Powerful second half display eases Garrycastle into intermediate final

Garrycastle 2-19 Multyfarnham 2-4

Outscoring Multyfarnham by a remarkable 2-13 to 1-0 in a very impressive second half display, pre-championship favourites Garrycastle moved one step closer to an immediate return to the senior ranks of Westmeath football with a facile intermediate championship semi-final win in TEG Cusack Park last Sunday afternoon.

Multy were new to this relatively high level of football after years in the lower ranks, while the South Westmeath men were also new for the polar opposite reason after being a major force in the Flanagan Cup for over two decades. As it transpired, the vast experience of many of the green and red-clad players was a major factor in their very comfortable win, thereby setting up a mouth-watering final against Milltown on October 20.

The very unpleasant weather in Mullingar leading up to throw-in time had thankfully moved on, making conditions quite conducive to good football. A well-supported and wind-assisted Multyfarnham side gave their fans lots to cheer about in the opening stages and, showing no signs of big match nerves, they raced into a three-point lead by the 11th minute courtesy of scores from Mark Reynolds (after a trademark run by Ronan Wallace), Adam Bate (from a tight angle), and Reynolds again (at the end of a patient move).

However, Garrycastle were on level terms by the 17th minute via points from the boots of Conor Cosgrove, Eoin Monaghan and James Dolan (a fly-kicked shot which could easily have been a goal after Craig Sweeney had slapped away a Michael Monaghan shot). Wallace then almost goaled fortuitously from long-range with Sean Brennan injuring himself as he deflected the ball against the post.

Another incisive run by Wallace led to the game’s first goal in the 22nd minute when Louis Greene was on hand to slap the ball to the net from point-blank range.

The side under the tutelage of Karl Henson and Gary Dolan cancelled out this three-pointer between the 23rd and 30th minutes with scores from Mark McCallon (at the end of a patient move), Eoin Mulvihill (moments after Michael Monaghan had come close to finding the net at the same end), and Eoin Monaghan (when a goal beckoned). In added time, a routine free conversion by Wallace (moved closer to the target for dissent) left the men in maroon and white ahead by 1-4 to 0-6 at the interval.

Eoin Monaghan’s shot came back off the butt of the post exactly a minute after play resumed. His brother Michael tapped over a free some two minutes later after Stephen Sweeney had been penalised for passing the ball to himself.

A trip on goalbound Jason Nugent resulted in a penalty which Cosgrove converted with aplomb in the 34th minute, but the side jointly-managed by Darren Rigney and Graeme Corcoran responded in the best possible fashion with a wonderful goal from Anthony McGivney, who was twice involved in a move which ended with a superb low finish past Brennan.

However, that 39th-minute equalising goal proved to be the last time that the maroon and white-clad outfit would trouble the scoreboard operator, as the Peter Geraghty Cup favourites took over in virtually every section of the pitch and produced some wonderful football in the process.

Points ensued at the Dunnes Stores end from Michael Monaghan, Brennan (a ‘45’ via the fingers of his opposite number Craig Sweeney), sub Ben Donegan, and Michael Monaghan (a difficult free) before any lingering doubt about the outcome was removed in the 47th minute when Mulvihill did very well to set up recently-retired Westmeath inter-county star Dolan for a tap-in finish.

A procession of points followed, many of them of a high quality. The winners scored eight more times before the final whistle brought relief to Multy, who will still be delighted with what was a very progressive campaign overall. The scorers were Michael Monaghan (two – the first a low-trajectory score and the second a thing of real beauty in the 57th minute), Andrew Monaghan (from long range), Mulvihill (availing of great skill by Donegan), Dolan (two fine efforts), James Sheerin (within seconds of his introduction), and another sub Jamie Carroll.

Bate had come closest to a consolation score for Multy in the 59th minute when his angled shot hit the side netting.

Man of the match: Michael Monaghan (Garrycastle). His five-point haul included a hat-trick of classy points from open play, none more so than a fabulous score in the 57th minute.

Scorers – Garrycastle: J Dolan 1-3, M Monaghan 0-5 (2f), C Cosgrove 1-1 (1-0 pen), E Mulvihill, E Monaghan 0-2 each, S Brennan (‘45’), M McCallon, A Monaghan, J Carroll, J Sheerin, B Donegan 0-1 each. Multyfarnham: A McGivney, L Greene 1-0 each, M Reynolds 0-2, R Wallace (f), A Bate 0-1 each.

Garrycastle: Sean Brennan; Jack Mulvihill, Jack Donohoe, Gary McCallon; James Dolan, Mark McCallon, Mattie Guiheen; Eoin Mulvihill, Conor McKiernan; Michael Monaghan, Andrew Monaghan, Jason Nugent; Cathal Mannion, Eoin Monaghan, Conor Cosgrove. Subs used: Rory McGowan for McKiernan (23), Ben Donegan for E Monaghan (38), Jamie Carroll for Nugent (53), John Gaffey for Cosgrove (55), James Sheerin for Mannion (58).

Multyfarnham: Craig Sweeney; Ronan Greene, Feichin Brennan, Aaron Whelan; Niall McDermott, Ronan Wallace, Adam Bate; Cian Lee, James Greene; Gareth Mulaniff, Anthony McGivney, Stephen Sweeney; Jude Auld, Louis Greene, Mark Reynolds. Subs used: Jamie Coffey for Whelan (23), Ian McGovern for Mulaniff (39), CJ Tighe for L Greene (53).

Referee: Barry Nea (Killucan).