Mitchell’s treble spurs Westmeath hurlers on to comfortable win

Kehoe Cup senior hurling: Westmeath 6-21, Kildare 0-20

Fine free-taking by Jack Gillen and a hat-trick from their impressive full forward Niall Mitchell helped Westmeath to a comfortable win over an understrength Kildare in a high-scoring Kehoe Cup match played in cold but pleasant conditions at Joristown this afternoon, writes Gerry Buckley.

Kildare shot a remarkable seven wides in the opening 11 minutes during which Westmeath scored 1-4, including Mitchell’s first goal in the fourth minute. The visitors settled and scored an unanswered four points by the first water break.

Mitchell’s second goal in the 26th minute helped Westmeath, for whom Derek McNicholas was in fine form at centre half forward, to a 2-9 to 0-10 lead at the interval.

Shane Williams pounced for his side’s third goal in the 47th minute and the home team led by 3-16 to 0-15 at the second water break.

Despite the best efforts of Gerry Keegan in the Lilywhites’ attack, Westmeath went on to win comfortably with further goals from Mitchell (his team’s last score of the contest), and subs Owen McCabe and Eamonn Cunneen (when set up by Mitchell and McCabe respectively).

Scorers – Westmeath: J Gillen 0-11 (8fs, 1‘65’), N Mitchell 3-0, D McNicholas 0-4, S Williams, O McCabe, E Cunneen 1-1 each, C Doyle, E Keyes, K Regan 0-1 each. Kildare: D Qualter 0-6 (5fs), G Keegan 0-5, P Dolan, J Travers 0-2 each, C McCabe, J Byrne, A Shanagher, F Bass, D Melville 0-1 each.

Westmeath: Noel Conaty; Johnny Bermingham, Jamie Mulkearns, Alan Cox; Conor Kane, Tommy Doyle, Aaron Craig; Shane McGovern, Kevin Regan; Eoin Keyes, Derek McNicholas, Ciaran Doyle; Shane Williams, Niall Mitchell, Jack Gillen. Subs used: Cormac Boyle for McGovern (h-t), Niall O’Brien for C Doyle (h-t), Jack Galvin for Kane (46), Owen McCabe for McNicholas (50), Charlie McCormack for T Doyle (51), Eamonn Cunneen for O’Brien (inj., 51), Mark Cunningham for Regan (58), Conor Bracken for Conaty (60), Peadar Scally for Craig (63), Davy Gavin for Keyes (63), Luke Moore for Williams (64).

Kildare: Sean Bean; Michael Hogan, James Dolan, Cathal Derivan; Sean Christianseen, Mark Delaney, Paul Dolan; Jack Travers, Cian Bracken; Cathal McCabe, Andy Shanagher, Johnny Byrne; Conor Kielty, David Qualter, Gerry Keegan. Subs used: Colman O’Donovan for Bracken (h-t), Frank Bass for Kielty (53), Darragh Melville for McCabe (54), Aidan O’Brien for Byrne (55), Enda O’Neill for Kielty (55), Rossa Stapleton for Christianseen (55), Matthew Eustace for Hogan (65).

Ref: Padraig Dunne (Laois).