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BGE Leinster U21: Kilkenny and Wexford advance

Shane Walsh, Kilkenny, and Joe Rabbitt, Westmeath, during the Bord Gais Energy Leinster Under 21 Hurling Championship clash at TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar.

Shane Walsh, Kilkenny, and Joe Rabbitt, Westmeath, during the Bord Gais Energy Leinster Under 21 Hurling Championship clash at TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar.

Bord Gais Energy Leinster U-21 Semi-Final

KILKENNY 1-21 WESTMEATH 1-11

By Paul Keane at TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar

Alan Murphy fired Kilkenny through to the Bord Gais Energy Leinster U-21 hurling final with a 1-8 haul in Mullingar, earning the Cats a modicum of revenge in the process.

Westmeath pulled off a famous win over Kilkenny at the quarter-final stage of the provincial championship at the same venue last year, their first ever win over the Cats.

Adrian Moran's side gave a good account of themselves again in front of around 1,200 and were on level terms with less than 20 minutes to go.

But a strong final third performance from Eddie Brennan's Kilkenny saw them outscore Westmeath by 1-9 to 0-2 in that closing period to seal a July 5 final clash with Wexford.

That'll be a repeat of the 2015 final which Wexford won comfortably and former Cats star Brennan will be chasing a first Leinster success for the county since 2012.

Brennan will demand an improvement, however, because the game hung in the balance until that late burst of scoring and Westmeath kicked themselves for blazing 12 wides over the hour.

Kilkenny's five-point win over Dublin in the quarter-final was their first under Brennan and they were tipped to progress at their ease here.

But for the second year running, Westmeath refused to stick to the script though and edged the first-half in front of an excited home crowd.

It told a tale of Westmeath's early dominance that they led by 1-7 to 0-9 at half-time and also reeled off nine wides in the half hour.

Kilkenny began with points from Sean Morrissey, Muprhy, senior star Liam Blanchfield and John Donnelly to open up a 0-4 to 0-2 lead.

Killian Doyle's third point of the evening tied it up at 0-4 apiece though and Westmeath took a surprise 19th minute lead when James Goonery netted.

Shane Clavin broke free from a group of players and pulled viciously on a bouncing ball that was blocked by the Kilkenny 'keeper before being struck to the net by Goonery.

Westmeath rued a succession of wides but two fine points from the left wing by Niall Mitchell kept the hosts narrowly ahead.

Pat Lyng was among six seniors in the Kilkenny lineup and hit two eye catching scores for the Cats.

The sides traded scores after the restart but Kilkenny visibly improved with the end line in sight and reeled off a string of scores including three in a row from Eoin Kenny and Donnelly to put daylight between the teams.

Kilkenny were still only three clear with 58 minutes on the clock, 0-17 to 1-11, but tagged on 1-4 without reply from there including a well taken solo goal by Murphy to seal a slightly flattering 10-point win.

Meanwhile, Wexford secured their place in the final in a fortnight's time with a Cathal Dunbar inspired 3-16 to 1-12 win over Carlow.

Dunbar fired a low shot to the net in the 10th minute and repeated the trick approaching half-time to leave Wexford 2-6 to 0-5 up.

Rory O'Connor nudged Wexford eight clear after the restart and free-taker Joe Coleman pushed the margin into double figures.

Carlow scores from Darragh Pepper and a Conor Foley goal gave them slight hope and reduced the gap to just seven at the three quarter stage.

But Dunbar's third goal of the evening with 46 minutes on the clock put Wexford 3-11 to 1-7 ahead and in the clear.

Coleman and Pepper traded points late on but Wexford were always in control and were deserved 10-point winners.

Scorers for Kilkenny: Alan Murphy 1-8 (8fs), John Donnelly 0-3, Sean Morrissey 0-3, Pat Lyng 0-2, Richie Leahy 0-2, Liam Blanchfield 0-1,  Luke Scanlon 0-1, Eoin Kenny 0-1.

Scorers for Westmeath: Killian Doyle 0-8 (6fs), James Goonery 1-0, Niall Mitchell 0-3 (1 sideline).

KILKENNY: Darren Brennan; Michael Cody, Conor Delaney, James Burke; Conor Doheny, Jason Cleere, Tommy Walsh; Luke Scanlon, Pat Lyng; Billy Ryan, Sean Morrissey, Alan Murphy; Shane Walsh, John Donnelly, Liam Blanchfield.

**Subs: **Darren Mullen for Doheny (h/t), Richie Leahy for S Walsh (h/t), Eoin Kenny for Blanchfield (43), Ryan Bergin for Burke (57), Conor Hennessy for Donnelly (61).

**WESTMEATH: **Sean Maher; Darren Giles, Conor Shaw, Naoise McKenna; Joe Rabbit, Darragh Eggerton, Sean Quinn; Michael Daly, Shane Clavin; Darragh Clinton, Killian Doyle, Niall Mitchell; Ciaran Doyle, Jack Galvin, James Goonery.

Subs: Darren Finn for Rabbit (46), Johnny Bermingham for Goonery (57), Adam Loughlin for Clinton (61).

REFEREE: John Keenan (Wicklow).