'I have a golfing holiday booked next weekend - I didn’t want a replay'

Raharney goal scoring hero Killian Doyle said he and his colleagues were thrilled to win last Sunday’s Westmeath senior ‘A’ hurling final against Lough Lene Gaels.

“It’s just one of those scores you dream of getting. I’m genuinely so happy to win it. The work that the players have put in all year has been great, night after night. It’s just reward for that effort. Unfortunately for Lough Lene Gaels, that is sport and it’s not over until the final whistle. We are over the moon to win this championship,” he beamed.

Asked about that late goal he recalled: “I was actually joking to the lads on Iarmhí TV, saying I have a golfing holiday booked next weekend, so I didn’t want a replay: I said I better go for the goal!

"It just opened up nicely; it probably would have been a point (ordinarily), but I just thought what not? Ciaran (his twin brother, who delivered the final pass) had a great game and a lot of lads played well. It was a wonderful final, overall.”

Doyle was relieved Raharney held on after scoring that late goal, with the Gaels subsequently hitting the post with an effort.

“I was right behind Derek McNicholas when he went for that goal with the late free and I saw it come off the post. We would have been sickened had that gone in and it could easily be Derek here now talking to you!

"But it has been a terrific championship. We lost our first game and we’re here now as champions; it shows you just have to keep grinding it out,” he said.

Doyle said they will now focus on Leinster and a clash against the Dublin winners in November.

“We didn’t do ourselves justice in the Leinster club championship two years ago so we will be determined to put that right, but for now we will celebrate this victory.”

Greville thrilled

Winning captain, Robbie Greville paid tribute to the quality of Killian Doyle’s strike which ultimately gave them victory.

“Hurling is not finished until the very last puck of the game and when you give Killian Doyle a free shot 25 metres out from goal, there’s only going to be one outcome. It was a great finish and we’re delighted to get over the line,” he said.

Asked what he was thinking as Lough Lene Gaels held a two-point lead with the game ticking into injury-time, Greville admitted time was against his side.

“What was going through my mind is, ‘how is there only a minute added?’ I thought there was a lot more time to be played. But then I was thankful when we got the goal,” he remarked.

Greville follows his older brothers Johnny and Paul as a successful Raharney captain and admitted it was a proud day for his family as well as all in the Raharney club. He feels they now need to focus on fine tuning their scoring game ahead of the provincial series.

“We didn’t take our chances in the first half and 'Jogger' (Tommy Doyle) caused us untold hassle on the wing. They got scores through Eoin Daly and Jogger (second half), whereas we missed our chances,” he noted.

“We are not taking our chances and that is a bit of a recurring theme all year. That gives the opposition impetus to just push on, gives them more hope. It’s something we have to work on.”

He was thrilled that Raharney has chalked up another senior title.

“Fifteen titles is massive, but we are a club for 120 years and we will relish every title. We will prepare for the Leinster championship now and give it our best shot,” he added.