GAA Leinster U-21 hurling championship quarter-final

Westmeath 1-11 Kilkenny 0-12

By Paul Keane at Cusack Park, Mullingar

Darragh Clinton provided the inspiration in Mullingar with an eight-point haul as underdogs Westmeath scored one of the great Bord Gais Energy Leinster U-21 HC shocks with a famous win over Kilkenny.

Adrian Moran's side were massive underdogs but took the lead in the quarter-final tie in the 16th minute and never trailed after that, securing a semi-final clash with Dublin or Wexford on June 15.

A small crowd was present at Cusack Park for an anticipated routine Kilkenny win but it was clear from the early stages that a surprise may be on the cards. Westmeath led by a point at half-time but fired six wides in that period, three of those from decent chances, so should have been ever further ahead.

Kilkenny, managed by ex-senior star Eddie Brennan, levelled it up at 0-9 apiece early in the second-half through Billy Ryan but Warren Casserly's 43nd minute goal for Westmeath ultimately separated the teams. It was a well taken goal from the midfielder who caught a long ball in from Killian Doyle and batted it to the net from close range.

Kilkenny never got closer to Westmeath than two points after that though had a number of great chances in the closing minutes to reel in the deficit. The best of those fell to substitute Andrew Gaffney who presided over a penalty six minutes into injury-time after a foul on Liam Blanchfield but struck his shot left and wide.

John Walsh, an All-Ireland minor winner alongside Blanchfield with Kilkenny two years ago, also had two opportunities from placed balls late on that sailed wide while Blanchfield hit the side netting.

Westmeath were good value for the win overall though and were brilliantly led by county senior Liam Varley at centre-back. He'll be involved on Sunday week when Michael Ryan, part of the U-21 backroom team, takes charge of the seniors against Galway in the Leinster championship.

**Scorers for Westmeath: **D. Clinton 0-8, 8f, W. Casserly 1-0, L. Varley 0-1, K. Doyle 0-1, C. Doyle 0-1

**Scorers for Kilkenny: **J. Walsh 0-6, 6f, B. Ryan 0-3, S. Morrissey 0-2, A. Gaffney 0-1, 1 65

**Westmeath: **S Maher; M Heeney, C Shaw, A Cox; J Rabbitte, L Varley, R Gillen; W Casserly, K Doyle; D Egerton, L Cassidy, N Mitchell; D Clinton, C Doyle, J Galvin.

Subs: D Giles for Heeney (29); P Lynam for Casserly (47).

Kilkenny: D Brennan; E Cody, C Delaney, H Lalor; P Lyng, J Cleere, P Deegan; C Browne, E Kenny; L Blanchfield, S Morrissey, N Mullins; B Ryan, A Murphy, J Walsh.

Subs: A Gaffney for Kenny (h/t); K Blanchfield for Murphy (49); T Phelan for Mullins (59).

Referee: B. O'Leary (Wexford).