Tubberclair's Fred Kelleher and Niall Cully of St Mary's Rochfortbridge in action during their Westmeath IFC semi-final. Photo: John McCauley.

Double joy as Tubberclair march into two county finals

Kieran Galvin

Published: Mon 26 Sep 2022, 7:17 AM

Last updated: Mon 26 Sep 2022, 1:19 PM

It was a momentous weekend for Tubberclair GAA as two teams from the club advanced to Westmeath football finals.

On Saturday last, the Tubberclair minor (U-17) team claimed a thrilling 1-9 to 1-8 victory over Mullingar Shamrocks in their Division 1 championship semi-final.

And yesterday, (Sunday) the Tubberclair intermediate team was hugely impressive in defeating St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge by 1-17 to 0-13 in their championship semi-final at TEG Cusack Park.

In the U-17 semi-final, the Tubberclair goal came from a penalty scored by the impressive Daire O’Connor, while Danny Reid contributed four points from play.

But the eventual winners had to survive a very nervy finish after Shamrocks midfielder Shane Ormsby blasted a mark to the net in the 58th minute.

Tubberclair goalkeeper Kailin Blessing made three crucial saves in the second half, and a defence inspired by Kyle Fagan was put under immense pressure by Shamrocks in the tense closing sages.

St Loman’s, Mullingar will be Tubberclair’s opponents in the final after edging out Moate All Whites in the other semi-final.

The final is scheduled to be played as the curtain-raiser to the Westmeath SFC decider between St Loman’s and The Downs.

In the Westmeath IFC semi-final, a youthful Tubberclair outfit fought back from being 0-8 to 0-4 down to overcome St Mary’s in style at TEG Cusack Park.

Backed by the strong breeze in the second half, Tubberclair quickly wiped out the deficit and then built a lead they never looked like relinquishing. Including a point just before half-time, Tubberclair raised nine white flags on the trot during a highly productive spell.

A well taken goal from Robbie Curley – who finished with 1-3 – sealed victory, while Matthew Whittaker was a key figure in attack throughout. Interestingly, Tubberclair finished the game with a father and son combination on the pitch, after Matthew’s dad Graham was introduced as a substitute.

Considering that Tubberclair were in the junior ranks in 2020, the manner of their victory was remarkable against a Rochfortbridge outfit which won all their games in Section A of this year’s championship.

Tubberclair will meet Shandonagh in the county final after the men in sky blue and navy overcame Milltown by a single point, after extra-time, in the other semi-final last Saturday.

Westmeath U-17 FC semi-final - Tubberclair team & scorers: Kailin Blessing; Cian Kenny, Kyle Fagan, Michael Kenny; Liam Staunton (0-1), Peadar Dolan, James Clarke; Conor Reid (captain), Tom Bourke (0-1); Tommy Farrell, Kealan Connell (0-2, 1f), Matthew Lynch; Paul Keegan, Danny Reid (0-4), Daire O'Connor (1-1, 1-0pen). Subs used: Finn Duffy for Lynch; Eoin Sheeran for Staunton; Eoghan Irwin for C Kenny (injured), Jack O’Donnell for Farrell (inj.)

Westmeath IFC semi-final - Tubberclair team & scorers: Kevin Fagan; Stephen McGonagle, Jason McHugh (captain), Aaron Brady; James Madden, Cathal Tighe, Oisin Donohue; Eoghan McCabe (0-3, 2f), Sean Claffey; Fred Kelleher (0-3), Matthew Whittaker (0-2), Tom Kelleher (0-2); Robbie Curley (1-3), Paul Garvey (0-3), Rory Delaney. Subs used: Oisín O’Meara (0-1) for Delaney; Charlie Kennedy for T Kelleher; Graham Whittaker for Tighe; Neil Kenny for Brady (inj).