Published: Wednesday, 28th July, 2010 5:30pm

Castletown-Geoghegan impress in vital win over Lough Lene Gaels

Westmeath SHC: Castletown-Geoghegan 4-17, Lough Lene Gaels 3-11

Lough Lene Gael’s Christo Murtagh leaves James Durkin and Joe Clarke in his wake in Cusack Park on Saturday evening.

Gerry Buckley reports

Castletown-Geoghegan laid down a marker that they may yet have a big say in the destination of the Westmeath Examiner Cup this year when they registered a deserved win over age-old rivals Lough Lene Gaels in a very entertaining game in the winners' group of the Westmeath senior hurling championship in Cusack Park last Saturday evening.

The black and ambers were flattered by their nine-point winning margin, with dual star John Brennan proving to be a super-sub in the second half, nabbing a well-taken brace of goals and almost completing an unlikely hat-trick to change the complexion of what was a closely-contested tie for three quarters of the match. After this setback, the Collinstown men are now up against it if they are to qualify for the knockout stages.

The teams shared four points in the opening 13 minutes, Dan Carty slotting over frees from 50 and 65 metres respectively, while the winners had a point apiece from Alan Mangan (a great point from a tight angle) and a neat effort from Joe Clarke. Dan Carty then struck for a great goal after taking Noel Conaty's pass, but a fortuitous equaliser immediately ensued, Aonghus Clarke's '65' going all the way to the net via the hand of a defender. In the 18th minute, Ronan Whelan edged Castletown-Geoghegan ahead with a fine lift and strike. Gaels' netminder Brian Conaty cleared his lines after a goalmouth scramble and, as the atmosphere intensified in the stand, Mark McNicholas levelled the game again with a terrific free from well inside his own half.

Aonghus Clarke nudged the winners ahead from a 40-metre free before an unanswered 1-3 from the men in purple and gold put them in control coming up to half-time, with a coolly-taken goal from Darragh McCormack being followed by a fine point apiece from Fergal Moran, Thomas Doyle and Noel Conaty. Sandwiched between late points from the youthful Castletown-Geoghegan duo of substitute Neal Kirby and Aonghus Clarke, the Gaels struck for another terrific point from Dan Carty. This left the scoreboard at half-time reading: Lough Lene Gaels 2-7 Castletown-Geoghegan 1-6.

Fergal Moran should have increased the Gaels' advantage within 35 seconds of the restart and the winners took full advantage of this let-off to add 1-5 without reply by the ninth minute of the second moiety. Following a point each from Alan Mangan (rounding off a patient move) and Ronan Whelan (after the losers' defence failed to clear the sliotar), Blaine Lahart poked home Castletown-Geoghegan's second goal (shortly after Dan Carty had a 'goal' correctly disallowed at the other end). James Durkan (who had a tremendous second half) added a fabulous point and another two points ensued from Ronan Whelan (a free from his own 65-metre line) and Durkan again from play, to put a completely new outlook on the scoreboard, with the black and ambers four points to the good.

The ding-dong nature of the contest continued with Darragh McCormack teeing up Noel Conaty for a goal from close range and Dan Carty equalising from a '65' just before the midpoint of the half. However, Castletown then rattled off four more unanswered points from the sticks of James Durkan (three fine efforts) and Aonghus Clarke (from a 40-metre free). A great point from Dan Carty left his side trailing by a goal with four minutes of normal time remaining, before the imposing figure of John Brennan took centre stage. The Tyrrellspass footballer doubled Alan Mangan's delivery to the net and, after another successful monster free from Ronan Whelan, Brennan was on hand again to whip the sliotar home from 15 metres. A shell-shocked Collinstown outfit responded with a point from Noel Conaty, before Brian Conaty's acrobatic save deflected Brennan's effort for his hat-trick over the crossbar. In the third minute of added-time, Dan Carty tried to blast home a face-saving goal for Lough Lene Gaels, but his rasping shot was turned over the crossbar by a massed defence.

Castletown-Geoghegan: Paddy Maloney; John Gallagher, Ronan Corcoran, Eamonn Óg Clarke; Ian Corrigan, Derek Gallagher, David Langan; Colin O'Brien, Diarmuid Garvin; James Durkan (0-5), Joe Clarke (0-1), Ronan Whelan (0-4, 0-2 from frees); Alan Mangan (0-2), Blaine Lahart (1-0), Aonghus Clarke (1-3, 1-0 from a '65', 0-2 from frees, 0-1 from a '65'). Subs: Neal Kirby (0-1) (for Corrigan, 28 mins), John Brennan (2-1) (for O'Brien, 51 mins), Pat Clarke (for J.Gallagher, 53 mins), Dean McDermott (for E.Óg Clarke, inj, 60 mins).

Lough Lene Gaels: Brian Conaty; Derek Healy, Martin Williams, Jim Connell; Mark McNicholas (0-1, from a free), Christo Murtagh, Jim Carroll; Jimmy Boyle, Francis McDermott; David Cunningham, Thomas Doyle (0-1), Fergal Moran (0-1); Noel Conaty (1-2), Darragh McCormack (1-0), Dan Carty (1-6, 0-1 from a '65', 0-3 from frees). Subs: Stephen Bardon (for Carroll, half-time), Michael Walsh (for Cunningham, 46 mins), Paddy Fleming (for McDermott, inj, 50 mins).

Referee: Barry Kelly (St. Oliver Plunkett's).