Castletown Geoghegan coast to very comfortable victory

Castletown Geoghegan 3-27, Castlepollard 0-13

Castletown Geoghegan laid down a further statement of intent in their defence of the Westmeath Examiner Cup with an effortless victory over Castlepollard in a disappointingly one-sided Senior ‘A’ Hurling Championship encounter at TEG Cusack Park on Saturday evening.

Alan Mangan’s side were 15 points clear at half-time (3-13 to 0-7), having produced a ruthless first-half display that left Eamonn O’Connor’s Castlepollard chasing shadows. By the three-quarter mark, the game was long over as a contest, with the reigning champions leading by 3-18 to 0-10 and cruising to the finish line in second gear, 11 different scorers underlining their superior class.

The tone was set early as the black and ambers surged into a 1-5 to 0-0 lead inside the opening nine minutes. Morgan Gavigan opened the scoring from wing-back, while Peter Clarke and the outstanding Niall O'Brien added sharp efforts. Liam Varley picked out O'Brien for the opening goal in the eighth minute, as the champions asserted their superiority across the pitch.

Castlepollard managed their first score after 10 minutes through a Darragh McCormack free, but the traffic remained firmly one-way. O'Brien and Peter Clarke tacked on further points, before a flowing move involving Shane Clavin, Aonghus Clarke, Mick Heeney and O'Brien ended with the latter burying a brilliant second goal past Barry Dowdall on 24 minutes, his shot finding the top corner in emphatic fashion.

Despite some resistance from 'Pollard - Eoin English and Conor Gaffney notching points and McCormack adding frees - the pressure was relentless. Dean Slevin’s injury-time goal, after another surging attack, capped a devastating half from the black and ambers.

The second half never sparked into life, with Castlepollard’s best spell coming early after the restart when sub Conor Sheridan pointed. However, three unanswered scores from Castletown Geoghegan - Slevin and O'Brien (two frees) - restored complete control.

O'Brien continued to torment the Pollard defence, while Peter Murphy and Jack Gallagher - who struck the upright when clean through - kept the tempo high. Even when the defending champions missed chances, they were always a step ahead in terms of movement, touch and decision-making.

A late surge from Castlepollard saw Luke Roddy set up McCormack for a half-goal chance, but his shot rose over the bar. Further points from Varley (free), Clarke and Jack Murphy extended the lead before Conor Gaffney added one in response. Peter Murphy hit back instantly for Castletown Geoghegan, and in the dying moments, a neat passing move involving McCormack, Aaron O’Leary and Sheridan ended with the latter pointing for 'Pollard.

In added time, Joe Rabbitt was denied a consolation goal by a fine stop from Ciaran O'Brien, and the final say went to Aonghus Clarke, who knocked over a composed point after great link-up play with Gallagher.

Castletown Geoghegan were clinical in attack, disciplined in defence, and physically dominant all over the field, but manager Alan Mangan will realise this victory is of little value other than chalking up another two valuable points in pursuit of first place and a direct passage to the final. Coming after their first round win over last year's finalists Lough Lene Gaels, it was the perfect result. In contrast, Castlepollard - dealing with the absence of several key men now based abroad - are clearly a side in transition.

There will be tougher tests to come for the champions, but on the evidence seen in the first two rounds, they remain the standard bearers in Westmeath hurling.

Scorers - Castletown Geoghegan: N O’Brien 2-9 (0-5f), D Slevin 1-1, P Clarke, J Gallagher, P Murphy and A Clarke 0-3 each, M Gavigan, L Varley, O Gavigan, L Varley (free) and J Murphy 0-1 each.

Castlepollard: D McCormack 0-7 (4f), E English, C Gaffney and C Sheridan 0-2 each.

Castletown Geoghegan: Ciaran O’Brien; Naoise McKenna, Aaron Glennon, David Maloney; Morgan Gavigan, Jack Murphy, Odhran Gavigan; Shane Clavin, Peter Murphy; Aonghus Clarke, Peter Clarke, Liam Varley; Niall O’Brien, Dean Slevin, Jack Gallagher. Subs: Conor Murphy for O’Brien (51), Plunkett Maxwell for Clavin (58).

Castlepollard: Barry Dowdall; Sean Lancaster, Darragh Reilly, Brian Gilchrist; Ciaran Fagan, Colm Dermody, Eoin English; Conor Gaffney, Darragh Tierney; Mark Lancaster, Darragh McCormack, Ciaran English; Matthew O’Reilly, Aaron O’Leary, Joe Rabbitt. Subs: Conor Sheridan for Gilchrist (30), Luke Roddy for O’Reilly (46), Oisin Gaffney for Dermody (inj., 49).

Referee: James McGrath (Turin).