Clonkill overrun feeble Castletown

The large crowd that attended Cusack Park, Mullingar on Saturday evening last came in expectation of a thriller from two of the more traditional power houses of the Westmeath game. What they were treated to was a damp squib as Clonkill laid down their marker that they still will have a say in the destination of this year's Championship. They did so with a power packed display for the full hour and with a full team effort, attributes alas sadly missing in their opponents, Castletown-Geoghegan.The fact that Clonkill won so handsomely was twofold, firstly they were head and shoulders the best team on the pitch and two, their opponents were poor in the extreme. But for a very brief spell at the start of the second half when they scored six points in 10 minutes, they were never really at the races and played second fiddle throughout. Brendan Murtagh was back for Clonkill and he more than anyone was the catalyst for this demolition scoring eight points in the process while Clonkill also had Paddy Dowdall back which is a huge fillip to them as they seek to regain the title. Their general play was a joy at times and they punished every little Castletown aberration, of which there were many, with consummate ease and execution and in the end many of the faithful were leaving the ground long before referee, John Weir blew the final whistleClonkill started as they meant to go on when first Brendan Murtagh pointed a free after a foul on Micky Heffernan and then Heffernan himself doubled that lead with a super flick and strike. It was three nil on eight minutes as Andrew Mitchell pointed a monster free from well inside his own 65 metre line and it sailed over the bar. Castletown did pull one back when Derek Gallagher scored after some good work by Joe Clarke but they would not score again for the next 23 minutes as Clonkill went into overdrive. Alan and then Paddy Dowdall added points for Clonkill before Larry Donoghue's flick went just wide of the post. Castletown then hit four wides in a row before Brendan Murtagh added another super score with a fine catch and strike.Clonkill hit a number of very poor wides themselves that in truth would have put them out of sight even at this early stage and Niall Dowdall even had a great goal chance only to see it blocked by Ronan Corcoran and Mitchell converted the 65 expertly. Again Clonkill hit a number of wayward strikes but it was the ease in which they were getting the chances that was most alarming . Murtagh led the surge when he was given all the time in the world to score and then Paddy Dowdall marked his return in fine style when Murtagh evaded three men easily and slipped the ball out to him and the county star slotted the ball calmly into the back of the net to really put some daylight between the sides. Midfielder Adam Price added another point and at this stage it was damage limitation for Castletown and they finished the first half scoring with a point from a Ronan Whelan 50 metre free leaving it 1-8 to 0-2 in Clonkill's favour at the break.PrideCastletown needed to restore some kind of pride in the second half and to their credit they came out with all guns blazing and two Ronan Whelan frees went a long way to restoring respectability and when wing back Eamonn Óg Clarke pointed there looked to be a comeback on the cards but Murtagh settled the good ship Clonkill with a pointed free. Ronan and then Seanie Whelan got two more back for the Black and Ambers, Ronan's almost being a goal chance had Clonkill custodian Brian Murray not gotten a touch to it but that was as good as it got for Castletown as Clonkill lifted the mini siege with points from Paddy Dowdall and then another monster free from Mitchell. It then became the Brendan Murtagh show as first he converted two frees and then pointed from a super flick by Micky Heffernan to put his side back in complete control.Another free on 51 minutes put his side 12 points ahead and good value for it but a long range free from Ronan Whelan found its way into the Clonkill net to bring a slightly better look to the score line but that was all it was and the last 8 minutes were eminently forgettable as both sides just went through the motions and a final converted Ronan Whelan free merely kept the scoreboard ticking over as the game was over as a contest long before the final whistle as Clonkill eased home with 8 points to spare on a night Castletown will want to forget instantly.Murtagh was back to his brilliant best and he threatened the Castletown defence at every turn while the Dowdalls and young Heffernan were a constant threat. Adam Price and Shane Power controlled midfield while at the back Mitchell, Owen Price and particularly Sean Loughlin were more than capable of dealing with the Castetown defence.For Castletown Ronan Whelan tried his best while Emmett Dalton and Derek Gallagher did as best they could but they were completely out gunned and in truth lay down rather easily. Clonkill will certainly fancy their chances after this win and well they might as they demolished Castletown at times and really put them to the sword.Scorers: Clonkill: Brendan Murtagh 0-8, 5 frees, Paddy Dowdall 1-2, Andrew Mitchell 0-3, 1 free, 2 65s, Adam Price, Alan Dowdall and Michael Heffernan 0-1 each. Castletown-Geoghegan: Ronan Whelan 1-5, 2 frees, 1 65, Eamonn Óg Clarke, Derek Gallagher and Seanie Whelan 0-1 each.Clonkill: Brian Murray, Alan McGrath, Martin Scally, Fergal Fagan, Owen Price, Andrew Mitchell, Sean Loughlin, Adam Price, Shane Power, Paddy Dowdall, Brendan Murtagh, Alan Dowdall, Michael Heffernan, Larry Donoghue, Niall Dowdall. Subs: Ger Fagan for Donoghue 43 mins, Luke Folan for Alan Dowdall 50 mins, Conrad Reilly for Niall Dowdall 55 mins.Castletown-Geoghegan: Alan Mangan, Kevin Jackson, Emmett Dalton, Ronan Corcoran, Ian Corrigan, David Langan, Eamonn Óg Clarke, Derek Gallagher, Robbie Jackson, Ronan Whelan, Keith Gorry, Seanie Whelan, Paddy Maloney, Joe Clarke, Mark McDermott. Subs: John Gallagher for Kevin Jackson 20 mins, James Durkan for Maloney 25 mins, Fintan Clarke for McDermott 37 mins, Darren Ruane for Seanie Whelan 51 mins.Referee: John Weir, Raharney.