Dolan inspires Garrycastle to victory in Leinster opener

Gerry Buckley reportsClass is undoubtedly permanent, and a man of the match display from their 31-year-old centre half forward, Des Dolan was the key to the 2009 provincial finalists, Garrycastle qualifying for this year’s quarter-final, after a closely-fought contest with Longford Slashers at Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon last.A solid case could be made for the former All-Star being regarded as the Lake County’s all-time best forward and, in truth, but for Dolan’s marvellous range of skills, as a provider and taker of scores (eight in all last Sunday, half of these from play), Anthony Cunningham’s charges would be facing a long winter.An often-lacklustre display from the men in green and red just about merited the victory over the Longford champions, for whom outstanding wing back Paul Kelly rivalled Dolan as the best player on view. Indeed, the visitors could well have snatched what would not have been an undeserved draw with the last kick of the game, but Colin Smith was unable to convert a difficult 25-metre free from near the stand sideline much to the relief of the small band of Garrycastle fans.On a cold but bright afternoon, Mark McCallon put the home team in front with a point after only 40 seconds, after an eye-catching move seemed to have originally broken down with Paddy Mulvihill. The first of many passages of scrappy play ensued, before Des Dolan doubled his side’s advantage when he dusted himself down to tap over a close-range free after he had been fouled.By the 11th minute, Slashers had levelled with a point apiece from Mark Smith (a 25-metre free after Trevor Glendenning was fouled) and a fine effort from strong-running left half back Paul Kelly. A fabulous crossfield pass from Des Dolan to his cousin James ended with the corner back shooting wide from a good position. David O’Shaughnessy, continuing in his unfamiliar right half forward role, then appeared to be pushed but no free was awarded. At the other end, Mark Smith was off target after accidentally colliding with a team-mate as he got set to shoot. At this juncture, Des Dolan took centre stage, firing over a wonderful brace of points in the 18th and 21st minutes, the first having availed of an astute lay-off from the generally off-colour Paddy Mulvihill and the second a majestic score from 45 metres, having managed to make space with a trademark shimmy.However, between the 23rd and 27th minutes, the Longford men had turned a two-point deficit into a three-point lead. Points from Mark Smith (a 35-metre free) and David Sheridan (a fisted effort when a goal looked a possibility) tied up the scoring, before the game belatedly came to life when a shot by Slashers’ ever-dangerous wing back Paul Kelly came back off the Garrycastle crossbar and the ball fell kindly for Colin Smith who despatched it low to the back of the net past Cathal Mullin.The winners responded in impressive style with Des Dolan calling the shots in an otherwise-rudderless attack. Three quickfire points from play from Dolan himself (arguably the score of the match from 35 metres), Seanie O’Donoghue (a classy effort from 40 metres) and Paul Dillon (having taken the ball from Dolan) levelled the contest again by the 29th minute. In added-time, a Dolan free from 30 metres (after Seanie O’Donoghue was fouled) edged Garrycastle ahead. This left the scoreboard at half-time reading: Garrycastle 0-8 Longford Slashers 1-4.The failure of Seanie O’Donoghue to reappear for the second moiety was an undoubted body blow to Garrycastle, who awaited the reappearance of their opponents for much longer than is the norm. When play eventually resumed, Rory McGowan was dispossessed in a good position near the Slashers’ goal at the scoreboard end of Cusack Park. Dessie Dolan continued to wreak havoc and he converted a difficult 25-metre free after he had been impeded, with less than three minutes of the second half played. After two missed frees, a wonderful brace of points from play by Mark Smith kept Slashers very much in touch, sandwiched between which Des Dolan tapped over another routine free, after substitute Justin McAteer was fouled. Approaching the midpoint of the second half-hour, Des Dolan and Paddy Mulvihill combined to set up Rory McGowan, who seemed certain to find the net for Garrycastle. However, McGowan hesitated and his point-blank shot was blocked on the Slashers’ goal line by Garreth Ghee. McGowan clearly pointed from the rebound, but it took the referee’s intervention to overrule the umpire who had waved the shot wide.Denis Connerton’s troops availed of the let-off to rifle over two points from frees - a left-footed effort from Mark Smith and a right-footed shot from Colin Smith (the awarding of this particular free seemed soft) - to level the contest, with nine minutes of normal time remaining. A terrific four-man move then ended with substitute Shane Mulvihill edging the winners ahead. A rare aberration from Des Dolan saw him waste an opportunity from a hastily-taken ‘45’, but he quickly made amends with a lovely 35-metre free from a difficult angle for a right-footed kicker. Full forward Stephen Philips twice touched the ball on the ground in quick succession as the visitors went all-out in search of scores.A minimum of three minutes’ injury-time was signalled and, in the first of these, team captain Doran Harte, who had a generally quiet afternoon, had to be alert to thwart a promising Slashers’ attack. With the tension mounting, a Colin Smith free reduced the deficit to the bare minimum after James Duignan was adjudged to have fouled the ball. A further bout of Garrycastle indecision then gave the losers one last-gasp chance. However, with the last kick of the match in the 64th minute, Smith was unable to convert a difficult 25-metre free from near the stand sideline. With the ball well off-target and still hanging in midair, the final whistle sounded.The Westmeath men now face Louth champions Mattock Rangers in Cusack Park on Sunday week. Frankly, a far better all-round display will be required from Anthony Cunningham’s troops if they are to progress to another provincial semi-final, at the expense of the Wee County men.Garrycastle: Cathal Mullin; James Dolan, John Gaffey, Alan Fox; Mark McCallon (0-1), Karl Henson, Doran Harte; Seanie O’Donoghue (0-1), Aidan Browne; David O’Shaughnessy, Des Dolan (0-8, 0-4 from frees), Rory McGowan (0-1); Alan Daly, Paul Dillon (0-1), Paddy Mulvihill. Subs: Justin McAteer (for Daly, 28 mins), Shane Mulvihill (0-1) (for O’Donoghue, inj, half-time), Enda Mulvihill (for Fox, 42 mins), James Duignan (for Dillon, 47 mins), Donovan Hermbusche (for McGowan, 60 + 2 mins).Longford Slashers: Gordon Hourican; Garreth Ghee, Barry Gilleran, Dominic Glennon; Peter Brady, Dermot Brady, Paul Kelly (0-1); Niall Mulligan, David Sheridan (0-1); Trevor Glendenning, Colin Smith (1-2, 0-2 from frees), Adrian Murphy; Mark Smith (0-5, 0-3 from frees), Stephen Philips, Sean Flynn. Sub: Martin Tarmey (for Murphy, 42 mins).Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois).