Kilkenny find Championship groove after sluggish opening 

Westmeath hurled with great spirit and no little skill right from the throw-in and showed scant regard for their opponents’ lofty reputation

Kilkenny's Padraig Walsh scores in Saturday's Leinster SHC win over Westmeath at TEG Cusack Park in Mullingar. 

Leinster SHC Rd 1: Kilkenny 5-23 Westmeath 1-19

Kilkenny put a sluggish first half performance behind them to emerge as comfortable winners against a brave Westmeath outfit in TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar on Saturday.