Kildare recorded their first win of the 2025 Joe McDonagh Cup campaign by handing Westmeath a 3-24 to 2-21 defeat in Newbridge.

The Lilywhites’ red-hot start saw them out to a 1-5 to 0-1 lead inside six minutes, with Darragh Melville hammering in their opening goal, and another major from Jack Sheridan would help them on their way to a 2-16 to 1-12 lead at the half.

Westmeath improved after the change of ends and a goal David Williams from would help them trim their deficit down to four points, and it’d be down the minimum late on before points from Sheridan and James Burke steadied the hosts’ ship and a Burke goal at the death sealed the six-point victory.

Earlier in the day, Laois cruised to an emphatic 6-36 to 1-12 win against Down in Ballycran.

The O’Moore men built up an unassailable 2-23 to 1-4 at the end of the first-half and added goals via Ben Conroy, James Duggan (2) and PJ Scully in the second period to put an exclamation mark on their second win in as many games in the competition.

Joe McDonagh Cup Round 2
Full Time
Laois: 6-36
Down: 1-12

2/2 wins for our senior hurlers in the Joe McDonagh Cup after defeating Down this afternoon. Great performance. Well done lads 👏 pic.twitter.com/xl5Zxz1dds

— Laois GAA (@CLGLaois) April 26, 2025

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