dragged his spot kick wide.

Brian Sheehan came in and converted a 45 and a free before Darren O’Sullivan and O’Connor set up Donaghy for a 68th minute goal to emphasize the gulf between the sides.

KERRY:G Reidy; K Quirke, A O'Shea, T O'Sullivan; T Ó Sé (0-1), A O'Mahony, T Griffin; S Scanlon (0-1), A Maher; T Kennelly, T Walsh, D Walsh (0-1); K O'Leary (0-1), K Donaghy (1-1), P O'Connor (0-3, two frees). Subs:D Moran for A Maher (32 mins), Darren O'Sullivan (0-1) for T Walsh (half-time), S O'Sullivan (0-1) for K O'Leary (47 mins), B Sheehan (0-2, one free, one 45) for D Walsh (58 mins, yellow), B Moran for A O'Mahony (64 mins), M Corridan for T Griffin (64 mins).

WESTMEATH:G Connaughton; A Claffey, K Gavin, J Keane; F Boyle, D Heavin, D Harte (0-1); N Kilcoyne, D Duffy; M Ennis, J Smyth, C Reilly; D Bannon, D Glennon (0-5, three frees), C Lynam. Subs:P Bannon for N Kilcoyne (23 mins), K Scally for A Claffey (25 mins), T McDaniel for K Gavin (26 mins), A Clinton for D Duffy (36 mins, yellow), P Kelly for C Reilly (56 mins), K Gavin for C Lynam (60 mins).

Referee:M Deegan (Laois).