UNDER-21 FOOTBALL LEINSTER QUARTER-FINALS: Westmeath 2-18 Kilkenny 1-2: WESTMEATH'S FOOTBALLERS proved too strong for Kilkenny in Nowlan Park on Saturday.

The visitors raced into an early lead, an advantage that was boosted to seven points when Kieran Martin broke through and goaled after just 12 minutes.

The gap was made even bigger when John Conellan netted a 17th minute penalty.

WESTMEATH: D Quinn; F Reilly, K Gavin, S Moorehead; J Dolan, D Coroon (0-1), T Warburton; A Browne (0-1), N Kilcoyne (0-2); C Lynam (0-1), C Reilly (0-1), K Martyn (1-1); B Kelly, T McDaniel (0-3), J Conellan (1-3, goal from pen, points from frees). Subs: C McCormack (0-2) for Martin (46 mins); J Egan for Lynam (51 mins); J Durkan (0-1) for Warburton, A Giles (0-2) for McDaniel (both 56); S Quinn for Reilly (57).

KILKENNY: M Gannon; D Walton, S Kenny, M Farrell; P Raftice, D Lyng, M Malone; J Dollard, C McDonald; J Mulhall (1-2, goal from pen, one free), D O'Dwyer, S Kirwan; S Mooney, P Naughton, C Roche. Subs: D O'Neill for McDonald (31 mins); B Dillon for Dollard, J Morrissey for Naughton (46 mins); S Ryan for Roche, D Fenlon for O'Neill (56).

Referee:F Barry (Kildare).