Westmeath chiselled out a predictably easy (1-15 to 1-6) win over Kilkenny in the sides' Cadbury's Leinster U21 FC meeting at Nowlan Park. The midlanders, backed by a stiffening breeze, got up and running quickly in the first half and never allowed their opponents a sneak at goal. The winners-elect led by 1-9 to 0-0 at half-time with the goal coming from Kieran Lynam in the 30th minute. The Cats tried their damndest to open their account and they succeeded minutes later via the boot of centre-back Kieran Joyce. Joyce's score had consolation written all over it though as messrs. Durkan and Kelly kept Westmeath firmly in the driving seat. Westmeath - P Shaw, W Murtagh, K Gavin, S Moorehead 0-1, F O'Reilly, A Whitney, T Warburton, A Browne, N Kilcoyne 0-1, B Melody, K Scally, J Dolan 0-1, B Kelly 0-3, J Durkan 0-5, J Connellan 0-2. Subs - K Lynam 1-1 for Connellan, A Giles 0-1 for Melody, A Purcell for Whitney, L Folan for Scally, D Deegan for Kilcoyne. Kilkenny - M Gannon. D Walton, S Kenny, N Roche, M Morrissey, K Joyce 1-1, R Cody, B Staunton, D Lyng, K Quinlan, M Murphy, J Mulhall, P Grace 0-1, R O'Hara, P Raftice. Subs - J Maher for Murphy, C Roche 0-3 for Mulhall, D Wafer for O'Hara, C McGrath 0-1 for Quinlan, S Mooney for Grace. Ref - F Barry (Kildare) Tweet

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