McNicholas stars as Gaels ease past Plunkett"s

A superb individual performance by centre half forward Derek McNicholas was the highlight, as an impressive Lough Lene Gaels outfit easily swept aside a very disappointing challenge from St. Oliver Plunkett"s.On this display, the Collinstown men laid down a marker that they are serious contenders to regain the Westmeath Examiner Cup. Conversely, the Mullingar outfit, who have been leading contenders to secure a much-cherished county title for the capital town in recent years, appeared to have slipped down the pecking order. However, it"s early days yet and there is a lot of hurling to be played between now and the autumn.Within seconds of the throw-in, Peter Collins produced a wonderful full-length save to keep out Darragh McCormack"s goalbound shot for the Gaels. Ironically, the Plunkett"s netminder was to be deceived for the game"s opening score in the sixth minute as Derek McNicholas" superbly-struck lineball from 60 metres went all the way to the net. The latter player followed up with a neat point and veteran Christo Murtagh made it 1-2 to 0-0 with a fabulous strike from 70 metres, after a lengthy delay while the losers" Sean O"Leary received treatment.Scores were hard to come by in the slippery conditions, but St. Oliver Plunkett"s eventually opened their account with converted frees from 65 and 60 metres by Mick Cleary, in the 16th and 19th minutes respectively. Two quickfire points from Christo Murtagh and Derek McNicholas put the purple and golds five points to the good by the 20th minute. Stephen Bardon was unlucky not to increase this advantage when his free came back off the woodwork and his colleague Philip Reilly was just wide with a great shot. St. Oliver Plunkett"s predator-in-chief, Cian O"Leary then came very close to netting, but his overhead flick from David Murray"s delivery went barely wide. With exactly half an hour elapsed, Stephen Bardon rifled over a fine score for Lough Lene Gaels. In the third minute of added-time, the losers got their first score from play courtesy of Connaire Flanagan from 30 metres. The referee"s whistle blew for half-time from the resultant puck-out with the scoreboard reading: Lough Lene Gaels 1-5 St. Oliver Plunkett"s 0-3.The men in white and green started the second half brightly and two long-range frees converted by Noel Gavin left just a goal between the teams by the third minute. Dan Carty and Mick Cleary (from a free) then traded points before the Gaels opened a significant gap in the tenth minute when Peter Collins was unable to keep out Noel Conaty"s shot and an alert Derek McNicholas was on hand to tap in the rebound.This goal seemed to knock the heart out of the Mullingar men and the winners proceeded to add an unanswered six points between the 14th and 25th minutes. The first, third and sixth of these came from the excellent Derek McNicholas, with Dan Carty (who also had a fine hour), Stephen Bardon (from a free) and Philip Reilly (with a neat lift and strike) adding the others. With four minutes of normal time remaining, Govinda Geoghegan flashed in a goal for Plunkett"s, who had been guilty of overdoing their short passing game with other opportunities in the half. That man McNicholas popped up for another score and substitute Padraig Fitzsimons chipped in with the Gaels" last point in the 28th minute. David Murray"s consolation point in the third minute of injury-time was greeted by near-silence by the Mullingar supporters.Lough Lene Gaels: Mark Briody; Jimmy Boyle, Martin Williams, Jim Connell; Seamus Carroll, Christo Murtagh (0-2), Fergal Moran; Francis McDermott, Stephen Bardon (0-2, 0-1 from a free); Dan Carty (0-2), Derek McNicholas (2-6, 1-0 from a lineball), Darragh McCormack; Noel Conaty, Stephen Grace, Philip Reilly (0-1). Subs: David Cunningham (for Grace, half-time), Vinny Clarke (for McCormack, 52 mins), Padraig Fitzsimons (0-1) (for Conaty, 55 mins), Paul Williams (for Reilly, 57 mins).St. Oliver Plunkett"s: Peter Collins; Stephen McManus, Sean O"Leary, Micheal Curley; Damien Kiernan, Noel Gavin (0-2, both from frees), Greg Gavin; Mick Cleary (0-3, all from frees), Mickey Harris; Connaire Flanagan (0-1), Govinda Geoghegan (1-0), Ciaran Curley; Kevin Baker, Cian O"Leary, David Murray (0-1).Referee: Fechin Brennan (Crookedwood).