Garycastle's Paddy Mulvihill gets to the ball ahead of Maryland's Conor Farrell during Sunday's Westmeath Senior Football Championship clash in Moate.

Table toppers Garrycastle too strong for Maryland

FULL-FORWARD Paddy Mulvihill inspired reigning champions Garrycastle to a comfortable victory over Maryland in last Sunday's final Division 2 group game at Moate.Mulvihill was a rampaging force in Garrycastle's attack throughout, and a clinically taken 1-6, as well as his general performance, put him miles ahead as the game's stand-out performer.Garrycastle, who had Dessie Dolan back in the ranks after injury, had previously booked top spot in Division 2 (and a subsequent place in the semi-finals) by winning all four prior group games, and despite an encouraging opening period by a hard working and determined Maryland, Anthony Cunningham's mean machine never looked in any danger of relinquishing their unblemished record here.Along with the outstanding Mulvihill, Garrycastle had ample support for his efforts from the likes of Doran Harte, James Duignan (playing in midfield in the absence of David O'Shaughnessy), and James Dolan, the latter of whom notched a couple of points and contributed greatly to many Garrycastle attacks. Dessie Dolan, meanwhile, made a somewhat tentative and quiet return to action, scoring the game's opening point (from a free), but then playing on the periphery for much of the remainder of proceedings.On the evidence of the group series, Garrycastle look almost unstoppable in their quest for a third Flanagan Cup on the trot, with the Athlone side accumulating a highly commendable 98 points from five games, and winning by large margins on most occasions (Athlone got closest to them when the sides met in May - but still lost by five points).Perhaps their most impressive showing during the group stage was a straightforward 2-10 to 0-7 victory over nearest challengers Mullingar Shamrocks. In many people's eyes, Shamrocks are the team most likely to push Garrycastle in the bid to lift this year's trophy, but that type of near-demolition, allied to similarly hefty wins over The Downs and Bunbrosna, must place the Castle' as odds-on favourites for another county crown (which would be the club's sixth senior title in total).Maryland tried their very best here and managed to stay toe-to-toe with the champions during the first 15 minutes, but they had little to aim for, as the Drumraney-men were not in relegation trouble before throw-in, and equally, couldn't achieve qualification to the knockout stages after The Downs earned a draw against Athlone the previous evening.Mickey Harkins' men can be relatively satisfied by their performance in this year's senior championship, with wins over Athlone and Bunbrosna keeping them well clear of relegation, and confirming a respectable fourth-placed finish in a tough Division 2. They've once again held their own at this level, in their third straight campaign at senior grade, and they'll be loking to go one better next year by reaching the quarter-finals.As mentioned above, Dessie Dolan got Garrycastle up and running here, and Conor Cosgrove quickly added a second point.A powerful run forward by the exciting Callum McCormack was rewarded with Maryland's opening point on five minutes, before Mulvihill and John Reilly traded scores.Mulvihill and Dessie Dolan worked a goalscoring chance for Cosgrove on eight minutes, but Maryland goalie Richie Browne made an oustanding save from point-blank range.Cosgrove had another sight of goal moments later, but this time Kenny Kincaid blocked well.An immense point by McCormack, under enormous pressure from John Gaffey, brought Maryland to level terms by the 12th minute, but 1-2 from Mulvihill, in the space of just two minutes, started the process of Garrycastle pulling clear of their opponents.Firstly, Cosgrove set up Mulvihill to easily find the back of the net from close range, before the same player added two more points, one of which crashed off the crossbar and flew over Richie Browne's bar.Joe Harte shrugged off the attentions of Gaffey to reduce the deficit to four points, but points from Gary Dolan, James Dolan and Cosgrove put Garrycastle well clear. Gary Dolan then got Garrycastle's second goal to leave the scoreline 2-8 to 0-4 in the champions' favour.Mulvihill clocked-up another point before half-time, and within two minutes of the restart, Seanie O'Donoghue set up James Dolan for a good score.Maryland never stopped trying though, and points by McCormack, James Reynolds and Christy Grimes put a better look on the scoreboard.Mulvihill pointed once more, and John Reilly spurned a terrific goal chance for Maryland, before James Duignan got a point his overall performance deserved.Joe Harte's free made it eight points for Maryland, before O'Donoghue assisted Mulvihll for his sixth point. James Reynolds managed a late score for Maryland, but their plucky efforts were always going to go unrewarded against a finely-tuned Garrycastle.SCORERS: Garrycastle - P Mulvihill 1-6, G Dolan 1-1, C Cosgrove 0-2, J Dolan 0-2, J Duignan 0-1, D Dolan 0-1 (f). Maryland - C McCormack 0-3, J Reynolds 0-2, J Harte 0-2 (1f), J Reilly 0-1, C Grimes 0-1.Garrycastle - Cathal Mullin; John O'Shaughnessy, John Gaffey, Alan Fox; Karl Henson, Doran Harte, Enda Mulvihill; Seanie O'Donoghue, James Duignan; James Dolan, Dessie Dolan, Gary Dolan; Conor Cosgrove, Paddy Mulvihill, Robbie Shine. Subs: Mark McCallon for O'Shaughnessy (inj, 25 mins), Paul Dillon for G Dolan (HT), Alan Daly for Cosgrove (49 mins), Conor Cosgrove for E Mulvihill (52).Maryland - Richie Browne; Kenny Kincaid, Conor Farrell, Ronan Moran; Christy Grimes, Darren Malynn, James Reynolds; Kieran Martin, Liam Reilly; John Reilly, Tom Browne, Callum McCormack; David Martin, Joe Harte, Anthony Reynolds. Subs: Ronan Farrell for A Reynolds (HT), Enda Kincaid for T Browne (48 mins), Aidan Reynolds for D Martin (53).Referee: Michael McCadden.