Flanagan and Long on fire for Taghmon

Cumann na mBunscol Westmeath Division 3 hurling final: Scoil Mhuire, Taghmon 8-7, Coosan NS 3-3

Scoil Mhuire, Taghmon were worthy winners against Coosan NS in last Thursday’s Division 3 hurling final in TEG Cusack Park, although the 19-point margin was harsh on a gallant side from south Westmeath.

The team in red and white raced into an early lead and they went on to dominate the opening half. However, for their part, Coosan will be disappointed to have spurned some good scoring opportunities in the opening quarter.

Taghmon had an unanswered 3-2 on the board before Aodhán Fallon wrapped up first half scoring with a fabulous point. The winners’ scores came courtesy of the outstanding Cathal Flanagan (2-1, the point from a free to open the scoring after 70 seconds), Eoin Daly (a point) and Diarmuid Graham (a goal). They led by 3-2 to 0-1 at the interval.

A further 1-3 without reply from Scoil Mhuire in the first three minutes of the second half all but ended the game as a contest, the goal from the stick of MJ Long, and the points via the latter player (two) and Flanagan (a free).

The red and black-clad outfit rallied briefly with a Fallon free and an opportunist goal from Senan Kelly, but the winners responded in style with goals from Graham (two) and Long, and a brace of points from Flanagan (the second of them from a free).

Conleth Feeney pointed for Coosan before Long completed his hat-trick. To their credit, the plucky losers finished strongly with a goal apiece from Kelly and Fallon.

After the match, Derek Butler, chairman of Cumann na mBunscol in Westmeath, presented the trophy to the winning captain, Shane O’Mara.

Scorers – Taghmon: MJ Long 3-2, C Flanagan 2-4 (0-3f), D Graham 3-0, E Daly 0-1. Coosan NS: S Kelly 2-0, A Fallon 1-2 (0-1f), C Feeney 0-1.

Scoil Mhuire, Taghmon panel: Ray Daly, Maisie Daly, Shane O’Mara (capt.), Alexander Graham, Eoin Daly, Diarmuid Graham, Michael Long, Siún Flood, Cathal Flanagan, Lauren O’Mara, Ciarán Orme, MJ Long, Ella Greene, Orlaith O’Mara, Seán Craig, Áine Heffernan, Lara Heffernan.

Coosan NS panel: Sam Meegan, Frank Pettit, Eoin Whelan, Fearghal Kelly, Conleth Feeney (joint capt.), Aodhán Fallon, Fiachra Feeney (joint capt.), Cian Mannion, Senan Kelly, Tadhg Mulvihill, Antonio Cantón Quinn, Corey Kelly, Conor McEnroe.

Ref: Jimmy Weldon (Lough Lene Gaels).

Player of the match: Cathal Flanagan (Scoil Mhuire, Taghmon).