EXCLUSIVE: Westmeath hero Warren Casserly tells SportsJOE how he was almost scalped against Kilkenny

Ah sure it's only a scratch.

Well, it's a bit more than that, but Westmeath hurler Warren Casserly is delighted his side got the job done in the opening game of the Leinster Under-21 hurling championship. The 19-year-old Castlepollard man suffered a nasty-looking flesh wound, which the team doctor said went "nearly to the bone", on Thursday night during his side's famous 1-11 to 0-12 win over Kilkenny. Casserley's game was ended prematurely after he suffered a deep gash to his forehead that held the game up for five minutes. https://twitter.com/RorysStories/status/735579393926520832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Once he was released from hospital this afternoon, he told SportsJOE how he suffered the gash that required nine stitches.

"The Kilkenny wing forward, he was carrying the ball and he went to strike it and I came in off his left-hand shoulder to hook him. "And as he hit the ball he followed through and went in through the bar of my helmet, and I took a nasty dash. "I could feel the blood straight away, as soon as I hit the deck I knew I was in trouble but I rose to my feet, but little did I know until my feet went from under me and then fell down again."

Casserly was taken into the dressing room as Westmeath led by three points, and while his white helmet was "destroyed with blood", the teenager kept asking the medic what the score was. After five minutes he returned to the dugout as he didn't want to miss the end of the game. Hospital had to wait. https://twitter.com/MidlandsSport/status/735565991304933378 Casserly feels his injury actually was a major factor in the Lake County holding out for the win, as he believes it halted growing Kilkenny's momentum in the second half.

"Every time they got the ball we surrounded them and the frees went our way. They were a big physical team and we were just as physical as they which they probably didn't expect.

Casserly has been advised to stay away from hurling for two weeks as he continues his recovery, but with "14 or 15" U21s part of Michael Ryan's senior panel, the Leinster semi-final with Galway next month is where he is targeting a return to action. Incredibly, Westmeath beat Kilkenny last night having only trained as a group collectively three times this season. Casserly says the unity in the group, and their links with the senior panel, had them perfectly prepared for an ambush.

"That U21 team have only trained three times as a group so it wasn't an ideal lead into the game. To put in the performance we did, it was something else and we have been training since October and putting in tremendous work and playing challenge games against the senior panel. "It wasn't as much of a shock as some might think, we put in the effort in training and we knew if we tried we'd reach the rewards."

https://twitter.com/batchcass/status/735763963812577280 The final moments saw Kilkenny with a chance to snatch the game as they were awarded a late penalty. Casserly, from the safety of the dugout, could not bring himself to see the outcome of the free strike on goal. When they got the penalty, I couldn't watch. Just as I lifted my head I saw the ball go wide and lucky enough the ref blew the whistle then. Casserly didn't get a chance to enjoy the celebrations, but he feels that with so many important games coming up, after the initial euphoria, it will be back down to business.

"I was only there for a few mins, but there were no great celebrations after, no drinking and there are loads on the senior panel for the Galway game. There will be no big celebrations until we win silverware.

https://twitter.com/ccferrie/status/735743001268355072 And how did his family react to his new look when he arrived home this afternoon.

"You know mothers; they'd always be worrying but sure look, that's the joys of hurling."

Hopefully for Westmeath, there is much more joy to come this season.