A general view of TEG Cusack Park. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Westmeath SHC Final
Castletown-Geoghegan 1-27 Lough Lene Gaels 2-17
By Gerry Buckley at TEG Cusack Park
Castletown-Geoghegan won their 15th Westmeath senior hurling title with a deserved win over Lough Lene Gaels in Mullingar.
Six days after the game had been abandoned after a mere 13 minutes, the pitch was in remarkably good condition and fitting a game of its stature.
Castletown-Geoghegan, who had trailed by 0-2 to 0-0 when the game was abandoned last Sunday, got off to a great start with David O’Reilly scoring a fine goal in the third minute at the end of a probing delivery by Niall O’Brien. However, Lough Lene Gaels rallied well and were on level terms (1-2 to 0-5) at the end of the opening quarter, two of their points coming from superb sideline cuts – from both sides of the pitch – by David Williams, while Eoin Daly also scored a brace from open play.
A quickfire brace from Conor Murphy and a delightful score from O’Reilly put the 2022 champion s three clear, but this was wiped out in the 19th minute when Aaron Kennedy found the net after the referee had allowed an advantage following a foul on Daly.
A 21st-minute point from longstanding Westmeath full back Tommy Doyle (in an unaccustomed attacking role) put the Gaels ahead for the first time (1-7 to 1-6), but Castletown finished the first half the stronger and an O’Brien hat-trick (including his first from play) had them ahead by 1-11 to 1-9 at the interval.
O’Brien pointed just five seconds after play resumed, but the gap was still just two points (1-14 to 1-12) after 39 minutes. However, Castletown-Geoghegan looked the better side for most of the time remaining with all of their forwards making the scoresheet. It could have been worse for Lough Lene Gaels had Westmeath ‘keeper Noel Conaty not pulled off a few great saves – from Liam Varley in the 43rd minute, and a double-save from Peter Clarke and O’Brien some six minutes later.
The new champions led by seven points (1-21 to 1-14) with 51 minutes elapsed, but Lough Lene Gaels refused to throw in the towel and points from Doyle and Shane Williams kept them in touch.
Doyle was then denied a goal by Ciaran O’Brien, and there was no way back for them despite sub Jason Malone finding the net on the hour mark to leave the deficit at four points (1-24 to 2-17). Castletown wrapped up their win with points in injury-time from Jack Gallagher, O’Brien (a free), and sub Peter Murphy (his second).
Scorers for Castletown-Geoghegan: N O’Brien 0-10 (5fs, 1‘65’), D O’Reilly 1-5, C Murphy, L Varley 0-3 each, J Gallagher, P Murphy 0-2 each, P Clarke, A Clarke 0-1 each.
Scorers for Lough Lene Gaels: D Williams 0-7 (4fs, 2s/l,1‘65’), A Kennedy, J Malone 1-0 each, E Daly, T Doyle 0-3, S Williams 0-2, M Kennedy, D McNicholas 0-1 each.
Castletown-Geoghegan: C O’Brien; N McKenna, A Glennon, D Maloney; J Bermingham, J Murphy, M Gavigan; P Clarke, S Clavin; C Murphy, A Clarke, L Varley; D O’Reilly, N O’Brien, J Gallagher.
Subs: P Murphy for Varley (51), D Fennell for Bermingham (55), M Heeney for C Murphy (60+2), C Lynch for Gallagher (60+4).
Lough Lene Gaels: N Conaty; D Daly, D Higgins, D Reilly; P Reilly, D Qamar, S Williams; B Doyle, M Daly; T Doyle, D Williams, E Daly; M Kennedy, W Williams, A Kennedy.
Subs: D McNicholas for W Williams (HT), J Malone for B Doyle (47), J Egan for D Reilly (47), J Williams for E Daly (inj., 47).
Referee: B Kelly (St Oliver Plunkett’s).
