Powerlifts the siege for Kilkenny

Star performer John Power produced four points during the closing five minutes, and boosted by another from Ger Aylward, 14-man Kilkenny cobbled together a battling victory over Westmeath yesterday.

Power drilled home a goal 30 seconds into the closing half to help Kilkenny open out a commanding 11-point lead (1-15 to 0-7) and it looked like Westmeath were dead and buried. However, home defender, Eamon Walsh was dismissed in the 41st minute with a second yellow card and the dynamic of the game changed.

Eight minutes from the end Westmeath, thanks to an uninterrupted flow of points from free taker Brendan Murtagh, Cormac Boyle, Andrew Mitchell and Dan Carty, had the deficit back to two points. Suddenly the place in the final against Galway next Sunday was there to be won.