St Brigid's comeback falls short

Slevin's Coaches Westmeath IHC: Clonkill 3-15, St Brigid's 1-19

Paul Doolin

In a wet windy and cold Breedon Park, The Downs, on Saturday evening, we had the proverbial game of two halves in the Westmeath Intermediate Hurling Championship.

Clonkill looked as if they were going to run out comfortable winners for most of the game only for St Brigid's to almost pluck the phoenix from the flames at the end of an enthralling contest.

Clonkill really had nothing to play for but pride and boy did they do that while for the Saints it really was a massive blow to their quest to earn promotion to Senior 'B'. Clonkill were a mixture of youth and experience while the Dalystown men are still trying to fly the hurling flag in a football dominated area, and it was the experience of the Clonkill lads, many who have Senior championship titles, that saw them just about deserve their win.

With three rather softly conceded goals, St Brigid's never looked as if they would claim the win they so desperately craved.

The opening exchanges were shared in the main with Evan Scally scoring two, one from play and a free, and Eoin Kenny scoring for Clonkill. Finbar Coyne, Conor Slevin and a Mikie Mullen (free) shot scores for Brigid's levelling the game after six minutes. Clonkill hit five of the next seven points, with Scally pointing two frees, a 65’ and a beauty from play, and Paul Poynton adding a super point from long-range.

Mullen and Seamus Faulkner replied to keep their side in touch.

Clonkill got the first goal of the game, after Mullen had a missed a penalty for the Saints, and Eoin Kenny kicked to an empty net after a defensive slip;

Scally added a free and the lively Alex Smyth added a second major for the Loughegar men when he waltzed through the defence and managed to find the net.

At this stage, 10 points separated the sides. St Brigid's made somewhat of a comeback before the break with Mullen scoring the next four from two frees and two superb strikes from tight to the touchline, and at the short whistle Clonkill led by six points, 2-9 to 0-9.

Mullen narrowed the gap on the restart with another '65', but that comeback seemed to be well and truly dealt with when Paul Poynton scythed through the Saffrons defence and scored a third Clonkill goal. Conor Slevin from distance and a free and a 65 from Mullen kept St Brigid's just within touching distance, but a free from Scally and an opportunist strike from Liam Farrell negated that good work. Mullen, from a placed ball, and a fine strike from Finbar Coyne gave the Saints hope again, but Poynton and Scally, from play, made sure that Clonkill were always that comfortable distance ahead as the game entered the last 10 minutes.

Clonkill subs Tommy Daly and Cian Quinn added points for the winners, but in between that Coyne added another two excellent points to his tally.

And when sub Aonghus Cody flicked to the net, the gap was down to four points. St Brigid's now looked to be in with a real chance. They battered at the Clonkill line, but time and again were repulsed by excellent defending especially from the evergreen Paddy Dowdall.

But a free and a long range strike from Mikie Mullen narrowed the gap to just two as the game headed for added time. Only two minutes were added, though, and the Dalystown men had left it too late, and a relieved Clonkill managed to get their first win of the campaign. For St Brigid's, their play-off hopes were left in tatters.

Scorers - Clonkill: Evan Scally 0-9 (4 frees, 2 65’s), Paul Poynton 1-2, Eoin Kenny 1-1, Alex Smyth 1-0, Liam Farrell, Thomas Daly and Cian Quinn 0-1 each.

St Brigid's: Mikie Mullen 0-12 (5 frees, 3 65’), Finbar Coyne 0-4, Aonghus Cody 1-0, Conor Slevin 0-2, Seamus Faulkner 0-1.

Clonkill: Daragh Egerton, Jack Murtagh, Jamie Coffey, Enda Morrison, Conor Daly, Paddy Dowdall, Christopher Austin, Stephen Colgan, Paul Poynton, Eoin Kenny, Liam Farrell, Evan Scally, Cillian Doyle, Mark Keegan, Alex Smyth. Subs: Tommy Daly for Farrell (39 mins), Cian Quinn for Keegan (53 mins).

St Brigid's: Paddy Carroll, Connall Dunne, Dan O’Sullivan, Billy Arthur, Sean Deegan, Joe Hyland, Chris Daly, Conor Slevin, Niall Cully, Stephen Quinn, Finbar Coyne, Kieran Geraghty, Michael Geraghty, Seamus Faulkner, Mikie Mullen. Subs: Aonghus Cody for Quinn (29 mins), Brian Brophy for Daly (45 mins), Ray Cleary for Faulkner (53 mins).

Referee: Bernard Heaney (Clan na Gael).