Dominant Castletown Geoghegan outfit cruise to second victory

Castletown Geogehgan 3-24, Raharney 1-11

Two of the leading hurling clubs in Westmeath met in the U19 Hurling Championship at Joristown Park, Raharney last Thursday and it was Castletown Geoghegan who emerged emphatic winners against the hosts after an impressive display.

Remarkably, Raharney led in this game after five minutes, but in the following 25 minutes, they were outscored by 2-12 to 0-3 by their impressive opponents. At the interval it was 2-14 to 0-5 and Raharney faced the proverbial mountain; they were more competitive in the second half but in truth, the outcome had been well and truly decided long before Adam Cassidy pounced for his third goal in the 54th minute.

On a damp evening with greasy underfoot conditions, Castletown Geoghegan dominated proceedings to secure their second win of the campaign and were five points clear at the end of the opening quarter. Already a trend was emerging as they controlled possession and county player Peter Clarke chalked up five of their seven scores, including 0-4 from placed balls.

Winston Larkin and Cormac McKeogh kept the Raharney flag flying with points from play, while free-taker Joe Mulvaney converted in the 18th minute to keep them in contention (0-3 to 0-7). However, Castletown Geoghegan notched a quickfire 1-3 in the next four minutes: the goal came from Adam Cassidy whose low strike beat the opposing ‘keeper, while Clarke (free), Shane Corcoran and David O’Reilly each struck over points.

After another Mulvaney free, the Raharney defence was breached for a second time with Clarke finding Cassidy, who fired home from close-range. Full forward Caolán Ready got free for a Raharney point in response, but Peter Murphy, Sean Jackson, Cassidy and Clarke (‘65’) added a further four minors for a rampant Castletown Geoghegan side, who were 15 points clear at the interval.

Raharney did have a goal chance late on, but James Staunton’s whipped effort flashed wide of the target.

OPPORTUNISTIC

A fine hook by defender David Maloney denied Raharney’s Cormac McKeogh and goal early in the second half, but Mulvaney did notch a point for the home side. And the Deelsiders continued to show renewed drive as Mulvaney’s quickly-taken free caught the leaders napping, leading to Ready scoring a much-needed goal.

Castletown Geoghegan did readjust very quickly and got the next three scores to lead by 2-19 to 1-7, the pick of which was a long-distance strike from Clarke. When Mulvaney shot for goal from a free, the door was quickly shut by the Castletown Geoghegan defence and excellent work by wing back Dylan Corrigan led to a point for Jackson.

As the substitutions rolled on, Castletown Geoghegan got in for a third goal, Conor Maloney’s shot leading to a chance for the opportunistic Cassidy, who ghosted in to complete his hat-trick and ensure a comprehensive victory. Having won three minor titles with this talented crop of players, Castletown Geoghegan look quite formidable at this level.

Scorers - Castletown Geoghegan: A Cassidy 3-1, P Clarke 0-8 (5f; 1 ‘65’), D O’Reilly 0-5, S Jackson 0-4 (1f), P Murphy 0-3 (1f), S Corcoran 0-2, A Clarke 0-1. Raharney: J Mulvaney 0-5 (4f), C Ready 1-1, C McKeogh 0-2, J Larkin, S McGee and W Larkin 0-1 each.

Castletown Geoghegan: Sean Clarke; Daniel Keegan, David Maloney, Dylan Drake; Dylan Corrigan, Odhrán Gavigan, Eoin Robinson; Sean Jackson, Peter Clarke; Shane Corcoran, David O’Reilly, Adam Clarke; Adam Cassidy, Peter Murphy, Andrew Dalton. Subs: Aaron Jackson for Corcoran (50), Eanna Maxwell for Drake (51), Conor Mulvaney for P Murphy (52), D Drake for P Clarke (inj., 52), Shane Maloney for Cassidy (56).

Raharney: Mark Doherty; Ryan Murphy, Matt Shaw, Fionan Reilly; Aaron Flanagan, Dylan Duffy, Sean McGee; Cian Weir, Jack Larkin; Joe Mulvaney, Winston Larkin, Cormac McKeogh; James Staunton, Caolán Ready, Ciaran Kavanagh. Subs: Eoin Goonery for Ready (49), Ciaran Farrell for W Larkin (50), Mikie Duffy for Reilly (52), Adam Smith for Kavanagh (52), Tiernan Carty for Staunton (53).

Ref: Alfie Devine (Castlepollard).