People can't quite believe that Westmeath U21 hurlers beat Kilkenny

Westmeath have beaten Kilkenny in hurling, writes Stephen Barry.

I repeat, Westmeath have beaten Kilkenny in hurling!

A young Westmeath supporter celebrates with manager Adrian Moran and selector Darren McCormack after the Bord Gais Energy Leinster U21 Hurling quarter-final at Cusack Park. Photo: Danny Boyce/Sportsfile

As word of the shock in the Leinster U21 quarter-final began to emerge, everyone tuned in to the Westmeath GAA Twitter account for the nerve-wracking details.

Westmeath 1-11 Kilkenny 0-11 31 minutes second half Leinster Under 21 Hurling. Six minutes injury time

— Westmeath GAA (@westmeath_gaa) May 25, 2016

A seriously exciting last few minutes between @westmeath_gaa & @KilkennyCLG #BGEU21 pic.twitter.com/hTWYKYcocM

— BGEGAA (@BGEGAA) May 25, 2016

This will be the longest 6 minutes of injury time for any Westmeath fan ever! 🙈🙈🙈

— David Hennessy (@MrDavidHennessy) May 25, 2016

We weren’t there, but six minutes of injury time!? Come on, ref!!

Literally please blow it up ref...

— Midlands 103 Sport (@MidlandsSport) May 25, 2016

And then there was the scandal of a last minute penalty…

Penalty for Kilkenny

— Westmeath GAA (@westmeath_gaa) May 25, 2016

*Frantic refreshing*

Wide with the penalty and we win!!!!!

— Westmeath GAA (@westmeath_gaa) May 25, 2016

So led by the free-taking of Darragh Clinton, who scored 0-8, the home side held on for a 1-11 to 0-12 sensation of a result.

And, of course, there were wild celebrations; both in Cusack Park and online…

Our reporter Seamus Cooney in a very happy Westmeath dressing room pic.twitter.com/9wBck13IPp

— Midlands 103 Sport (@MidlandsSport) May 25, 2016

The Diehard @westmeath_gaa Hurling men after they bet Kilkenny tonight #GAA #EirGridU21 pic.twitter.com/VKzDRdi4Bg

— Rory's Stories (@RorysStories) May 25, 2016

Scenes! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/eBzVPEl621

— David Hennessy (@MrDavidHennessy) May 25, 2016

To all those out there. My nerves are gone!! What a hell of a result!!!

— Westmeath GAA (@westmeath_gaa) May 25, 2016

Being a @westmeath_gaa hurling fan in May pic.twitter.com/n18wUjok4Q

— Midlands 103 Sport (@MidlandsSport) May 25, 2016

Not that it was easy…

Brace yourself;🙈W'meath U21 hurler @batchcass has hole in head aft shock defeat of Kilkenny pic.twitter.com/RIK8oKXIM2 #worthit #gaa #hurling

— clíona foley (@ponyyelof) May 25, 2016

So it’s Carlow, Offaly and Westmeath into the Leinster semi-finals; all counties that played in the round-robin stage at Senior level.

Imagine how committed you have to be to be a hurling fan in Carlow/Westmeath?? Nights like tonight must be so so sweet

— dontfoul (@dontfoul) May 25, 2016

As for Kilkenny, with their minors already knocked out, some asked whether the county was now in crisis?...

Last time Kilkenny had Leinster under-age hurling disappointments, there was a review. This year's provincial exits may call for more. #GAA

— John Fogarty (@JohnFogartyIrl) May 25, 2016

and out of football as well

— Davymac (@Davymac17) May 25, 2016

Jaysus Kilkenny out of the minor and U-21 championships and it's still May. The hurling gods must have had enough https://t.co/zwVbkWLyA6

— Gary Murphy (@GaryMurphyDCU) May 25, 2016

What's worse, there was a report of Kilkenny using a sweeper too.

Warren Casserly goal puts Westmeath a goal up against Kilkenny...Kilkenny dropping back a sweeper too #shockon?

— Will O'Callaghan (@willocallaghan) May 25, 2016

Truly the end of days has arrived…