Draw a fair result in gripping championship opener

The two dominant sides in Westmeath club hurling in recent years proved how little there is between them still in 2009 with a very entertaining draw in the first round of the senior hurling championship at Cusack Park last Wednesday evening.The eagerly-awaited clash did not disappoint the large crowd and the fact that the match was tied meant a postponement of the draw for the winners and losers groups for the remainder of the championship, originally scheduled to take place in the immediate aftermath of the game. Raharney looked the more likely victors at various stages of the game, but last year"s All-Ireland intermediate champions showed all their traditional resilience to eke out a draw with a terrific point from Alan Dowdall (who had a fine game throughout) in the third and last minute of added-time. On the evidence of last Wednesday"s cliffhanger, the two participants look likely to be there or thereabouts again come the autumn. Indeed, it will take a fair side to beat both Raharney and Clonkill and regain the Westmeath Examiner Cup.Raharney"s Brian Connaughton opened the scoring in the third minute when he pointed a free from around 85 metres. Indeed, the Westmeath star proceeded to give an exhibition of long-range freetaking which would have done justice to any stadium. For that matter, his opposite number and inter-county colleague, Andrew Mitchell excelled in this department also. Clonkill went ahead within a minute, when Adam Price pounced on a Mitchell free to find the net from close range. The Deelsiders were on level terms by the eighth minute, a fine score from play from 55 metres by Christopher Flanagan being closely followed by a converted 40-metre free from John Shaw. Sandwiched between these two points, Adam Price struck the woodwork for Clonkill.The quality of scores from both sides continued to be very high and Johnny Greville dissected the Clonkill posts with a wonderful score from 80 metres, having received Christopher Flanagan"s flicked pass. At the other end, Brendan Murtagh was conspicuous by his absence but the Lake County"s best-known player whipped in a very dangerous sideline cut which the Raharney defence did well to clear. However, in the next passage of play, Pat O"Toole"s charges equalised, Alan McGrath popping over an opportunist point. At the midpoint of the first moiety, Christopher Flanagan rounded off a flowing move by the blue and whites with a well-taken score from 35 metres. The nip and tuck nature of the contest continued with Clonkill regaining the lead with a brace of quickfire points, Paul Farrell"s neat effort being immediately followed by a great solo score from Christy Austin.In the 19th minute, Ray Smyth"s troops almost got in for a goal but Fergal Fagan did very well to prevent Brian Smyth from poking the ball in to the net, at the expense of a "65". However, in the form that Brian Connaughton was displaying, a "65" was almost a "gimme" and the centre half back duly obliged with another successful strike from a placed ball. Connaughton"s exhibition got even better in the 22nd minute, with a converted free from inside his own half. The reigning county champions then hit a purple patch, despite Connaughton proving his fallibility when striking the upright from another huge free. Three points in a four-minute spell ensued - John Shaw (a wonderful score from a tight angle), an astonishing Brian Connaughton free from his own 45-metre line and an amazing point from the tightest of angles from Brendan McKeogh. Alan McGrath"s first-time pull almost reduced the gap to a point but his shot hit the butt of the post. Brendan Murtagh opened his account in the second minute of injury-time from a 45-metre free, but his side still trailed at the interval, with Raharney leading by 0-10 to 1-4Clonkill reduced the gap within ten seconds of the resumption of play, Alan Dowdall pointing on the run, in some style. A converted 45-metre free by Brendan Murtagh from near the stand sideline left the bare minimum between the sides in the fourth minute. Brendan McKeogh rifled over his second point for the Deelsiders but this was cancelled out by another Brendan Murtagh free. His opposite number, John Shaw replicated this before Clonkill poached a second goal in the 14th minute when the sliotar from a booming free by Andrew Mitchell was doubled on in the air by Gerard Fagan to put Clonkill a point to the good, 2-7 to 0-12.Eoin Price was soundness personified in the Clonkill goal when Raharney shots rained in on him but he was powerless to prevent an 18th-minute equaliser, yet again from a massive free by Brian Connaughton. Andrew Mitchell responded with a huge free of his own to nudge Clonkill ahead, but quick thinking from a lineball by John Shaw set up Christopher Flanagan for another levelling score in the 23rd minute. With five minutes of normal time remaining, Conor Jordan fired over a great lead point for Raharney. His club and county team-mate, John Shaw then shot tamely at Eoin Price when a goal looked on but Shaw soon made amends with a lovely point from 35 metres, availing of fine play from Brendan McKeogh. The Raharney defence (in which Tony Doyle starred all through) came under pressure as the clock ticked down. However, when Brendan Murtagh"s piledriver from a 25-metre free was saved, it looked like the men in blue and white would prevail. Brian Connaughton converted the ensuing "65" but it seemed like Clonkill had run out of time until an intuitive pass from Luke Folan picked out Alan Dowdall in space and the midfielder bravely sent over the equaliser in the dying seconds.Raharney: Andrew Doyle; Adam Sheils, Paul Greville, Tony Doyle; Johnny Greville (0-1), Brian Connaughton (0-5, 0-1 from a "65", 0-4 from frees), Conor Jordan (0-1); Alan Giles, Niall Flanagan; Christopher Flanagan (0-3), John Shaw (0-4, 0-2 from frees), Stephen Morley; Brendan McKeogh (0-2), Brian Smyth, Alan Doyle. Subs: Mark Conroy (for Alan Doyle, half-time), Shane Leavy (for Morley, 47 mins).Clonkill: Eoin Price; Steven Cleary, Martin Scally, Fergal Fagan; John Fagan, Andrew Mitchell (0-2, 0-1 from a "65", 0-1 from a free), Sean Loughlin (capt); Alan Dowdall (0-2), Christy Austin (0-1); Alan McGrath (0-1), Brendan Murtagh (0-3, all from frees), Luke Folan; Adam Price (1-0), Gerard Fagan (1-0), Paul Farrell (0-1).Referee: Barry Kelly (St. Oliver Plunketts).Footnote. Prior to the game, a minute"s silence was impeccably observed in memory of the recently deceased Mrs Vera Mulvaney of Raharney, whose death had caused the postponement of the tie on the previous Monday.