Ryan relief as class tells in end

Westmeath 0-14 Waterford 3-22

The game got off to a frantic start, with four yellow cards dished out inside three minutes by Diarmuid Kirwan, the first two to 17-year-old Liam Varley and Maurice Shanahan after an off-the-ball scuffle that led to a brief melee. Once the game settled down though, it was Westmeath that were the better side until half time, a fact acknowledged by Waterford manager, Michael Ryan.

“We were disappointed with our first-half performance but, first of all, let’s give credit for Westmeath,” said Ryan afterwards.