Kerry sunk by Westmeath and condemned to Christy Ring Cup

The Kingdom were overwhelmed yet again and relegated down from Joe McDonagh Cup for the first time in seven years

POINTING SOUTH: Kerry manager John Griffin during the Allianz Hurling League Division 2 match between Kerry and Derry at Austin Stack Park in Tralee, Kerry. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Joe McDonagh Cup, Rd 5:Kerry 1-14 Westmeath 2-28 

Kerry have been sent back to the Christy Ring Cup for the first time since the Joe McDonagh Cup began in 2018 after being overwhelmed by Westmeath in Austin Stack Park. 

Kerry's relegation was confirmed as a result of finishing on two points alongside Down however the Ulster men retain their status on the basis of their round four win over the Kingdom.

A sad day for Kerry hurling, who could not even muster a panel of 26 fully fit players for the game. There are serious questions to be asked as to where Kerry hurling is headed and how quickly it has fallen from three Joe McDonagh Cup finals in a row from 2020 to 2022. 

It was John Tweek Griffin’s first year in charge, and while he was bedevilled with injuries all season, other than beating Kildare, it was a season of disappointing performances and heavy defeats with Saturday more of the latter. 

Westmeath had the elements to their backs in the opening half and despite some wayward shooting, raced 1-3 to 0-1 in front inside the opening seven minutes. Kevin O’Brien was hurting the Kingdom from play and frees and fired over two points and Peter Clarke added another before  then sending in a high centre that Niall O’Brien finished to the Kerry net.

Kerry responded with points from Kevin Goulding and Shane Nolan but surprisingly Podge Boyle was off target with two frees.

The hosts were battling hard and Luke Rochford, who sits his Leaving Cert in two weeks, struck for a goal. Killian Hayes added a quick point, and at 1-5 to 1-3, the Kingdom looked to be in the contest.

But that was as good as it got for Kerry as Westmeath added 10 unanswered points in the second quarter with Killian Doyle scoring the bulk of that total with Daniel O’Reilly also chipping in with a couple of scores and Mark Gallagher adding a minor.

Kerry, despite the efforts of Paudie O’Connor, Tom Doyle and David Griffin, were listing and taking in lots of water. They trailed 1-16 to 1-5 at the interval.

Any hopes of a revival were sunk early in the second half when Westmeath added 1-4 in the opening five minutes thanks to two Doyle frees, a David O’Reilly point followed by a goal. Westmeath pulled 2-19 to 1-6 and the rest of the half was purely academic. 

Westmeath cruised to a facile win and with Kildare beating Down, Westmeath were assured of their Joe McDonagh place for next year. For John Griffin and Kerry, despite beating finalists Kildare on the opening, it was despair as they drop down to the Christy Ring Cup for the first time since 2015.

Scorers for Kerry: P Boyle (0-6,5fs), L Rochford (1-0), T Godley (0-2), K Goulding, K Hayes, N Mulcahy, S Nolan, S Horan and L Crowley (0-1 each)

Scorers for Westmeath: K Doyle (0-15, 8fs, 1’65), D O’Reilly (1-6), N O’Brien (1-1), D Williams and P Clarke (0-2 each) K Regan, and M Cunningham (0-1 each).

Kerry: L Dee; K O’Connor, F McCarthy, D Kearney; D Shanahan, K Goulding, D Griffin; P O’Connor, K Hayes; T Doyle, L Rochford, D Casey; N Mulcahy, P Boyle, S Nolan Subs: L Crowley for D Casey (h/t), S Foran for D Keaney (51), T Godley for F McCarthy (57), S McGrath for L Rochford (57), J McKenna for D Shanahan (62)

Westmeath: C O’Brien; C Gaffney, T Doyle, G Greville; E Keyes, R Greville, D Hickey; D Glennon, E Cunneen; D O’Reilly, D Williams , M Cunningham; P Clarke, N O’Brien, Killian Doyle. Subs: A Craig for D Hickey (49), N Mitchell for M Cunningham (56), J Boyle for N O’Brien (46), R Keyes for E Keyes (62), O Loughlin for C Gaffney (66).

Referee: N Malone (Clare)