Shaw rolls back the years

Raharney’s second-string team had no trouble in disposing of a game but limited challenge from Turin in chilly but pleasant conditions in Delvin last Thursday evening in what was a one-sided Westmeath intermediate hurling round robin match.

The Deelsiders were straight out of the traps and they had eight unanswered points on the board by the 20-minute mark. The scores came courtesy of Darragh Core (in the first minute), Michael Doherty, John Shaw (two – open play and a free), Dean Core, Donie Mullen, Pearse Weir, and Jamie Carr.

Turin spurned a great chance of opening their account when Sean Leech was denied a goal by Darren Weir in the eighth minute at the expense of an unconverted ‘65’.

The men in the red and white-hooped jerseys eventually got on the scoreboard in the 24th minute when Ray Aughey slotted over a free, and a score from open play quickly ensued from the stick of the strong-running Leech.

Shaw (a free) and Weir (availing of a loose clearance) added points for the winners before Leech scored a terrific individual goal at the other end. Shaw (another free) and Carr added to their tallies, leaving Raharney ahead by 0-12 to 1-2 at the interval.

The second moiety opened with point exchanges between Aughey and Shaw (frees), and Padraig Tormey and Mullen (open play). Three points without reply by the men in blue followed via sub Devin Hill, Shaw and Weir (a ‘65’) to put the winners ahead by 0-17 to 1-4 at the end of the third quarter.

A 65-metre free conversion by Aughey was wiped out directly from the puck-out when Dean Core found the target. Shaw then scored his seventh point from a tight angle before being substituted.

Dean Core (two) and Brian McHugh (one) added points, sandwiched between which an inevitable goal arrived in the 54th minute – a fine individual effort from Hill. Subs Paddy Kelly and Aaron Reidy combined smartly for the latter to round replacement goalie Conor Craig and fire the sliotar into an unguarded net close to the end of normal time.

Two other subs, McHugh and Hill, added late points for a rampant Raharney.

Scorers – Raharney: J Shaw 0-7 (4f), D Hill 1-2, Dean Core 0-4, P Weir 0-3 (1‘65’), A Reidy 1-0, J Carr, D Mullen and B McHugh 0-2 each, Darragh Core and M Doherty 0-1 each. Turin: S Leech 1-1, R Aughey 0-3 (3f), P Tormey 0-1.

Raharney: Darren Weir; Cian O’Connor, David Weir, Colm Murray; Dylan Duffy, Pearse Weir, Eoin Weir; Jack Larkin, Dean Core; Robbie Coyne, Jamie Carr, Michael Doherty; Donie Mullen, John Shaw, Darragh Core. Subs used: Devin Hill for Doherty (25), Aaron Reidy for Mullen (49), Brian McHugh for Shaw (52), Paddy Kelly for Darragh Core (56), Gary Conroy for O’Connor (56).

Turin: Alan Aughey; Sean Scally, Fergal Kent, Michael Carey; Damien Keogh, Derek Hourihan, David McGrath; Declan McGrath, Sean Leech; Ray Aughey, Andrew Corcoran, Chris Sleator; Danny McGrath, Padraig Tormey, Jack Penrose. Subs used: Rafael Shafiev for Sleator (inj., 33), James Boyhan for Penrose (41), Conor Craig for Danny McGrath (50).

Ref: John Dermody (Lough Lene Gaels).