Gutsy Gaels hang on for fine championship win

A determined Southern Gaels side survived a second half onslaught from St. Oliver Plunkett"s to record a noteworthy win on Monday evening last (July 6th) in the Slevin"s Coach Hire Westmeath intermediate hurling championship.This contest between the two clubs representing the two major towns in the county was a low-key affair in front of a small attendance and was, in many ways, the oft-mentioned "game of two halves". The Athlone lads had wind advantage in the first moiety and were well placed to record a rare win at this level when eight points to the good at the interval. The Mullingar men threw the proverbial "kitchen sink" at their opponents on the change of ends. However, a combination of poor shooting by the losers and plucky defending by the winners (with netminder Alan Kennedy in particularly inspired form and also occasionally riding his luck) combined to make the Gaels worthy winners on the night.The standard of hurling on offer was often quite poor and was initially reflected in badly-struck sideline cuts from both sides in the opening exchanges. Plunkett"s Terry Gavin eventually opened the scoring in the fifth minute, pointing from close range after a period of scrappy play. The skill level increased noticeably with Gaels" Tony O"Keeffe firing in a wonderful lineball which precipitated an equalising point, kicked by full forward Ciaran McCarthy. The winners then went into a lead they would never relinquish, courtesy of a Neal Rattigan free. Both goalkeepers were soon called into action to keep their goals intact before Patrick Flynn fired over the Gaels third point, a terrific effort from 60 metres, at the midpoint of the half.Some three minutes later, Shane Donaher reduced the deficit to the bare minimum from a 25-metre free. However, the remainder of the half was almost entirely one-way traffic with Southern Gaels adding an unanswered 1-5 to build up a commanding lead. Points from David Johnson and Tony O"Keeffe (a free) started the scoring spree, with Ciaran McCarthy chipping in with a vital goal in the 24th minute, kicking the sliotar to the net from close range having initially fielded Neal Rattigan"s long delivery. Further points ensued from Colman Gantley (the move starting with an intuitive flick from David Johnson), another Tony O"Keeffe free and, a matter of seconds later, a fine score from 50 metres from Neal Rattigan. A shell-shocked Plunkett"s side responded with a converted free with the last puck of the first half from Shane Donaher. At the break, Southern Gaels led by 1-8 to 0-3.The losers started the second half with all guns blazing but they had only one score to show by the seventh minute despite an abundance of possession, albeit a fine score from 55 metres from Shane Donaher. Three further Plunkett"s points by the 13th minute had the gap down to four points - Terry Gavin, David Gavin (from a "65") and Ciaran McKenna being the scorers. Southern Gaels needed a score to restore their confidence and the experienced Tony O"Keeffe duly obliged midway through the half from a 35-metre free.However, the men in green and white continued to chip away at the lead with three more points between the 18th and 24th minutes. A neat point by David Gavin from 45 minutes was followed by a terrific brace from either side of the pitch from Colm O"Leary (atoning for some disappointing finishing early in the half).The Gaels almost wrapped up the points towards the end of normal time, Darragh Lennon coming forward from defence but his goal attempt flew just wide (seconds after the losers may well have deserved a free out).Neal Rattigan put the winners a goal to the good as the scoreboard clock turned to zero but the drama was far from over. St. Oliver Plunkett"s sub, Ciaran McCormack kicked the ball wide when a goal looked on. Colm O"Leary had claims for a penalty turned down and, in the third minute of added-time, Alan Kennedy produced a fabulous full-length save to deny David Gavin a goal, at the expense of an unconverted "65". Tony O"Keeffe fittingly secured victory for the Shannonsiders with a very well struck 50-metre free with the last puck of the contest.Southern Gaels: Alan Kennedy; Michael O"Connell, Donal Duane, Declan Finn; Darragh Lennon, Ciaran Duncan, Ronan Farrell; Patrick Flynn (0-1), Tony O"Keeffe (0-4, all from frees); David Johnson (0-1), Colman Gantley (0-1), Neal Rattigan (0-3, 0-1 from free); Frank Kelly, Ciaran McCarthy (1-1), Michael Larkin. Subs: Tony Murphy (for Kelly, 45 mins), Conor Foley (for Larkin, 56 mins), Paul Kehoe (for Lennon, 60 mins).St. Oliver Plunkett"s: David Cornally; Paddy Kiernan, John Plunkett, Alan Murtagh; James Duggan, Micheal Curley, Michael McKnight; Conor Twomey, Ciaran O"Meara; Ciaran McKenna (0-1), David Gavin (0-2, 0-1 from a "65"), Shane Donaher (0-3, 0-2 from frees); Fergus Walls, Colm O"Leary (0-2), Terry Gavin (0-2). Sub: Ciaran McCormack (for Walls, 46 mins).Referee: Jimmy Cribben (Clonkill).