Late points ensure second championship win

Delvin notched up their second win in this year"s Westmeath intermediate hurling championship with a narrow but deserved win over a very plucky Fr Dalton"s side at sun-drenched Cusack Park on Sunday evening last. The game never reached any great heights in front of a small but enthusiastic attendance, but the Valley outfit always looked the better balanced of the two teams. However, the issue remained in doubt right to the very end and it took a fine late showing from Kevin Williams to swing the tie in Delvin"s favour. The hard-working midfielder scored three points and made the other as the maroon and whites notched up the crucial four unanswered scores between the 23rd and 30th minutes, which leaves the Ballymore men with just one point from their two outings to date.Current Westmeath senior panellist, Killian Murphy was prominent throughout for the winners and he opened the scoring in the second minute with a well-taken point from 35 metres. Less than three minutes later, John Gilligan almost got in for a Fr Dalton"s goal but an alert Michael Maloney slotted over the rebound. However, the referee had already blown for a free which was duly converted by Enda Kincaid from 45 metres. Both sides were then guilty of poor shooting, with Tom McInerney particularly culpable from a very scoreable free for Delvin. In the 13th minute, an underhit lineball by Michael Maloney still managed to reach Derek Cuffe and the Fr Dalton"s full forward put his side in front with a neat point.Some five minutes later, Brian Finnerty failed to effect a routine clearance for the men in green and gold and an alert Francis McGrath buried the sliotar in the Fr Dalton"s net from 25 metres. Killian Murphy then atoned for a bad miss with a well-judged lobbed point from 40 metres to put the winners a goal to the good. With exactly 20 minutes on the clock, Andrew Slevin pointed a free from all of 80 metres for the losers. Veteran goalkeeper Brian McCabe then came to the Ballymore side"s rescue when he advanced to clear J.P. Farrelly"s through ball, as Francis McGrath was set to pounce. A matter of seconds later, Michael Maloney reduced the deficit to the bare minimum with a great long-range strike. Indeed, the losers could well have equalised in the closing passages of play but Delvin held firm to lead by 1-2 to 0-4 at the break.Fr Dalton"s could not have hoped for a better start to the second moiety, Enda Kincaid netting from a tight angle after just 35 seconds. However, Delvin replied with points from a 45-metre free by Tom McInerney and a wonderful score from play by Francis McGrath, levelling the contest by the fourth minute. Both goalies were called into action in the ensuing minutes and proved up to the tasks. Delvin soon spurned a glorious goal opportunity, Killian Murphy chasing a drive from impressive centre half back, Niall Williams and flicking the ball over the crossbar, rather than under. In the 14th minute, Ger Clune took time to bring the ball under control but eventually he found the range to put the winners two points ahead.However, Fr Dalton"s refused to lie down and they were on level terms again by the 21st minute, substitute Joe Kenny whipping over a terrific score from 60 metres and Enda Kincaid following up with a pointed free from slightly further out. It was at this stage that Kevin Williams took centre stage and he converted two long-range placed balls in quick succession - a "65" and a free from the halfway line. With two minutes of normal time remaining, he set up Ger Clune for his second point of the evening and Williams rounded off match scoring from a 35-metre free, for a vital four-point advantage. Fr Dalton"s now needed a last-gasp goal to have any chance of salvaging a point and they snatched somewhat at their injury-time opportunities, leaving Delvin relieved to stay unbeaten in the championship.Delvin: Barry Williams; Tom Clune, Patrick Clune, Billy Cruise; John Cogan, Niall Williams, Patsy Farrell; Kevin Williams (0-3, 0-2 from frees, 0-1 from a "65"), J.P. Farrelly; Cian O"Neill, Ger Clune (0-2), Francis McGrath (1-1); Tadhg Kelly, Killian Murphy (0-3), Tom McInerney (0-1, from a free). Subs: Paddy Farrington (for Kelly, half-time), Robert Vaughan (for O"Neill,52 mins).Fr Dalton"s: Brian McCabe; Pat Conway, Pat Hickey, Kevin McLoughlin; Brian Finnerty, Andrew Slevin (0-1, from a free), Donal Glynn; Paddy Martin, Michael Maloney (0-1); Enda Kincaid (1-2, 0-2 from frees), John Gilligan, Mark Lucas; Pete Murray, Derek Cuffe (0-1), Donie Naughton. Subs: Pat Connaughton (for Naughton, half-time), Joe Kenny (0-1) (for Murray, 40 mins), Ciaran Finnerty (for Lucas, 53 mins).Referee: Terry O"Dowd (St. Oliver Plunkett"s).