Turin aiming to go one better than last year
Slevin’s Coaches Westmeath IHC final preview
The Intermediate Hurling final on Saturday next pits Turin against Raharney in what promises to be a keenly contested affair.
It’s Raharney’s second team, but they carry plenty of experience and quality, and it will take a big performance from the Turin men to go one better than last year, when they were denied by St Brigid’s in the final.
John Gorman's charges did overcome Raharney last year by 2-14 to 0-15, but this is a stronger side, as evidenced by their impressive semi-final victory over Cullion. Turin, for their part, had a fine victory over Clonkill’s second team in their semi-final, and their second-half display will give them plenty of encouragement.
That 3-23 to 4-9 victory came after some fine displays from Sean Leech, Padraig Tormey and Conor Heffernan in attack, while Jack Geoghegan and Ciaran Kiernan were good at midfield. Turin enjoyed a four-point lead at half-time and went on to notch 2-13 in the second half, with Brian Aughey and Padraig Tormey scoring the goals.
When the sides met in round five of this year’s championship, Raharney were winners by 0-21 to 1-15. Raharney led by 0-14 to 0-6 at half-time in that game, and their first-half display certainly gave them a solid platform. Conor Heffernan, who scored 1-12 in all, notched a penalty goal for the Turin men, but it wasn’t enough to stop a determined Raharney side.
Raharney’s victory over Cullion in the semi-final – 3-22 to 2-16 – suggests they will be strong opposition in the final. Joe Mulvaney, Aaron Ready and Winston Larkin are strong performers in attack, and they have an experienced campaigner in Brian Smyth at centre-forward.
Pearse Weir Norris looked solid at centre-back, and their entire half-back line seemed more than capable of handling anything Cullion threw at them, with David Weir and Luke Darby catching the eye. Their puck-outs were good, and they were comfortable mixing it short and then going long when they needed to.
Ready netted twice, and Larkin also found the net for Ryan O'Neill's side, who will be fiercely determined to start the weekend on a winning note, with their seniors facing Lough Lene Gaels in Sunday’s county final.
Turin team who overcame Clonkill in the semi-final: Eoin Aughey, Sean Scally, Derek Hourihane, Declan McGrath, Craig Neville, Dara Smith, Peter Finch, Jack Geoghegan, Ciaran Kiernan, Conor Heffernan, Padraig Tormey, Sean Leech, Conor Leech, Alan Aughey and PJ O’Neill. Subs used: Brian Aughey and Ronan Leavy.
Turin scorers: C Heffernan 1-6 (5f), P Tormey 1-3, S Leech 0-6, B Aughey 1-0, C Kiernan and PJ O’Neill 0-2 each, D Smith, J Geoghegan, C Leech and R Aughey (free) 0-1 each.
Raharney team who qualified for the Intermediate final by defeating Cullion: Darragh Weir, Cian O'Connor, Matt Shaw, Sean McGee, David Weir, Pearse Weir Norris, Luke Darby, Cian Weir, Aaron Flanagan, Jamie Carr, Brian Smyth, Joe Mulvaney, Aaron Ready, Winston Larkin and James Goonery. Subs: John McGuane for C O’Connor (38), Michael Taggart for J Goonery (50), Donie Mullen for C Weir (50).
Raharney scorers: J Mulvaney 0-9 (0-7f), A Ready 2-1, W Larkin 1-2, C Weir 0-2, A Flanagan 0-3, J Goonery 0-2, B Smyth 0-2, J Carr 0-1.
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