Christy Ring Cup Semi-finals/Westmeath 4-11 Carlow 2-15:Westmeath and Kildare will meet in the Christy Ring Cup final next month after beating the two favourites, Carlow and Meath, respectively at the weekend.
Westmeath stunned a fancied Carlow at Tullamore in first-half injury-time with three goals - two from John Shaw and one from Daniel Carty - to lead by 3-9 to 0-7 at the break.
Despite a spirited second-half comeback from Carlow - with goals from Robert Foley and Craig Doyle edging them in front for the first time - there was no stopping a determined Westmeath side, who added a fourth goal, through Derek McNicholas, to claim victory.
WESTMEATH: M Briody; C Jordan, P Greville, N Gavin; P Dowdall, D McCormack, B Connaughton (0-3, one free, one 65); R Whelan, P Clarke (0-2); J Shaw (2-2), B Murtagh (0-1), A Mitchell (0-2, one free); D McNicholas (1-1), D Carty (1-0), B Kennedy. Subs: E Loughlin for Whelan; J Clarke for Mitchell; A Price for Gavin; B Smyth for Carty.
CARLOW: F Foley (0-2, one free, one penalty); A Gaul (0-1), S Kavanagh, C Hughes; E Coady, J Rogers, S Watchhorn; J Waters (0-1), D Roberts (0-1); B Lawler (0-4, two frees), M Brennan (0-3), A Brennan (0-2); C Doyle (1-0), R Foley (1-0), J Miley. Subs: R Dunbar (0-1) for Miley; L Kenny for Rogers.
Referee: P Greene (Galway).
Despite hitting 14 wides, Kildare emerged victorious from a closely-fought semi-final with Meath at Tullamore.
A goal from Brendan Byrne in the opening quarter set Kildare on their way with an early 1-6 to 0-3 lead. However, Meath gradually fought their way back in the match and Ger O'Neill scored a crucial goal before the break.
Kildare went in at the break two points behind - 1-7 to 1-9 - but Meath had no answer to their storming second-half display.
Meath did have a great chance to claim victory in the closing minutes of the game, but a great save by goalkeeper Conor Cunningham from Mike Cole put Kildare into the final.
KILDARE: C Cunningham; T Finnerty, P Reidy, R Tynan; D Harney, D Kennedy, M Molone; C Buggy (0-1), B White (0-6, three frees, two 65s); K Divilly (0-1), T Murphy, P O'Brien (0-3); B Byrne (1-1), O Lynch, T Spain. Subs: A McAndrew (0-2) for Spain; J Doran for Finnerty; B Coulston for Murphy; D Moloney for Byrne.
MEATH: S Quinn; M Horan, E Fitgerald, M Foley; C Kenna, D Donnelly, E Keogh (0-1); C Crimmins, C Ó Mealóid; N Hackett, E Brislane (0-2), M Cole (0-1); G O'Neill (1-1), S Clynch (0-2), N Horan (0-6, all frees). Subs: A Ryan for Hackett; K Dowd for Ó Mealóid.
Referee: G Hoey (Clare).
