Impressive Tyrrellspass always in control in Under-14 final

A well-drilled Tyrrellspass side ran out comprehensive winners over a gallant Castledaly outfit in wintry conditions at Kinnegad on Saturday afternoon last, to claim the Westmeath Under-14 football Division 3 title.The groundwork for this victory was done in the first half when the wind-assisted winners ran up a 12-point lead by the interval.A couple of early goals in the second half well and truly wrapped up the cup for the Tidy Town lads, who produced some terrific football all through.To their great credit, the losers produced a plucky dislay befitting the club who made a historic breakthrough at senior level last month and they were quite unlucky to lose out by such a wide margin.Despite playing against the strong wind, Castledaly actually led after seven minutes, with a point apiece from Lorcan Dolan (a difficult free) and Declan Henson, as against Cathal Dunne"s neat effort for the navy and blues. However, Aaron O"Brien"s goal from a tight angle in the eighth minute gave Tyrrellspass a lead they would never relinquish. The respective number 8s, Paul Henson (Castledaly) and Dean Rigney (Tyrrellspass) then exchanged points, but the winners proceeded to rattle off an unanswered 1-4 by the 16th minute, the scores being shared by David Gaye 1-2 (including 1-1 from frees) and Danny Galvin 0-2. A fabulous solo point by Paul Henson reduced the gap but a Danny Galvin goal (the ball cannoning off Robert Holloway en route) and an Aaron O"Brien point (following a quickly-taken "45", after a marvellous full-length save by Shane Dolan from the same player) had the Tidy Town well in command at the break. Indeed, their 3-7 to 0-4 lead should have been more, as what seemed to be a perfectly good "goal" by David Gaye had been strangely disallowed, close to half-time.Castledaly needed the opening score on the change of ends but it was Tyrrellspass who struck for another goal within 30 seconds of the restart, Jamie Egerton rifling the ball to the net after a flowing move. The south Westmeath lads replied with a point each from Lorcan Dolan and Aaron Sheerin (from a free), but the impressive Danny Galvin hit another 1-1 by the seventh minute (a goal a fabulous individual effort), to put a whopping 17 points between the sides. The lads in yellow and green hit back with great points from Patrick Heffernan and Lorcan Dolan (his shot could easily have dipped under the crossbar), but another terrific individual point from Danny Galvin put the winners ahead by 5-9 to 0-8 after 12 minutes.A minute later, a handball offence on the ground gave Tyrrellspass a penalty which David Gaye dispatched to the net in style. Substitute Evan Quinn and that man Galvin tacked on further points and, after a brief but unpleasant skirmish, Castledaly responded with a great goal by Lorcan Dolan in the 23rd minute. Another nasty incident preceded the closing scores - a Jamie Egerton point for Tyrrellspass, a well-taken goal from the penalty spot by Lorcan Dolan and an immediate point from Patrick Heffernan for Castledaly, with David Gaye rounding off the game in style with a terrific point.Tyrrellspass: Anthony Brady; Joe Walsh, Jack Glennon, Shane Dunne (Rahugh); Sean Corcoran, Mark Fitzpatrick, Dale Brunker; Dean Rigney (0-1), Ciaran Daly; Aaron O" Brien (capt) (1-1), Danny Galvin (2-5), Jamie Egerton (1-1); Shane Dunne (Tore), David Gaye (2-3, 1-0 from a penalty, 1-1 from frees), Cathal Dunne (0-1). Subs: Robert Halpin (for Shane Dunne, Tore, inj, 9 mins), Gary Jessop (for Rigney, inj, 24 mins), Niall Kavanagh (for Shane Dunne, Rahugh, 43 mins), Evan Quinn (0-1) (for C.Dunne, 43 mins), Joe Hyland (for Galvin, inj, 52 mins).Castledaly: Shane Dolan; Robert Holloway, Paul Costello, Christopher Claffey; Damien Stone, Jamie Anders, Neil Young; Paul Henson (0-2), James Farrell; Shane Tyrrell, Lorcan Dolan (capt) (2-3, 1-0 from a penalty, 0-1 from a free), Aaron Sheerin (0-1, from a free); Declan Henson (0-1), Patrick Heffernan (0-2), Eanna Duffy. Sub: Jason O"Connor (for Tyrrell, 42 mins).Referee: Jim Rock (Coralstown/Kinnegad).Footnote. After the game, Ned Flynn, representing the Westmeath Minor Board, presented the cup to the victorious Tyrrellspass captain, Aaron O"Brien.