Late points see hungrier Raharney edge out

Raharney regained the Westmeath Examiner Cup in Cusack Park last Sunday with a thoroughly-deserved three-point win over the reigning champions, with the winners looking that little bit hungrier all through against a disapponting Clonkill side, who failed to make the most of a very fortuitous start to the game.Most pundits expected Clonkill to retain their crown, mainly based on their heroics in capturing the All-Ireland intermediate title in Croke Park on a memorable evening last February.However, it was a much staler team in green and gold who took the field last Sunday and in the end they were outscored by 15 to eight, with their highly-vaunted forward division failing to click and, in particular their talisman, Brendan Murtagh having a most untypical off-day all through. For their part, Raharney recovered well from the concession of two soft goals in the opening 20 minutes and, with John Shaw much more prominent on the change of ends, they held their nerve to emerge as worthy champions.In stark contrast to the abysmal weather on the previous day, Cusack Park was dry and sunny for this eagerly-awaited clash of the 2006 and 2007 champions, remarkably the first head-to-head clash in a final between these two giants of Westmeath hurling. Prior to the throw-in, the Mullingar Town Band, as always, added to the colour and spectacle for the 3,400 or so in attendance. However, much of what followed was very disappointing with poor striking a feature throughout and both sets of fans failing to create an atmosphere worthy of a county final, until the gripping closing exchanges eventually brought some excitement. In the end, the Deelsiders were derving winners and now have the dubious reward of a likely Leinster senior semi-final clash against the Kilkenny champions. However, that is for another day and, for the moment, Eamonn Gallagher"s men can bask in the satisfaction of a job well done against the odds.Within 30 seconds of the throw-in, Andrew Mitchell"s monster free was batted to safety by Raharney netminder, Jimmy Greville. In the fourth minute, the sides exchanged points, a converted free from over 90 metres by Raharney midfielder, Brian Connaughton being cancelled out by a great score from play by Conrad Reilly, after taking Paddy Dowdall"s pass. Connaughton was then just wide from another free from almost the same distance before Clonkill took the lead when Christopher Austin"s cross from the left sideline deflected luckily off Larry Donoghue"s boot and the sliotar flew into the bottom corner of the net.However, Raharney were unfazed and they responded with four unanswered points between the ninth and 12th minutes. A fine score from near the sideline by Francis Boyle was followed by a terrific brace from energetic full forward, Brian Smyth, whose direct running was already causing the champions" defence all sorts of problems. The men in blue and white took the lead when Andrew Mitchell carried the ball over his own endline and Brian Connaughton duly slotted over the resultant "65".The game had a stop/start feel to it already, with Padraig Connaughton on twice as a "temporary sub" for Brendan McKeogh and Brian Smyth respectively, but the Deelsiders soon suffered another body-blow when Andrew Mitchell"s huge free was fumbled by Jimmy Greville and the ball trickled over the line, to give Clonkill a flattering two-point lead. Brian Connaughton was off target from a "65" but the hitherto-ineffective John Shaw opened his account in the 27th minute with an opportunist point. Some two minutes later, Shane Power, who had come on as a "blood sub" for Alan Dowdall but ended up playing out the entire match, put Clonkill two points ahead with a fine point from 40 metres. After Conrad Reilly spurned a scoring opportunity following Larry Donoghue"s intuitive flick, John Fagan came forward from defence to shoot a terrific point for Clonkill. Two minutes into injury-time, Raharney captain, Niall Flanagan slotted over his side"s seventh point and when Conrad Reilly"s effort went narrowly wide, referee Robbie Cornally (who generally controlled proceedings