Southern Gaels end year with silverware after winning derby duel

Southern Gaels 0-12 Fr Dalton's 0-11

By Eamon A. Donoghue

Southern Gaels did enough to pip their South Westmeath rivals Fr Dalton’s to win the Junior ‘B’ hurling championship final at Páirc Chiaráin under floodlights recently.

This final was put back twice and was finally played two days before Christmas Day, but still the contest didn’t disappoint. Although scores were scarce for a hurling game and the lighting could have been brighter, there were plenty of moments of skill on display to light up the occasion.

With intermediate clubs having to name ten players at the start of the year, there were a number of Southern Gaels players from their intermediate side available that lined out in this junior ‘B’ final. Those players were the difference and it was enough to get them over the line. The introduction of Chulainn O’Dowd and Eamon Martin, both regular first team players, swayed the game in the Athlone based side’s favour.

Scores were shared for the first 20 minutes. John Tumelty, Colm O’Roarke and Enda Kincaid were on target for the Ballymore based side, while Dermot Treacy and Cian McCarthy floated over scores for Southern Gaels.

For the first time in the game, there was more than the bare minimum separating the teams, as scores from McCarthy and Johnny Martin put their side 0-5 to 0-3 in the ascendancy by the 27th minute. Kincaid from a free had the bare minimum separating them again at half-time, with the score reading Southern Gaels 0-5 Fr Dalton’s 0-4.

The scores were tied in the 36th minute at 0-6 each, with a draw and extra-time very much in the pipeline at that stage.

Then Southern Gaels put daylight between the teams. For the first time in the game, there were three scores between them as substitutes Eamon Martin and Chulainn O’Dowd scored and Treacy added his second. Leading 0-9 to 0-6 in the 48th minute, the hosts were looking the stronger side.

But Fr Dalton’s proved a resolute group on the evening as they dug in and cut the arrears to the minimum again. Kincaid and Ronan McLoughlin were the scorers. It was Southern Gaels 0-9 Fr Dalton’s 0-8 in the 51st minute.

Again, the game became something of a stalemate with score for score shared, but Southern Gaels held onto that one-point lead when the final whistle blew, with Johnny Martin’s second point proving vital in securing victory.

Fr Dalton’s had two chances to bring the game to extra time, but Kincaid’s free was deflected out for a 65’ and then Tumelty’s attempt from the 65’ went wide and with that came the final whistle.

Fr Dalton’s just couldn’t get their noses in front in the second half. They were actually the more efficient side when it came to shooting, but they didn’t have enough possession in the game. Overall, the Ballymore-based club had a good year, winning both the senior B championship and the Division 2 minor title.

Southern Gaels had the majority of possession in this final, they had 14 wides and if they had been more efficient, they would have won by a bigger margin.

This victory makes up somewhat for their loss in the intermediate championship final and their defeat to Fr Dalton’s in the Division 2 minor final. They are in a good place to challenge for the intermediate championship in 2025 and move up the ranks of Westmeath hurling.

Player of the match: Johnny Martin (Southern Gaels). Chulainn O’Dowd and Eamon Martin made huge contributions after they were introduced. Dermot Treacy and Diarmaid Murtagh both put in big shifts. But Johnny Martin was a constant threat inside and got some crucial scores. Brian Finerty, Enda Kincaid and Robert English were best for Fr Dalton’s.

Scorers - Southern Gaels: C O’Dowd 0-4 (3f), D Treacy 0-3, J Martin 0-2, C McCarthy 0-2 (2f), E Martin 0-1. Fr Dalton’s: E Kincaid 0-3 (1f), J Tumelty and B Finerty 0-2 each, C O’Roarke, C Molloy, R English and R McLoughlin 0-1 each.

Southern Gaels: Cian Geary; Graham Houlihan, Paul Hogan, Evan Farrell; Jamie Anders, Cian McCarthy, Diarmaid Murtagh; Luke O’Connell, Dermot Treacy; Maurice Fitzgerald, MJ Kelly, Seán Murphy; Johnny Martin, Fionn Dowd, Seamus Hoctor. Subs: Eamon Martin for Kelly (half-time), Chulainn Dowd for Hoctor (h-t); Kevin Dolan for McCarthy (h-t); Eoin Hardiman for Murphy (55), Neal Rattigan for Fitzgerald (55).

Fr Dalton’s: Seán McCabe; Oisin Ryan, Kenneth Kincaid, Luke Smyth; Colm O’Roarke, Ronan Hanley, Conor McNeill; Ronan McLoughlin, Patrick Clear; Enda Kincaid, Robert English, Conor Molloy; Brian Finerty, John Tumelty, Colm Seery. Subs: Dylan Murtagh for Clear (10 mins); Patrick Clear for Seery (40).

Referee: Pat Fox (Rosemount).