Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Kilkenny 0-29 Westmeath 0-7

By Robert Cribbin at UPMC Nowlan Park

Kilkenny showed no ill-effects from their recent league final defeat to Limerick as they ran out very comfortable winners over Westmeath in a one sided Leinster Championship opener at UPMC Nowlan Park.

Kilkenny were huge favourites coming into the game and they were rarely threatened in a game they dominated from start to finish.

TJ Reid played in his first game since Ballyhale Shamrocks All-Ireland club success last January and he looked very sharp in scoring nine points in total.

The 35 year old did, however, miss a second half penalty that arose after Westmeath sub Charlie McCormack was awarded a black card after pulling down Adrian Mullen on his way towards goal.

Mullen himself was only making his second appearance of the season for the Cats and he scored six points in total in a big display from centre forward.

John Donnelly also starred in a Kilkenny team that had 11 different scorers on the night.

For Westmeath it was a humbling defeat that saw them only score four points from play and while their defensive gameplan denied Kilkenny of a goal, it also restricted a lot their attacking options.

Westmeath needed a good start but from the moment John Donnelly pointed in the opening minute, the game looked to be only going in one direction and so it proved with Eoin Cody, Adrian Mullen and Timmy Clifford all taking early scores at their ease.

It wasn't long then till Kilkenny led 0-11 to 0-1 with Joseph Boyle getting Westmeath's only point in the first quarter.

Westmeath did stem the flow a little with points from Ciaran Doyle and Darragh Clinton, but by half-time Kilkenny were already thinking of next week's tussle with Galway as they led 0-17 to 0-4.

Kilkenny's scoring rate did let up a bit in the second half and TJ did miss a rare penalty but it was a period of 35 minutes where both teams just went through the motions.

Niall Brennan and Mossy Keoghan emerged from the bench to score for the Cats in amongst the continued trail of destruction by Reid, Mullen and Donnelly and there was even supporters leaving the ground with 15 or 20 minutes remaining as the contest lost all meaning approaching the finish line.

Westmeath will certainly have better days while Kilkenny steam ahead to a battle royal with Galway in Nowlan Park next Sunday.

Scorers for Kilkenny: TJ Reid 0-9 (3fs, 2 65), Adrian Mullen 0-6, John Donnelly 0-4, Eoin Cody, Martin Keoghan 0-2 each, David Blanchfield, Padraig Walsh, Darragh Corcoran, Timmy Clifford, Billy Ryan, Niall Brennan 0-1 each

Scorers for Westmeath: Ciaran Doyle 0-4 (3fs), Joseph Boyle, Darragh Clinton, Derek McNicholas 0-1 each.

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh; David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Padraig Walsh; Darragh Corcoran, Paddy Mullen; Timmy Clifford, Adrian Mullen, John Donnelly; Billy Ryan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody.

Subs: Cian Kenny for P.Mullen (46), Martin Keoghan for Ryan (47), Cillian Buckley for P.Walsh (56), Niall Brennan for A.Mullen (61), Conor Delaney for Lawlor (64).

Westmeath: Noel Conaty; Darragh Egerton, Conor Shaw, Johnny Bermingham; Robbie Greville, Tommy Doyle, Aaron Craig; Davy Glennon, Shane McGovern; Shane Clavin, Joseph Boyle, Eoin Keyes; Kevin Regan, Ciaran Doyle, Darragh Clinton.

Subs: Cormac Boyle for McGovern (h-t), Charlie McCormack for Clavin (h-t), Derek McNicholas for Clinton (48), Jack Gillen for Keyes (56), Gary Greville for Egerton (67).

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).