Hurling final to the rescue as club season finishes on a high

THE EXTRA MILE - BY DAMIEN MAHER, SPORTS EDITOR

Thank God for hurling. The ancient Irish game rescued the season for Westmeath on Sunday as Raharney got the better of Lough Lene Gaels in a gripping senior ‘A’ championship decider at TEG Cusack Park.

Just when it seemed the Collinstown club was ready to bridge a 21-year gap and take home the Westmeath Examiner Cup, up popped Raharney with a sensational winning goal from Killian Doyle, who scored 1-11 in total despite not being 100% fit. It was smash-and-grab in nature against a Lough Lene Gaels side that led by four points (2-13 to 0-15) when Derek McNicholas scored a sublime second half goal.

However, substitute Brian McGrath pulled a goal back for Raharney and in added time, they broke Lough Lene Gaels’ hearts with that Killian Doyle winner - a splendid shot to the roof of the net, giving excellent ‘keeper Noel Conaty no chance. There was still time for McNicholas to send a low shot off the upright as Lough Lene Gaels came within a whisker of getting a third goal and such were the fine margins of a memorable hurling final.

It all made for quite a surreal atmosphere at the end. Even though Raharney are proud hurling people, they had very warm words of comfort for an unlucky Lough Lene Gaels side that for a time in the second half seemed destined to win back the title. Everything seemed to be falling into place as Tommy Doyle, playing in attack, popped up for an inspirational point and the youthful Eoin Daly turned in a truly remarkable performance that earned him man of the match.

But in the swings and roundabouts of a fascinating final, it was Raharney’s experience and class that saw them eke out a two-point victory, which gave them a 15th senior title and first in two years. They were wasteful, hitting 14 wides in total, eight in the first half, and missing a first half goal before Conaty saved Killian Doyle’s 40th minute penalty.

The impressive David Williams had netted a first half penalty for Lough Lene Gaels, who went in at half-time trailing by a point, 1-7 to 0-11. And even though they produced a heroic effort, they lost the second half (2-8 to 1-10). Sport can be cruel and no game is won on sentiment, especially a county final.

Full credit to both teams on producing such terrific entertainment and there was a touching tribute to the late Colm Murray by team captain Robbie Greville after he accepted the cup from County Committee chairman Frank Mescall. One of the first places for the winners to visit was Coralstown cemetery where Colm is buried following his tragic death earlier in the year. Some things transcend sport and this was one of those moments.

Raharney will be back in TEG Cusack Park for their Leinster club championship game against the Dublin champions in four weeks’ time and it will be interesting to see how such an experienced and talented side perform. Manager Ger Flanagan has experience of coaching in the capital and that can only stand to the Raharney men in their quest to make an impact on the provincial scene.

The drama in the hurling decider, which was preceded by a wonderful minor final in which Clonkill overcame Na Piarsaigh, made up for a rather disappointing senior football final the previous Sunday. Yes, it was gripping in that it was close with St Loman’s, Mullingar just edging out Coralstown/Kinnegad (0-9 to 0-7), but it was really disappointing in terms of entertainment.

Coralstown/Kinnegad deployed very defensive tactics on the day and were content to use Eoin O’Brien, one of their most talented footballers, as a man-marker on Ronan O’Toole. It proved effective, but in trying to negate O’Toole’s influence, they denied themselves of a player who could possibly have influenced a successful outcome on the day.

Many observers said it was the only way Coralstown/Kinnegad could approach the final: try and stymie the opposition and somehow do a smash-and-grab job. However, I contend they had other options and they had players to go and take on St Loman’s if they really believed in themselves.

Putting so many players behind the ball and adopting a defensive strategy made for poor entertainment and with the football final live on TG4, many people would have tuned out at half-time. For anoraks like us it was intriguing, but for the paying punter it offered poor value.

Coralstown/Kinnegad will learn from the experience and are sure to be back challenging the likes of St Loman’s and possibly The Downs in the seasons ahead, but they will look back now and wonder if they had taken their chances could they have caused a major upset? For this observer, St Loman’s always seemed to have the answers in that second half and that suggests they would have been very difficult to stop even if Coralstown/Kinnegad got that first half goal they missed.

Rugby World Cup only really getting serious

The Rugby World Cup, a dragged out affair, only starts to get serious from here on and Ireland have made it through their pool unbeaten and will take on the might of the New Zealand All Blacks on Saturday next. It’s certainly a game to whet the appetite. The presence of former Ireland boss Joe Schmidt in the New Zealand coaching team will only add intrigue to what is a much anticipated match.

Ireland have momentum and it was a luxury for manager Andy Farrell to be able to replace the likes of Johnny Sexton early as they overcame Scotland at the weekend. Their defensive game was really solid and it will need to be even better from here on in if they are to achieve the ultimate goal. As the number one ranked team in the world, they have to be considered contenders, but ranking will count for nothing now. The truth is that the top sides like New Zealand, South Africa and France will have to be beaten: with the latter pair clashing, one of them will bow out before the last four which makes it all the more fascinating.

It’s great to have Ireland still involved and playing such a lovely style: some of the expansive rugby in Saturday’s win over Scotland was the type of play we could only dream of years ago but now this Irish team are comfortable putting the ball through the hands and that will be vital against the All Blacks. It will take a special performance but we dare to dream.