Raharney to provide big test for Lough Lene Gaels

The penultimate round of the Westmeath senior hurling 'A' championship takes place next weekend and last year's finalists Clonkill are under pressure to qualify.

Lough Lene Gaels are on six points at the top, with Raharney and Castletown Geoghegan on four; Clonkill and Castlepollard are level on two points apiece ahead of Fr Dalton's.

Clonkill manager Frank Aughey said experienced hurlers like Brendan Murtagh and Paddy Dowdall have helped Clonkill to get their season back on track, but he’s delighted with the collective resolve they showed when overcoming Castlepollard in a crucial game.

"There's a lot of work to do yet; it’s all knock-out for us," observed Aughey following his side's seven-point win against 'Pollard.

"Against Castletown Brendan Murtagh and Paddy Dowdall were fantastic, and again today, but there’s another group of players, like Andrew Shaw at corner back, Darragh Egerton, Luke Loughlin and Daire McLoughlin who contributed greatly.

“It was an excellent second half. You can’t panic in these situations, in knock-out games. If you do, it will run away from you. We were pretty calm and we knew we couldn’t do the same today as we did against Castletown.

"We were down eight players from the county final last year when the championship started. We have five new players starting senior championship and we have a one or two players to come back."

Aughey's men will be without the influential Niall Mitchell for some time yet.

"He won’t be back until near the end. He is a big loss, but he will be a huge help if we are still involved. If we get two or three players back from injury in the next few weeks, we will be in a much better position than at the start of the championship," he said, before insisting they must deliver another big display next Sunday.

"Fr Dalton’s have scored eight goals in three championship games so far and not many teams have done that. When it comes to knock-out, no team will bow out easily.”

Lough Lene Gaels will bid to continue their unbeaten run against Raharney, but the stakes are higher now and it will be a major test of their championship credentials. Castletown Geoghegan, the holders, will be fancied to overcome Castlepollard, but again a tough assignment is on the cards for Alan Mangan's charges.