McCormack goal gives CFCW the platform for victory

CFCW 2-9, St Joseph's 2-4

Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall (CFCW) emerged victorious in challenging conditions at TEG Cusack Park on Sunday in the Westmeath Junior Football Championship final, overcoming St Joseph’s by five points.

Despite trailing at half-time, CFCW’s experience and strong second-half performance secured the Hugh Daniels Cup for the second time in three years. Relegated from the intermediate grade only last year, Michael Tynan’s charges were determined to make an instant return to the higher grade and they were worthy winners here after controlling much of the game.

St Joseph’s trailed by six points after 22 minutes but showed great character to bounce back and set up an intriguing second half. Once the outstanding Darragh McCormack found the net in the 39th minute, CFCW were on their way to victory and in truth, they never really looked in danger of losing thereafter, despite the best efforts of a spirited St Joseph’s side.

Playing with the aid of a fierce wind in the first half, St Joseph’s took a slender advantage into the break, leading by 2-3 to 1-4. CFCW, however, dominated the second half as the elements swung in their favour, allowing them to control the pace of the game and outscore the Streamstown men by 1-5 to 0-1.

It was a game marred by poor weather and both sides struggled to create chances against the strong, gusting wind.

The opening stages of this final saw CFCW take control early, with John McCarthy and Joe Rabbitt both scoring points within six minutes, as St Joseph's struggled to deal with the pressure. CFCW were unlucky not to add to their lead when a goal-line scramble kept them out, with St Joseph’s forced to clear the ball in desperation.

In the 16th minute, St Joseph’s had a clear goal chance, but Luke Moore made a heroic block on Dean Slevin’s shot, injuring himself in the process. Ryan Plunkett added a point from a free for CFCW shortly after, putting them 0-3 to no score ahead.

St Joseph’s finally got on the scoreboard in the 20th minute with a mark from Jordan McDonnell. CFCW responded swiftly, with McCarthy pointing again after Aidan Lennon made a great save to deny Darren Kilcoyne. The crucial breakthrough came in the 22nd minute, as Mark Cunningham netted for CFCW after fine build-up play involving Kilcoyne, Plunkett, and Allan Devine.

A resurgent St Joseph’s side fought back with a free from McDonnell followed by a fisted goal by Ross Elliffe when McDonnell’s free dropped in the danger area. Mikey Lynam shot a superb long-range point. In added time at the end of the half, they struck for a second goal. A quickly taken free by Andy Conway set up a move that saw McDonnell drive a low shot past Gary Sullivan, leaving St Joseph’s with a two-point lead at half-time.

However, with the strong wind now in their favour, CFCW came out firing in the second half. Early pressure saw St Joseph’s scrambling to clear a goal chance, but a foul gave CFCW a free, and Rabbitt converted the point. CFCW’s dominance continued, and in the eighth minute, Darragh McCormack scored a vital goal after a Devine pass put him through, restoring the lead for CFCW.

Substitute Donald Moore added a point, followed by a fine score from Glen Plunkett, who made it 2-7 to 2-3. St Joseph’s struggled to cope against the wind, going nearly the entire second half without a score until Mikey Lynam pointed from a 13-metre free in the 27th minute. However, CFCW responded with two late scores to seal the victory, Rabbitt firing over after Moore’s assist, and Ryan Plunkett adding the final score from a free.

The experience of CFCW proved decisive in the challenging conditions, while St Joseph’s, in their first junior final in 20 years, showed plenty of promise but were ultimately outdone by their more seasoned opponents.

After the game, Frank Mescall, Westmeath GAA Chairman, together with sponsor Kieran Clarke of Clarke’s Bar, presented the Hugh Daniels Cup to CFCW captain Darragh O'Reilly, who gave a memorable speech. Scenes of joy followed as CFCW celebrated a hard-earned victory. St Joseph’s youthful side will take valuable lessons from the experience as they bid to win promotion next year and they are among the contenders.

Scorers - CFCW: M Cunningham and D McCormack 1-0 each, J Rabbitt 0-3 (2f), R Plunkett (2f) and J McCarthy 0-2 each, D Moore and G Plunkett 0-1 each.

St Joseph’s: J McDonnell 1-2 (0-1m; 0-1f), R Elliffe 1-0, M Lynam 0-2 (1f).

CFCW: Gary Sullivan; Glen Plunkett, Darragh O’Reilly, Conor O’Grady; Emmet Corrigan, Ryan Moore, Conor Gaffney; Luke Moore, Darren Kilcoyne; Darragh McCormack, John McCarthy, Mark Cunningham; Ryan Plunkett, Joe Rabbitt, Allan Devine. Sub: Donald Moore for Kilcoyne (inj., HT).

St Joseph’s: Aidan Lennon; Thomas Conlon, Andy Conway, Brian Fitzgerald; Ben McDonnell, Jake Gannon, Brian Keegan; Noah McDonnell, Mikey Lynam; Aaron McDonnell, Dylan McDonnell, Andy Scally; Dean Slevin, Ross Elliffe, Jordan McDonnell. Subs: Alan Conlon for Slevin and Daniel Keegan for A McDonnell (36), Pearse Weir Norris for N McDonnell (44), Niall Moran for J McDonnell (inj., 50).

Ref: Ken Gunning (St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge).