Athlone edge out Garrycastle in tense battle
Athlone 0-10 Garrycastle 1-5
In an incredibly tense battle, Athlone edged out neighbours Garrycastle at Tubberclair on Saturday evening - and the narrow victory was enough to send the winners into the Westmeath SFC knockout stages.
Garrycastle went into this local derby already relegated to the intermediate grade, while Athlone needed to win and hope that Moate All Whites would be unable to beat Mullingar Shamrocks in their simultaneous contest.
Any notion that Garrycastle wouldn’t be up for the game on the basis that they had nothing tangible to play for was quickly dispelled.
Garrycastle certainly made their local rivals earn their victory and with Moate losing out to Shamrocks by three points (0-13 to 0-10), it proved enough for Athlone to advance to the quarter-finals.
Things had looked fairly bleak for Athlone when they trailed by four points at half-time, having scored just two points in the opening half.
Athlone achieved the vital victory despite missing injured Westmeath star Ray Connellan, while Eoin Mulvihill was a conspicuous absentee on the Garrycastle team.
In a particularly low scoring first half, James Sheerin's well taken goal at the end of a flowing move set Garrycastle up for a half-time lead of 1-3 to 0-2. Sheerin also scored a point during the opening half, with Cathal Mannion raising two white flags (one free) for the men in green and red.
Remarkably, Athlone didn't open their account until the 24th minute when the impressive Eamon Martin pointed in style, and the same player added another in stoppage time.
With the experienced John Gaffey an inspiring figure in the Garrycastle defence and Mark McCallon also to the fore, Athlone were still struggling to make attacking inroads in the third quarter.
Eoin Monaghan's superb point added to Garrycastle’s lead, before frees from Noel Mulligan (a long-range effort from the influential defender) and Cillian Lynn edged Athlone closer.
A key moment arrived in the 47th minute when Cathal Mannion was sent off after a high challenge on Athlone’s Shane Allen. It was an uncharacteristic challenge from Mannion and one that left referee Damien Maher with little option but to issue a straight red card. The referee had been lenient regarding cards earlier and players on both sides continued to push the boundaries.
With an extra man and an apparent edge in the fitness stakes, Athlone finished stronger. Points from Lynn (a free), Kieran Colclough and substitute Johnny Martin levelled matters by the 54th minute.
Lynn put Athlone in front for the first time in the 58th minute, before the energetic Conor Rushe (a mark) put the men in blue and white two ahead.
As the game moved into a lengthy period of stoppage time, a point from substitute Ben Donegan boosted Garrycastle's hopes of at least salvaging a draw.
The tension was almost unbearable for both sets of supporters, but Colclough kept his composure to steer over the insurance point after terrific work from the irrepressible Rushe.
And with confirmation coming through of Mullingar Shamrocks’ victory over Moate, Athlone’s first senior championship win over Garrycastle in several years also secured their passage into the quarter-finals. The win also means Athlone are set to compete in Section A of the championship next year.
Although Athlone, Shamrocks and Shandonagh all finished on six points, the Shannonsiders progress as they topped the 'mini table' involving those three teams, having defeated both of the others. Had Moate won their game in The Downs, they would have gone through on scoring difference.
In advance of the last round, Tang were already through to the knockout stages, and they still finished top of the group despite their narrow defeat to Shandonagh (1-12 to 1-11) at TEG Cusack Park.
Scorers - Athlone: C Lynn 0-3 (2f); E Martin and K Colclough 0-2 each; J Martin, C Rushe (mark) and N Mulligan (f) 0-1 each. Garrycastle: J Sheerin 1-1; C Mannion 0-2 (1f); E Monaghan and B Donegan 0-1 each.
Athlone: Darren Costello; James Finlass, Noel Mulligan, Patrick Ryan; Shane Allen, Diarmuid Martin, Kieran Colclough; John Stapleton, Ben Killian; Conor Rushe, Donagh Prendergast, Eamon Martin; Cillian Lynn, Kian Mitchell, Benny Martin. Subs used: Sean Dowd, Matt Scally, Johnny Martin, Owen McNamara.
Garrycastle: Sean Brennan; Fergal McKiernan, Jack Donohue, Mark McCallon; James Dolan, John Gaffey, Gary McCallon; Justin Barrett, Conor McKiernan; Rory McGowan, Eoin Monaghan, Doron Harte; Cathal Mannion, James Sheerin, Jason Nugent. Subs used: Neal Rattigan, Ben Donegan, Ciaran O'Neill, Bill Kelly.
Referee: Damien Maher (Ballynacargy).
*See next week's paper for more on this weekend's Westmeath club championship action.