Westmeath U21 hurling boss Adrian Moran has paid tribute to the people behind Wednesday's sensational victory over Kilkenny.

The Lake County caused one of the biggest upsets in years when they sent the mighty Cats tumbling out of the Leinster U21HC thanks to a 1-11 to 0-12 win.

"There has been a lot of media coverage about our win which is great, but I'd like to see the people in the background getting some praise too. They are the unsung heroes," Moran told www.hoganstand.com

Moran's backroom team in full is: Darren McCormack (assistant manager); Michael Ryan and Michael Walsh (selectors); Tom Carr (strength and conditioning coach); Niamh Guy (physio); Patsy Sheerin (assistant physio); Thomas Mount and Jason Moran (stats); Keith Quinn and David Carr (kitmen); Martina Seery (coordinator); Niall Maloney (dietician); Denis Coen (performance coach).

He is also grateful to the Westmeath county board and Club Iarmhi for their support.

The Ringtown clubman has dedicated the victory to Westmeath's supporters, whose numbers had dwindled to a handful after years in the hurling wilderness. The same supporters must be pitching themselves after a memorable May which has seen Westmeath win the Leinster SHC round-robin series in a canter and now beat the Cats at U21 level.

"When the final whistle went, the first people who came into my head were the 20 or 30 hardcore supporters who have followed us through thick and thin. I was delighted for them," says Moran, who is also a senior team selector.

"Things are improving and the belief was there among the players that we could beat Kilkenny. They celebrated on the pitch afterwards, but that's where the celebrations ended. They've come straight back down to earth and all the focus is on the Leinster senior quarter-final against Galway on Sunday week.

"We'll start planning for the Leinster U21 semi-final against either Dublin or Wexford after that."

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