Roche's last-gasp point breaks Gaels hearts

Shelmaliers 2-21, Lough Lene Gaels 4-14

By Gerry Buckley

Fresh from a first Westmeath Examiner Cup success in 24 years, Lough Lene Gaels proved themselves to be worthy Lake County standard-bearers by producing a skilful and gutsy display against their Wexford counterparts, Shelmaliers, which came tantalisingly close to yielding what would have been a famous victory in a thrilling Leinster club quarter-final played in ideal conditions for hurling in TEG Cusack Park last Sunday afternoon.

Ultimately, however, defeat was their lot with Joshua Roche’s only point of the contest settling the issue with just seconds remaining, the Slaneysiders prevailing despite playing almost the entire second half a man down after Paul Hearne had been dismissed in the 35th minute. In truth, this was a heartbreaking loss for the Collinstown men who looked the very likely winners for most of the contest, and they will undoubtedly rue a couple of unforced errors at crucial stages of what was a hugely entertaining contest.

After an impeccably-observed minute’s silence for the recently deceased and much-loved Irish international athlete and former camogie player from Portaferry, Ciara Mageean, the referee threw in the sliotar between the home team, ironically wearing Wexford’s county colours, and a visiting side donning Kilkenny-style black and amber stripes, managed by a Marble County legend in Richie Power.

Despite shooting a brace of wides at the very start of the match, the visitors led by 0-2 to 0-1 after seven minutes, Cian Doyle and Conor Hearne pointing following Jason Malone’s fourth-minute opener at the other end. The Gaels’ first wide came in the tenth minute, but shortly afterwards 41-year-old Derek McNicholas cleverly found the net (after Malone’s effort for a point had come back off the upright).

Point exchanges ensued between Aaron Kinsella and McNicholas (a classy score), and Ross Banville (a free from the halfway line) and Aaron Kennedy (a blood sub for McNicholas). Two further Banville points (open play and a ‘65’ after Sean Keane Carroll had been blocked with a goal as his target) levelled the scoring at 0-6 to 1-3 with 18 minutes on the clock.

Marcus Kennedy and Conor Hearne traded points, as did the latter’s brother Paul and David Williams (a free, after some untypical misses earlier). Keane Carroll opened his account in the 28th minute leaving the Westmeath champions trailing by a point (0-9 to 1-5) approaching added-time. David Williams and Shane Williams soon spurned point chances from frees.

However, the ‘Yellow Bellies’ pounced for a brace of well-taken goals in injury-time via McNicholas (back after spending seven minutes getting treatment for a blood injury) and Marcus Kennedy (when picked out by David Williams). Joey Williams’ charges led by 3-5 to 0-9 at the interval and, understandably, they left the field to a great ovation.

Shelmaliers started the second half brightly and an unanswered 1-2 – the goal coming from Doyle in the 33rd minute after the Gaels had a chance to clear the sliotar, following on from points by Simon Donohoe and a Banville free – levelled the contest. A great goal chance for the Gaels was wasted, but David Williams tapped over a routine free and their cause was further helped in the 35th minute when the winners’ Paul Hearne picked up a second yellow card and was duly dismissed.

Shane Williams and sub Paddy Connors swapped points before the lively Doyle added to his tally with a point to tie up the scoring (1-13 to 3-7). In the 39th minute, Ryan Williams scored a wonderful goal out of nothing for the Westmeath champions and a shock win looked a distinct possibility.

A great sideline cut by Doyle reduced the deficit, but the underdogs replied with points from Marcus Kennedy and a long-range free by David Williams.

Tit-for-tat points followed from play between Banville and David Williams, Conor Hearne and Shane Williams, and from frees by David Williams (the sliotar moved forward for dissent) and Kinsella. McNicholas rifled over a sublime point to put Lough Lene Gaels ahead by five points (4-13 to 1-17) with eight minutes of normal time remaining.

However, a long-range free from Banville was added to from close range by sub Paddy Connors for a tonic goal in the 54th minute, the officials ruling out a possible ‘square ball’ offence after consulting. A brace of Banville frees levelled the contest before a minimum of three minutes’ added-time was announced.

In a welter of excitement, Aaron Kennedy nudged Lough Lene Gaels ahead on the stroke of the hour, but a free from Banville tied up the scoring and when the same player’s huge free dropped short with just seconds remaining, an alert Roche kept his composure to pop over the winning score to break the hearts of a wonderfully committed outfit in purple and gold.

Scorers – Shelmaliers: R Banville 0-9 (5f, 1‘65’), C Doyle 1-3 (0-1s/l), P Connors 1-1, C Hearne 0-3, S Donohoe, A Kinsella, J Roche, P Hearne, S Keane Carroll 0-1 each.

Lough Lene Gaels: D McNicholas 2-2, D Williams 0-5 (4f), M Kennedy 1-2, R Williams 1-0, A Kennedy, S Williams 0-2 each, J Malone 0-1.

Shelmaliers: Adam Howlin; Robbie Delaney, Aidan Cash, Jody Donohoe; Glen Malone, Simon Donohoe, James Cash; Conor Hearne, Aaron Kinsella; Joshua Roche, Ross Banville, Paul Hearne; Sean Keane Carroll, Joe Kelly, Cian Doyle. Subs: Paddy Connors for Kelly (32), Luke Roche for Kinsella (45).

Lough Lene Gaels: Noel Conaty; Daire Daly, Jason Malone, Micheal Daly; Philip Reilly, John Egan, Tommy Doyle; Brendan Doyle, Shane Williams; Conor McCrossan, David Williams, Eoin Daly; Ryan Williams, Derek McNicholas, Marcus Kennedy. Subs: Aaron Kennedy for McNicholas (blood, 16 – 23), Aaron Kennedy for Malone (49), Daragh Qamar for B Doyle (56).

Ref: Chris Mooney (Dublin).