Castlepollard fend off Raharney revival

Cumann na mBunscol Westmeath Division 4 football final: St Michael’s NS, Castlepollard 3-16, St Mary’s NS, Raharney 3-8

An exciting Division 4 Football Final went the way of St Michael’s, Castlepollard on Wednesday afternoon, as they overcame St Mary’s NS, Raharney to get the day’s proceedings underway in style.

Splendid weather prevailed and Castlepollard NS took the lead when Conor Haverty-Dunne converted a free; he soon doubled their lead with a point from play. Raharney then got into their stride and points from Tom Shaw and Dylan Gammell had the sides level after four minutes.

The opening goal came a minute later when Adam Fagan found the net, only after ‘keeper Justin Small had produced an initial save to deny Castlepollard. Two unanswered points from Channing Dafel and Cailem Byrne pushed Castlepollard five clear with six minutes played.

A Raharney surge followed as Shaw converted a free and then found the net. Dunne notched a brace (one free) to keep Castlepollard three points clear; Rhys Monaghan and Dafel traded minors. A fine point from a tricky angle by Adam Fagan ensured Castlepollard of a 1-8 to 1-4 lead at the interval.

A memorable second half produced 16 scores, 10 of which went to the victors. Joseph Mulvey emerged as a star with two goals, the first after a superb piece of high fielding. Castlepollard moved 10 points clear, but a resolute Raharney refused to capitulate and Cian McGee (moved from full back to midfield) contributed two goals as they clawed their way back.

Crucially, Conor Marcinkiewicz produced a save to deny McGee a third goal with four minutes remaining. The impressive Tom Shaw saw his free deflected over as the Raharney revival continued, but they just couldn’t engineer the goals required. Three late points from Fagan (two) and Dafel eased St Michael’s to a deserved victory.

Darren Magee (Westmeath Games Manager), who oversees the school’s coaching programme in the county, presented the trophy to Corey Haverty-Dunne after the final whistle.

Scorers – St Michael’s: J Mulvey 2-0, A Fagan 1-4, C H-Dunne (2f) and C Dafel 0-4 each, C Brazil 0-2, C Byrne and C McGrath 0-1 each. St Mary’s: T Shaw 1-6 (0-2f), Cian McGee 2-0, D Gammell and R Monaghan 0-1 each.

St Michael’s NS, Castlepollard panel: Conor Marcinkiewicz, Conor Halpin, Cailem Byrne, Luke Kelly, Joseph Mulvey, Corey Haverty-Dunne (capt.), Channing Dafel, Conor McGrath, Adam Fagan, Jamie O’Neill, Harry McCormack, Corey Brazil, Jayden O’Neill, Freddie O’Neill, Joseph Curran, Callum Hughes.

St Mary’s NS, Raharney panel: Justin Small, Ruaidhrí Fleming, Cian McGee (capt.), Cody Flynn, Cadan Core, Cian McKeogh, Dylan Gammell, Rhys Monaghan, Tom Shaw, Hugh Kennedy, Oisín Swords, Dermot Kavanagh, Oisín Goonery, Mark Crowcock, Sean Connell, Harry Pollock, Ódhran Quirke, Cian Byrne, Noah O’Brien, Billy Farrell, Cillian McGee.

Ref: Mick Gordon (Shandonagh).

Player of the match: Corey Haverty-Dunne (St Michael’s NS, Castlepollard).