Westmeath 2-12

Kerry 0-15

Two late points from Allan Devine and one from Cormac Boyle secured a third straight victory for Westmeath in the Joe McDonagh Cup at Kerry's expense in Austin Stack Park, Tralee.

A draw looked to be on the cards until the visitors produced a late surge against a Kerry side that finished with 14 players after defender Bryan Murphy was sent off in the closing stages. This latest win leaves Michael Ryan's charges on the cusp of reaching the final with two games left to play against Carlow and Antrim in the round-robin series.

By contrast, Kerry need to win their remaining games, which are away to Meath and Antrim, and hope that other results go their way, if they're to make the decider.

Goals in either half from Niall O'Brien and Darragh Clinton proved decisive for the Lake County who led by 1-7 to 0-8 at the break. Castletown-Geoghegan sharpshooter O'Brien's 16th minute major was the highlight of a low-key first half played in wet conditions.

The hosts upped the ante after the restart when a pair of Padraig Boyle frees drew them level before they went two points clear, 0-12 to 1-7. However, Clinton's 53rd minute goal after he was set up by Ciaran Doyle put the Lake County back in front and they finished the stronger, with two poor clearances from Kerry goalkeeper Martin Stackpoole gifting Devine the last two scores of a tight game.

Westmeath - P Carroll; S Power, T Doyle, G Greville; L Varley, P Greville, D McNicholas; E Price, C Boyle (0-1); C Doyle, R Greville, A Clarke (0-1); N O'Brien (1-2), N Mitchell, A Devine (0-7, 6f). Subs: J Boyle (0-1) for C Boyle, D Clinton (1-0) for R Greville, J Gilligan for E Price.

Kerry - M Stackpoole; S Weir, J Buckley, B Murphy; B Barrett, D Collins, J O'Connor (0-1); S Nolan (0-1), B O'Leary; D Griffin (0-3), M Boyle, B O'Mahony (0-2); J Goulding (0-1sl), P Boyle (0-3, 2f), S Conway (0-3, 2f). Subs: J Conway (0-1) for S Nolan, D O'Carroll for J Goulding.

Referee - C McAllister.

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