Westmeath win restores Kerry hurling credibility, says Molumphy 

 The Kerry boss was thrilled his players showed the talent he knows they have. 

Stephen Molumphy: ‘While we are delighted we got the two points, it’s back down to earth straight away. We got them right away in the huddle. Just focus now on next week and Down now.’ Pic: Domnick Walsh

Waterford joy spilled all across Sunday’s hurling programme. Three Déise men — Stephen Molumphy, Pat Bennett, and Shane Briggs — masterminded the 8/1 outsiders Kerry taking the major scalp of Westmeath in Cusack Park in the Joe McDonagh Cup. Two hours later, Pat’s son Stephen drilled home a penalty as Waterford took down Cork in the Munster SHC round robin.

Kerry manager Stephen Molumphy had spent the league campaign almost in the role of ‘the boy who called wolf’. He never relented in trying to convince everyone of the talent these Kerry players had, but when they weren’t showing it on the field — just one win in Division 2A — nobody was inclined to believe him. The narrative around Kerry almost reached the point of ridicule before Sunday in Cusack Park.