Previous meeting: Williams to fore as Lough Lene Gaels advance
Slevin’s Coaching Westmeath Senior ‘A’ hurling final
Lough Lene Gaels 2-22
Rahraney 1-23
Gerry Buckley
The eagerly anticipated battle of the hitherto-unbeaten two teams in the race for the Westmeath Examiner Cup did not disappoint on Sunday, September 20, in very pleasant conditions at TEG Cusack Park. Lough Lene Gaels edged out Raharney in a terrific contest to advance directly to the county final.
Undoubtedly, Joey Williams and his management team will be keen observers at that penultimate round clash as the men in purple and gold ramp up their plans to bring the blue riband trophy in Lake County hurling to Collinstown for the first time in 24 years. On the evidence of this display and the overall campaign to date, the Gaels have every chance to banish the heartbreak of three successive final defeats.
A draw would have qualified Raharney for the final on score difference, so when sub Marcus Kennedy doubled his side’s lead in the third minute of added-time – a minimum of three was signalled – the Deelsiders needed a goal to make the decider directly, and the management threw the entire team forward in search of a green flag with seconds remaining, but they were thwarted by a resolute Lough Lene Gaels defence.
It was 2-10 to 0-9 in the Gaels' favour at half-time, after two goals from David Williams, the second of which came from a free when he blasted the sliotar to the net for a tonic score in the closing seconds. Raharney had done better in the second quarter thanks to the accuracy of Killian Doyle (four frees). Earlier, Eamonn Cunneen (free), Robbie Greville and Ciaran Doyle were on target.
Ryan Williams and very impressive Raharney sub Cormac McKeogh traded points as did McNicholas and Killian Doyle (both classy scores), and David Williams and McKeogh.
Ciaran Doyle, that man McKeogh again, and Cunneen (a long-range free) added Raharney scores. David Williams hit two frees in reply, but a McKeogh point was followed by an opportunist goal from the same player in the 45th minute, and an immediate Ahearn point, to leave Raharney trailing by the bare minimum (2-15 to 1-17) midway through the second half.
The Gaels seemed to be able to keep their noses in front. A dozen points were equally divided between two talented outfits in the final quarter of normal time.
Scorers – Lough Lene Gaels: D Williams 2-6 (1-5f), S Williams 0-6 (3f), E Daly, D McNicholas 0-3 each, M Daly, J Malone, R Williams, M Kennedy 0-1 each.
Raharney: Cormac McKeogh 1-6, E Cunneen (4f, 1‘65’), K Doyle (4f) 0-6 each, C Doyle 0-2, R Greville, D Finn, E Ahearn 0-1 each.
Lough Lene Gaels: Noel Conaty; Conor McCrossan, Dan Higgins, Daire Daly; Philip Reilly, John Egan, Tommy Doyle; Brendan Doyle, Micheál Daly; Shane Williams, David Williams, Jason Malone; Ryan Williams, Derek McNicholas, Eoin Daly. Subs used: Marcus Kennedy for D Williams (blood, 15-17), Daragh Qamar for Higgins (inj., 16), Aaron Kennedy for Malone (38), Daniel Reilly for P Reilly (45), Marcus Kennedy for R Williams (54), Jordan Williams for E Daly (60+3).
Raharney: Aaron McHugh; Jamie Mulkearns, Gary Greville, Rory Keyes; Sean Quinn, Robbie Greville, Darren Finn; Eamon Cunneen, Ciaran Doyle; Cormac Boyle, Killian Doyle, Eoghan Ahearn; Robbie Coyne, Devin Hill, Joey Boyle. Subs used: Caolan Ready for G Greville (inj., 21), Cormac McKeogh for Coyne (h-t), Daragh Core for Hill (45), Conor McKeogh for Quinn (50).
Ref: Caymon Flynn (St Brigid’s).
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