O’Mara’s late point earns deserved draw for resilient Crookedwood

Crookedwood 0-15 Brownstown 2-9

A draw was probably a fair result in last Saturday evening’s curtain-raiser in TEG Cusack Park, albeit neither of the protagonists, Crookedwood and Brownstown, are likely to be happy with their overall displays in a Westmeath senior ‘B’ hurling championship contest which never reached any great heights.

The ‘Wood players were incensed that they were denied an opportunity for a last-gasp winner when Brendan McCarthy wasn’t given a chance to slot over a potential winning point from a good position, but it appears that referee Barry Kelly had blown him for over-carrying without clearly signalling this as the final whistle sounded.

With nine minutes elapsed, Crookedwood led by four points (a Barry O’Mara free, and a hat-trick from play by Westmeath panelist Shane McGovern) to three (an Emmet Cunneen brace, either side of a routine free conversion by Jamie Fitzsimons). After a delay while Niall Leonard was treated for an injury, Cunneen put Declan Mullen’s men in front when his well-struck sideline cut deceived all and sundry, and the sliotar ended up in the ‘Wood net.

Brian McLoughlin was soon denied a possible three-pointer at the other end at the expense of an unconverted ‘65’. Cunneen pointed neatly for the men in blue and white, and it got even better for them in the 23rd minute when Conor Rice pulled on the loose ball, after a Fitzsimons solo run goalward, to raise his side’s second green flag. O’Mara (a very good free) and Cunneen (open play) then traded points.

Much of the striking was poor at this juncture and defensive errors were leading to scores at either end. The tricoloured outfit finished the first half the stronger, outscoring their opponents by three points (Oisín Boyle and two from O’Mara – a free and a quality score with the last puck of the half) to one (Philip Gilsenan), but Brownstown still led by 2-6 to 0-8 at the interval.

Rain greeted the participants on their return for the second moiety, and the ‘Wood halved the deficit in the opening minutes with a point apiece from half-time sub Noel Yourell and Brendan McCarthy. Fitzsimons (a free) and McGovern (open play) exchanged points. A Rice point had Brownstown ahead by 2-8 to 0-11 at the end of the third quarter.

The former kingpins of Lake County hurling should have stretched their advantage, but they shot a few poor wides from good positions. This allowed Peter Collins’ troops to equalize with well-taken points from the sticks of McGovern (his fifth from play) and O’Mara (two – the first after fine play by sub Lorcan O’Mara). It was all to play for in the closing stages, but a point exchange between Fitzsimons and O’Mara (a difficult free) ensured an opening championship point apiece for both teams.

Scorers

Crookedwood: B O’Mara 0-7 (4f), S McGovern 0-5, B McCarthy, O Boyle and N Yourell 0-1 each.

Brownstown: E Cunneen 1-4 (1-0s/l), C Rice 1-1, J Fitzsimons 0-3 (2f), P Gilsenan 0-1.

Crookedwood: Alan O’Mara; Damien Grifferty, Ger Brennan, Cathal Bawle; Adam Bate, Feichin Óg Brennan, Seamus Savage; Eddie Nally, Johnny Nally; Brendan McCarthy, Oisín Boyle, Shane McGovern; Brian McLoughlin, Enda Murray, Barry O’Mara. Subs used: Lorcan O’Mara for Murray (h-t), Noel Yourell for Boyle (h-t), John Kiernan for Grifferty (49), Ronan Scally for McLoughlin (50).

Brownstown: James Moore; Jack Gavin, Conor Shaw, Kenny Higgins; Ross Daly, Shaun Smith, Tom Flynn; Philip Gilsenan, Paddy Reilly; Emmet Cunneen, Conor Rice, Robbie Dugdale; Jamie Fitzsimons, Niall Leonard, Matthew Smith. Subs used: Oisín Kiernan for Leonard (inj., 11), Danny Henry for M Smith (h-t), Anthony Mulvany for Flynn (53), Jamie Reilly for Higgins (55).

Ref: Barry Kelly (St Oliver Plunkett’s).