Vital win for holders after fine comeback

Senior 'A' hurling championship: Castletown Geoghegan 1-25, Clonkill 2-17

By Gerry Buckley

Patrons in sun-drenched TEG Cusack Park last Saturday evening for the main match in a Westmeath hurling championship double-header were treated to a cracking contest in the senior ‘A’ grade when Westmeath Examiner Cup hat-trick seekers Castletown-Geoghegan needed to show great resolve to dispose of a strong challenge from Clonkill by a five-point margin.

The final score – less clear than usual due to a local power cut meaning that the scoreboard was out of action for most of the game – does scant justice to the Loughegar-based club which is going through something of a transition after decades at the top table of Lake County hurling. Indeed, they led by an unflattering four points with six minutes of normal time remaining, but Alan Mangan’s understrength troops proceeded to score 1-6 without reply to eke out a deserved win.

Luke Meyler, who went on to have a fine game, nudged the underdogs ahead in the third minute and Kian Loughlin soon doubled their lead from a free. Liam Varley halved the deficit in the seventh minute, but Clonkill – who had the aid of a slight wind blowing towards the Dunnes Stores end of the ground – were on fire at this stage and they scored an unanswered 1-3 (which could have been more) by the 13th minute. A converted ‘65’ by Loughlin (after Meyler had been denied a goal by Jack Murphy) preceded a cleverly-taken goal from a free by Loughlin, and further points by Meyler and Niall Mitchell (showing signs of a return to his best form after a litany of injury woes).

The respective number 8s, Shane Clavin and Matthew Glynn, traded quality points to keep the margin at seven points (1-6 to 0-2). However, this was entirely wiped out between the 20th and 28th minutes, via white flags raised by Johnny Bermingham, Niall O’Brien (a free), Varley, Dylan Corrigan, the lively Jack Gallagher, Mick Heeney, and Neale Pierson (after O’Brien had unsuccessfully tried to blast a goal from a free). Loughlin and David Lynch traded points from play, the latter thereby ensuring that numbers 7 to 15 inclusive had scored for the champions. Loughlin nudged the men in green and gold ahead, but an O’Brien brace (the second from a free with the last puck of the first moiety) had Castletown-Geoghegan ahead by 0-12 to 1-8 at the break.

Shortly after play resumed, a brief – but unseemly – skirmish near the winners’ goalmouth resulted in a yellow card for both sides. Point exchanges ensued between free-takers O’Brien and Loughlin, and the same duo again (O’Brien’s this time coming from open play). The side managed by Pat O’Toole and Frank Aughey almost conjured up a goal after eye-catching work by Mitchell, but had to be satisfied with another successful free from Loughlin. However, in the 40th minute, the teenager had fans on their feet when he scored a wonderful solo goal. Indeed, three minutes later, sub Alan McGrath seemed certain to raise another green flag after great work by Mitchell, but his effort was wide of the target.

McGrath soon compensated with a point before O’Brien (a free) and Mitchell (a classy score from play) swapped points. Meyler and O’Brien (a free) pointed at either end, as did Clavin and Loughlin (a free). An O’Brien rasper went barely over the crossbar and Varley quickly added another point. However, quality points from play by Loughlin and Mitchell had Clonkill seemingly in pole position for a shock victory, leading by 2-17 to 0-19 with 54 minutes elapsed.

Remarkably, however, the men in the famous black and amber stripes kept their opponents scoreless for the remainder of what was a gripping contest, while tagging on an impressive 1-6 themselves in the manner of champions. Sub Ciaran O’Brien bundled the sliotar to the net to begin the comeback – it seemed likely that his brother Niall would have been awarded a penalty if the goal hadn’t been scored – and points followed in great style from the sticks of Niall O’Brien (two – the first of them from play), Bermingham, Varley (a great score), and a brace from Corrigan, thereby wrapping up a fine win.

Scorers - Castletown-Geoghegan: N O’Brien 0-10 (6f), L Varley 0-4, D Corrigan 0-3, C O’Brien 1-0, J Bermingham, S Clavin 0-2 each, J Bermingham, N Pierson, J Gallagher, M Heeney 0-1 each.

Clonkill: K Loughlin 2-9 (1-5f, 0-1‘65’), N Mitchell, L Meyler 0-3 each, M Glynn, A McGrath 0-1 each.

Castletown-Geoghegan: Sean Jackson; Aaron Glennon, Peter Murphy, Alan Conlon; Morgan Gavigan, Jack Murphy, Johnny Bermingham; Shane Clavin, David Lynch; Neale Pierson, Liam Varley, Mick Heeney; Niall O’Brien, Jack Gallagher, Dylan Corrigan. Subs used: Mikey Lynam for Glennon (45), Ciaran O’Brien for Heeney (46), Padraig Kane for Conlon (inj., 60+5).

Clonkill: Scott Murray; Paul Poynton, Darragh Egerton, Ciaran Nolan; Josh Murtagh, Darragh Kenny, Oisín Loughlin; Matthew Glynn, Andrew Shaw; Robbie Cleary, Niall Mitchell, Luke Meyler; Kian Loughlin, John Kenny, Oisín Murray. Subs used: Alan McGrath for Murray (37), Ciaran Nooney for Cleary (57).

Ref: Barry Kelly (St Oliver Plunketts).