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

Joey steals the show as Raharney take junior crown

Westmeath Junior ‘A’ Hurling Championship final: Raharney 1-16, Lough Lene Gaels 0-12

Ross Craig of Lough Lene Gaels goes on a solo run during Friday’s junior hurling final, pursued by Alan Core of Raharney.

With still more than a week of July to run, the first adult final in Westmeath's GAA calendar threw up a ding dong contest on Friday evening last.

On a splendid day for crisp hurling and on a superbly manicured sod at Robinstown, Raharney and Lough Lene Gaels locked horns in search of the first silverware of the season. Ultimately the honours went the way of the Deelsiders who produced a scintillating second half performance to sweep aside's the Gael's initially determined challenge. Turning in a man of the match performance, Joey Boyle was inspired form and fired over seven handsome points as his side triumphed.

Few in the good sized attendance would have predicted a seven defeat setback for the Gaels early on as the men in purple and gold dominated the opening quarter.

Indeed, they were 0-4 to nil to the good on ten minutes but slowly the slumbering giant awoke. A somewhat fortuitous goal from wing half forward, Niall Flynn six minutes from the break effectively turned the course of this game, for the Gaels' challenge essentially disintegrated thereafter.

As stated the Gaels started the brighter and early points from Daragh McCormack, Philip Reilly, wing back, Jonathan Clarke and McCormack, again, put them four ahead as Raharney tried to grab their breaths. When Mikey Boyle was impeded in the eleventh minute, Johnny Greville stepped forward to convert the free. Joey Boyle underlined his threat when he halved the deficit a minute later and after Damian Conaty had forced a '65, Darragh McCormack applied the perfect finish.

It was all pretty lively and on 16 minutes Barry Aughey slotted over to reduce the deficit to two once more. The evergreen Joey Williams, who was posing a real threat and Barry Aughey exchanged points before Johnny Greville reduced the margin to the minimum on 19 minutes.

But back came the Gaels and three unanswered points from Alan Murray - a fine score from a tight angle, Darragh McCormack and Damien Conaty - who really had the goal at his mercy - put the Purple and Golds in the driving seat once more.

You need a bit of luck on big days like these and it bounced in Raharney's court on 24 minutes. A stinging shot from Raharney's Niall Flynn arrowed in on John Molloy's domain and as he moved to cover it, an unfortunate touch from full back Keith Fitzpatrick took it away from him and into the roof of the net. Raharney weren't complaining. And things got even better before the break when firstly Flynn added a minor to his three pointer and Greville rounded off the half to leave the men in blue leading by 1-7 to 0-9.

Buoyed by their good fortune, Raharney returned to the battle with the bit between their teeth. Insside three minutes, Joey Boyle had two white flags to his name and after Johnny Greville drilled a '65 straight and true, Boyle added to his mounting tally. Lough Lene Gaels simply had no answer to either the industry or the accuracy of the wing half forward who put six points between the sides on eight minutes. Eoin O'Sullivan increased that advantage before the Gaels marksman in chief,

Darragh McCormack raised some cheer with one of his second points before the two top shooters exchanged points midway through the half.

Niall Flynn added to Raharney's advantage as the scent of victory lifted the Deelsiders and they would have been home and hosed but for the heroics of John Molloy the Gaels netminder. In a matter of seconds he pulled off brilliant stops from Joey Boyle and then the rebound from Alan Core. Moments later Bople shut out the Gaels with a fine point but it was the Gaels who picked up the consolation score when Daragh McCormack signed off with his seventh point.

Raharney were not to be denied and at the game's end, captain Gordon Greville, was presented with the Junior Cup by Westmeath Hurling Board Chairman, Willie Murphy.

Scorers: Raharney - J. Boyle 0-7, N. Flynn 1-2, J. Greville 0-4, B. Aughey 0-2, E. O'Sullivan 0-1. Lough Lene Gaels - D. McCormack 0-7, J. Clarke, J. Williams,P. Reilly, D. Conaty and A. Murray 0-1 each.

Raharney: Gordon Greville; Liam O'Connor, Stephen Mullen, Brendan Kenny; Cillian Duggan, Johnny Greville, Mark Glennon; Stephen Morley, Mikey Boyle;

Joey Boyle, Barry Aughey, Niall Flynn; Eoin O'Sullivan, John Sheils, Alan Core. Subs. Brian Duignan for O'Sullivan, Padraig Leavy for John Sheils.

Lough Lene Gaels: John Molloy; Cathal Murtagh, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Ross Craig; Francis Kennedy, Paddy Fleming, Jonathan Clarke; Alan Fitzsimons, Michael Walsh; Joey Williams, Darragh McCormack, Niall Conaty; Philip Reilly, Damian Conaty, Alan Murray.

Referee: Frank Brennan, Crookedwood