Forde the driving force as Moate build momentum

Moate All Whites 1-21 Killucan 0-18

By Gerry Buckley

Moate All Whites recorded a second consecutive win in the Westmeath SFC with a fully deserved six points to spare against a slightly understrength Killucan side at TEG Cusack Park on Saturday evening, August 23.

This has been an improved campaign for the side now managed by Val Daly, a superb centre half back in Carmelite College Moate's Hogan Cup win in 1980, and this was a particularly noteworthy victory over a side with more recent Flanagan Cup experience, albeit the men in saffron and white might not have made as many costly defensive errors had their inter-county stalwart Sam Smyth been fit to start.

Daragh Lowry had the significant Moate following on their feet when he pointed after a trademark dashing run after a mere 12 seconds. They built on this in fine style by scoring a further unanswered six points in the ensuing ten minutes, courtesy of the outstanding Robbie Forde (four - a brace of gifted one-pointers from play, and a superb two-point free) and two left-footed frees from Tobby Conteh.

However, the impressive Sami Clarke steadied Killucan nerves with four points in as many minutes - a one-point and two-point free respectively from the ground, prior to a well-engineered point from play. This left Moate ahead by 0-7 to 0-4 at the end of the opening quarter.

The winners soon stretched their advantage to seven points again via a great two-pointer with the outside of his boot from Lowry, a routine free by Forde (availing of Killucan indiscipline), and a neat score by Conor Bracken (after a great delivery by Lowry). Eoghan Ahearn responded with a two-pointer for the losers - the call looked tight - but a Forde brace from play quickly cancelled this out. Clarke pointed at the other end when a goal briefly looked possible.

Moate All Whites finished the half strongly with a point apiece from defender Andrew Gorman (despite being pressurised) and Billy Berry (after effecting a great dummy). These scores left them ahead by 0-15 to 0-7 at the break.

Killucan, jointly managed by their former star players Frank Boyle and Conor Jordan, started the second half brightly with a fisted point by Sean Leech (after just 30 seconds) and a converted '45' by Clarke (a minute later). However, Moate replied in the best possible manner with a fine goal by Forde in the 33rd minute, after great approach work by Conteh and Lowry.

Point exchanges followed between Clarke (a free) and Forde (a fisted effort), and Clarke (another free) and goalie James Mitchell (a '45'), to leave Moate ahead by 1-17 to 0-11 at the end of the third quarter.

Clarke's free-taking was outstanding and he kicked a great two-pointer in the 49th minute. Forde responded with a lovely angled one-pointer from play before Mitchell came forward again to dissect the posts from a two-point free. A point apiece from sub Devin Hill and Clarke (a free) preceded the completion of a two-point free hat-trick by the latter in the 57th minute.

The gap was now six points (1-20 to 0-17) and could have been narrowed had Killucan availed of two good chances which followed. Lowry pointed neatly in the 59th minute, with Clarke's low-trajectory free in added-time rounding off match scoring.

Man of the match: Robbie Forde (Moate All Whites). The Westmeath regular finished with a personal haul of 1-9, all bar three points of which came from open play. For the losers, Sami Clarke scored some wonderful frees in the old-fashioned style from the ground.

Talking point: For years a sleeping giant in Lake County football, Moate All Whites look set to re-establish themselves in senior football, ironically managed by one of the local Carmelite College's greatest-ever players in Val Daly

Scorers - Moate All Whites: R Forde 1-9 (1tpf, 1f); D Lowry 0-4 (1tp); J Mitchell 0-3 (1tpf, 1'45'); T Conteh 0-2 (2f); C Bracken, A Gorman and B Berry 0-1 each. Killucan: S Clarke 0-14 (3tpf, 5f, 1'45'); E Ahearn 0-2 (tp); S Leech and D Hill 0-1 each.

Moate All Whites - James Mitchell; Luke Whitney, Cathal O'Brien, Andrew Gorman; James Bracken, Paul Gorman, Tom Gorman; Harry Niall, Daragh Lowry; Conor Bracken, Robbie Forde, Eoin Bracken; Billy Berry, Tobby Conteh, Ronan Murray. Subs used: Dylan Nulty for C Bracken (42), Darragh Delaney for Conteh (51), Conor Sheridan for E Bracken (59), David Mullins for O'Brien (60+1).

Killucan - David Bryan; Luke Darby, Jamie Mulkearns, Andrew Flood; Cormac Boyle, David Weir, Adam Smyth; Eoin Keyes, Rory Keyes; Sami Clarke, Eamon Cunneen, Callum McKeogh; Darren Finn, Sean Leech, Eoghan Ahearn. Subs used: Devin Hill for Smyth (14), Conor McKeogh for Weir (h-t), Winston Larkin for E Keyes (43), Michael Doherty for Darby (45), Matt Shaw for Boyle (53).

Referee - Enda Kelly (Castledaly).