Kilkenny book Leinster final spot

Westmeath 1-09 Kilkenny 1-23

Reigning champions Kilkenny won through to the Leinster SHC final but the expected avalanche of scores failed to materialise in Mullingar.

Brian Cody's Cats did most of the damage in the first half as they led by 1-15 to 1-04 at the break. Five of the visitors' forwards pointed inside the opening 24 minutes to confirm their dominance.

Henry Shefflin played in Eoin McCormack for a 34th-minute goal, but Westmeath replied in kind in injury time. Barry Kennedy made use of a slip by Michael Kavanagh to slot home past Kilkenny keeper James McGarry.

The second half was a forgettable affair but Enda Loughlin and free-taker Andrew Mitchell did shine for the Lake men.

WESTMEATH: M Briody; C Jordan, C Murtagh, P Greville; J Shaw (capt), D McCormack, N Gavin; B Connaughton, E Loughlin; G Gavin, B Murtagh, A Mitchell; B Kennedy, D McNicholas, J Clarke.

KILKENNY: J McGarry; M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, D Cody; J Tyrrell (capt), J Tennyson, T Walsh; D Lyng, R Mullally; W O'Dwyer, M Comerford, E Larkin; E McCormack, H Shefflin, J Fitzpatrick.

Referee: John Sexton (Limerick)