Raharney impress as champions disappoint

Raharney 0-24, Castletown Geoghegan 0-15

By Gerry Buckley

Raharney sent out a clear signal in TEG Cusack Park last Sunday evening that they are major contenders to regain the Westmeath Examiner Cup when they were full value for their nine-point winning margin against the senior hurling championship hat-trick seekers, Castletown-Geoghegan.

In truth, Johnny Greville’s charges were the hungrier and more focused outfit from start to finish against a surprisingly lethargic side in black and amber. Of course, there was no silverware handed out at Westmeath GAA headquarters two days ago, and this may well act as a wake-up call for Alan Mangan’s troops who still seem certain to feature in a semi-final down the line, possibly against the same opponents.

Conditions could hardly have been nicer for hurling, but neutrals in the good-sized attendance got poor enough value for their money. The men in blue and white raced into a five-point lead by the eighth minute, courtesy of unanswered scores from the sticks of Cormac Boyle (at the end of a fine move), Eamon Cunneen (two monster frees), Ciaran Doyle (from play), and his twin Killian (from a close-range free).

The holders opened their account in the tenth minute when Niall O’Brien pointed a free – the foul on the returning David O’Reilly was perilously close to the large parallelogram. The latter player soon doubled his side’s tally, but the Deelsiders were clearly on top and they responded with four points without reply from Cunneen (a ‘65’ after Devin Hill had been denied a goal), the Doyle brothers – again Ciaran from play and Killian from a free – and another long-range free from Cunneen, to lead by 0-9 to 0-2 with 19 minutes on the clock.

An O’Brien brace – from open play and a free – reduced the deficit, but again Raharney pounced for more unanswered points, via Joey Boyle (who had a fine game overall), Ciaran Doyle (two), and Killian Doyle (a superb score from near the stand sideline). The hard-working Shane Clavin pointed twice in quick succession for Castletown-Geoghegan, before O’Reilly teed up Jack Gallagher for a great goal chance but the full forward scooped the sliotar over the crossbar from close to the target. A wonderful point by Ciaran Doyle in the last action of the first moiety left Raharney ahead by 0-14 to 0-7 at the interval.

Joey Boyle was unlucky to see his powerful shot for a goal come back off the upright early in the second half, after he had been astutely picked out by Killian Doyle. A counterattack led to a point from a successful O’Brien free at the other end. However, a much more focused winning side tagged on five more points without reply by the end of the third quarter. The scorers were Joey Boyle (an opportunist strike), Killian Doyle (a free moved in for dissent), Joey Boyle again (availing of sloppy Castletown-Geoghegan defending), Ciaran Doyle, and Darren Finn (a quality finish). Raharney now led by 0-19 to 0-8.

In truth, the atmosphere was already dead with the outcome not in doubt. Clavin and Killian Doyle (a free) traded points. Robbie Greville opened his account in style, before Gallagher and Clavin added to their tallies from play for the champions. In a low-key finale, point exchanges ensued between Darragh Core and Mick Heeney (ironically, both just having been introduced), Killian Doyle and Gallagher (both from frees), and Killian Doyle (after a superb piece of fielding) and Gallagher (a skilful finish), before Clavin brought his total to an admirable five from play with time almost up.

Scorers – Raharney: K Doyle 0-7 (5f), C Doyle 0-6, E Cunneen 0-4 (3f, 1‘65’), J Boyle 0-3, C Boyle, D Finn, R Greville, D Core 0-1 each.

Castletown-Geoghegan: S Clavin 0-5, J Gallagher (1f), N O’Brien (3f) 0-4 each, D O’Reilly, M Heeney 0-1 each.

Raharney: Aaron McHugh; Darren Finn, Rory Keyes, Gary Greville; Cormac Boyle, Jamie Mulkearns, Robbie Greville; Eamon Cunneen, Sean Quinn; Killian Doyle, Robbie Coyne, Ciaran Doyle; Eoghan Ahearn, Joey Boyle, Devin Hill. Subs used: Caolan Ready for Coyne (blood, 9 to 20), Caolan Ready for Coyne (48), Darragh Core for C Boyle (52).

Castletown-Geoghegan: Sean Jackson; Alan Conlon, Johnny Bermingham, Aaron Glennon; Morgan Gavigan, Jack Murphy, Peter Murphy; Shane Calvin, David Lynch; Neale Pierson, Liam Varley, Dylan Corrigan; Niall O’Brien, Jack Gallagher, David O’Reilly. Subs used: Mick Heeney for Corrigan (43), Mikey Lynam for Lynch (43), Ciaran O’Brien for J Murphy (49), Fergal O’Brien for N O’Brien (inj., 52).

Ref: Barry Kelly (St Oliver Plunkett’s).