well in his county final debut) blew the half-time whistle, with Clonkill leading by 2-3 to 0-7.Less than a minute after the resumption, John Shaw fired over a tricky free for the winners and a neat 45-metre point from wing back, Alan Giles had Raharney level in the third minute. Clonkill responded with two converted frees, from 65 metres by Andrew Mitchell and, much closer to goal, by Brendan Murtagh (remarkably, his only score of the entire afternoon). The latter player was just wide of the target from a beautifully-struck lineball but Raharney then took control, grabbing three all-important points in as many minutes midway through the half. A brace from John Shaw (the first, a fabulous solo point after a lengthy run and the second from a 50-metre free) and a fine effort from an acute angle by Brendan McKeogh put the winners in front by 0-12 to 2-5, with 17 minutes on the clock.Four minutes later, Larry Donoghue picked out Paddy Dowdall with a crossfield pass and the Clonkill captain levelled the contest. It was now all to play for, with the crowd belatedly getting behind their respective heroes. Clonkill sbstitute, Martin Scally was very narrowly wide with his first touch, before Jimmy Greville (Raharney) and Sean Loughlin (Clonkill) both had to be alert to danger at opposite ends of the pitch. With two minutes of normal time remaining, good work by Brendan McKeogh freed John Shaw to give Raharney the lead. Andrew Mitchell and Brendan Murtagh were both barely off target with long-range frees for Clonkill, whose crown was looking precarious. Five minutes of added-time were signalled and, with 33 minutes gone, a monster free by Andrew Mitchell was held by Brendan Murtagh, but disciplined Raharney defending kept the ace marksman at bay. The men in blue and white wrapped up their victory in style with late, late points from Francis Boyle from 60 metres and a converted "65" by John Shaw in the dying seconds.This was a wonderful triumph for Raharney, who refused to lie down after their early setbacks and hurled with great determination, right to the final whistle. Paul Greville and Conor Jordan formed a solid defensive spine, while Brian Connaughton was a very industrious midfielder. Their forward line outshone their opponents and Francis Boyle, Brendan McKeogh and Brian Smyth caught the eye all through, while John Shaw recovered from a disappointing first half display to emerge as the star of the second moiety.Clonkill have flown their own flag and the Westmeath colours with great distinction over the past 12 months and they will undoubtedly be back all-guns-blazing in 2009 to try and regain their title. On Sunday, at times they looked a pale shadow of the team who absolutely adorned Croke Park nine months ago. Their half back line of John Fagan, Andrew Mitchell and Sean Loughlin was easily their best unit. Paddy Dowdall tried hard at centrefield but their attacking sextet simply never clicked, with only Larry Donoghue occasionally playing up to form.Raharney: Jimmy Greville; Peter Mullen, Paul Greville, Johnny Greville; Alan Giles (0-1), Conor Jordan, Anthony Doyle; Niall Flanagan (capt) (0-1), Brian Connaughton (0-2, 0-1 from a free, 0-1 from a "65"); Francis Boyle (0-2), John Shaw (0-6, 0-2 from frees, 0-1 from a "65"), Christopher Flanagan; Brendan McKeogh (0-1), Brian Smyth (0-2), David Flanagan. Subs: Padraig Connaughton (for D. Flanagan, 29 mins), Daniel Riggs (for C. Flanagan, 55 mins).Clonkill: Eoin Price; Stephen Cleary, Adam Price, Fergal Fagan; John Fagan (0-1), Andrew Mitchell (1-1, both from frees), Sean Loughlin; Conrad Reilly (0-1), Paddy Dowdall (capt) (0-1); Luke Folan, Brendan Murtagh (0-1, from a free), Alan Dowdall; Mark Keegan, Larry Donoghue (1-0), Christopher Austin. Subs: Shane Power (0-1) (for A. Dowdall, 25 mins), Martin Scally (for Keegan, 49 mins), Paul Farrell (for Folan, 52 mins), Alan Dowdall (for Austin, 56 mins).Referee: Robbie Cornally (St. Oliver Plunkett"s).Footnote. After the game, amid scenes of great excitement, Westmeath GAA County Board chairman, Tom Farrell presented the Westmeath Examiner Cup to the Raharney captain, Niall Flanagan.