Kildare ... 3-10 Westmeath ... 0-11 Kildare overcome stiff Westmeath resistance in the second half to claim both points in their opening Division 2A hurling tie at Clane yesterday.

A Joe Dempsey goal helped Kildare to a 1-6 to 0-6 interval lead. Westmeath came within a point of Kildare when Shane McDonnell scored in the 48th minute.

However, Kildare replied with a goal from a Billy White free and this left Westmeath with too much to do.

KILDARE: C Leahy; E Leamy, E Denieffe, P Keegan; K Divilly, D Harney, D Lahart; R Hoban, S Gleeson; T Spain, C Buggy (0-2), P Beirne (0-3, 2 frees); J Dempsey (2-1), C Boran (0-2), B White (1-2, all frees). Sub: D Nolan for White.

WESTMEATH: B Conahy; M Williams, B Murtagh, B Williams (0-3, all frees); D Curley, D McCormack, N Gavin; J Brennan, S McDonnell (0-2), J Shaw (0-1), V Bateman, J Forbes; D Carthy (0-2), G Briody (0-3), F Shaw. Subs: A Mitchell for Forbes, B Kennedy for Carthy, N Williams for F Shaw.

Referee: J Kelly (Wexford).