Williams guides Lough Lene Gaels to senior hurling glory

Lough Lene Gaels 1-16, Raharney 0-16

Lough Lene Gaels ended a 24-year wait for senior hurling glory as they denied Raharney in Sunday's Westmeath Senior A Hurling Championship decider at TEG Cusack Park, in front of a great crowd.

In glorious conditions, Joey Williams' charges edged out 14-man Raharney by a goal to run out 1-16 to 0-16 winners. It was their fourth final in-a-row and having lost the previous three, there was to be no denying the Collinstown men on this occasion.

It was fiercely contested but the overall quality dipped as both teams shot a high number of wides. Raharney in particular showed a lack of composure, hitting seven wides in the early stages.

Still, Raharney led by 0-9 to 0-7 at half-time, but the crucial moment came when David Williams converted a 35th-minute penalty after influential sub Marcus Kennedy had been fouled.

Williams went on to pick up the Man of The Match award after a superb 1-10 haul.

The Gaels had a dream start to the second half with David Williams pointing twice in as many minutes – a quality score from play and a free – before the same player converted the crucial penalty. For Raharney, it proved to be a double-whammy as full back Jamie Mulkearns picked up a second yellow card for the incident and they played out much of the seocnd half with 14 men.

Raharney pushed them all the way, but a superb long-range point from Philip Reilly was followed by two brilliant frees from distance by David Williams. Sub Marcus Kennedy was red-carded as the Gaels finished with 14 men also, but it couldn't take from their wonderful victory.

A Killian Doyle free left the deficit at a goal, but Raharney were unable to conjure up an equalising goal in the single minute remaining. There were five minutes of added time announced and another few were played because of stoppages, which must have felt like agony for Lough Lene Gaels supporters.

In the end they could celebrate wildly as David Williams was presented with the Westmeath Examiner Cup by Paddy Wallace, Westmeath GAA chairman.

Lough Lene Gaels: Noel Conaty; Daire Daly, Dan Higgins, Micheál Daly; Philip Reilly (0-1), John Egan (0-1), Tommy Doyle; Brendan Doyle, Shane Williams; Conor McCrossan, David Williams (1-10, 1-0 pen, 8f, 1 ‘65’), Eoin Daly; Ryan Williams (0-1), Derek McNicholas (0-1), Jason Malone. Subs: Marcus Kennedy (0-2) for Malone (23), Darragh Qamar for McCrossan (46), Aaron Kennedy for E Daly (52), Warren Williams for S Williams (60+1).

Raharney: Aaron McHugh; Seán Quinn, Jamie Mulkearns, Darren Finn; Gary Greville, Rory Keyes, Robbie Greville (0-1); Cormac Boyle, Callum McKeogh (0-1); Eamonn Cunneen (0-5; 1f; 1‘65’), Cormac McKeogh, Ciaran Doyle; Eoghan Ahearn (0-1), Joey Boyle, Killian Doyle (0-8; 5f). Subs: Devin Hill for C Doyle (inj., 26), Caolán Ready for Ahearn (54), Brian McGrath for Boyle (55), Robbie Coyne for Calum McKeogh (57), Conor McKeogh for Finn (60+6).

Referee: Caymon Flynn (St Brigid's).