Leinster Under-21 Football - Westmeath 1-6 Kildare 0-6:WESTMEATH advanced thanks to an unimpressive three-point win over Kildare in an error-ridden first round game at Mullingar on Saturday.

The winners were by far the superior team in the first half and should have led by much more than five points (1-5 to 0-3) at the interval. The goal came in the 27th minute, James Durkan rounding off a fine move with a clinical finish. Influential full forward, Callum McCormack kicked three fine points from play but the home team missed a host of chances.

Westmeath only managed one further score in the second half, albeit a wonderful point from midfielder John Heslin though John Egan somehow fired against the post with the goal at his mercy.

Kildare stayed in contention and Lilywhite sub Danny Egan thundered a point-blank shot against the crossbar with a minute of normal time remaining.

WESTMEATH:D Quinn; B Moran, K Maguire, R Doyle; G Egan, K Martin, M McCallon; D Corroon, J Heslin (0-1); J Durkan (1-0), J Egan, C Lynam (0-1, a free), I Coffey (0-1), C McCormack (0-3), T McDaniel. Subs:P Sharry for McDaniel (39 mins), K Sheridan for Durkan, (49), T McDaniel for Coffey, (57).

KILDARE:R Eyres; J Roche, B Kinahan, R McGuire; D Coogan, A Higgins, P Warren; P Kelly, S Bergin; S Campbell, K Cribbin (0-2, one free), N Scanlon; D Mulhall (0-2, one free), C McNally, C Reynolds. Subs:D Duggan for Kinahan |(13 mins), D O'Keeffe (0-1) for Bergin (ht), S Hanafin (0-1) for McGuire (ht), G Duffy for Scanlon (42 mins), D Egan for Reynolds (55 mins).

Referee:P Finnegan (Louth).