Duignan and Briody goals seal Féile final win for Raharney

Gerry Buckley

A great second half display enabled Raharney to edge out their age-old rivals Clonkill in what was a very entertaining Westmeath Féile na nGael Division 1 hurling final, in TEG Cusack Park yesterday morning (Easter Monday).

A very heavy shower of hailstones preceded the throw-in but, thankfully, the weather settled for what proved to be a riveting contest.

With skipper Conor Mulleady in fine form from frees, Clonkill deservedly led by 0-6 to 0-2 at the interval, five of their scores coming from a range of tricky frees from a variety of angles. The other point in the first moiety for the green and gold-clad side came via powerful full forward Padraig Monaghan in the tenth minute, after an impressive lift and strike.

The Deelsiders’ two points came courtesy of Jack Duignan (from play in the eighth minute) and a Donnacha Briody free (the last score of the half in the 18th minute of what was a 20-minute half). Raharney had a couple of half-chances of goals in the first half, but solid Clonkill defending ensured that they kept their net intact.

REWARDED

Duignan had the blue and white-clad fans on their feet just 65 seconds after play resumed, the centre half forward scoring a tremendous individual goal. A fine free ensued from Briody, and the same two players added another unanswered 1-2 by the 29th minute (a wonderful long-range point from Duignan preceding a converted free and a well-taken goal from Briody). Oisín McCauley’s excellent free put the winners 2-6 to 0-6 ahead at the end of the third quarter.

To their great credit, the Loughegar-based outfit refused to throw in the towel and they were rewarded with a hat-trick of points from the sticks of Aaron Connaire (a low-trajectory shot), Eoghan Daly and MJ Long (having moved from his earlier position of goalkeeper). However, another huge free from McCauley copper-fastened Raharney’s grip on the title.

After the match, Barry Kelly, chairman of Westmeath Coiste na nÓg, presented the trophy to the winning captain, Cian Fleming.

Raharney: D Briody 1-3 (0-3f), J Duignan 1-2, O McCauley 0-2 (2f). Clonkill: C Mulleady 0-5 (5f), MJ Long, A Connaire, E Daly, P Monaghan 0-1 each.

Raharney: Oran Smith; Ronan Lawlor, Thomas Smith, Ronan Smith; Charlie Looby, Cian Fleming, Cian McGee; Cian McKeogh, Oisín McCauley; Eoghan Flanagan, Jack Duignan, Tom Shaw; Donnacha Briody, Luke Kiernan, Páidí Darby Weir. Subs used: Daragh Fitzsimons, Shaun McCann, Josh McGauran, Tom McDermott, Shane O’Neill, Ryley Hennessy, Jack Heffernan, Adam Quinn, Ruairí Fleming, Kyle Aughty, Calum McHugh.

Clonkill: MJ Long; Jake Raeside, Niall Brady, Peter Raleigh; Billy Dunne, Sean Flynn, Enda Moran; Conor Cleary, Aaron Connaire; Eoghan Daly, Conor Mulleady, Conor Joyce; Sean Mulleady, Padraig Monaghan, Ben Loughlin. Rest of panel: Cormac Murphy, James McHugh, Conor Raleigh, Adam Kiernan, Ely Green, Killian Raleigh, Ciaran McGrath.

Ref: Ken Gunning (St Brigid’s).