Kennedy’s brace fires Gaels to top-flight success
Westmeath Division 1 Hurling League final: Lough Lene Gaels 2-12, Castletown-Geoghegan 0-13
Gerry Buckley reports
Lough Lene Gaels gave their prospects of a rare Westmeath Examiner Cup success a timely boost by edging out one of the perceived ‘big three’, albeit an understrength Castletown-Geoghegan outfit, in a Division 1 league final in TEG Cusack Park yesterday evening which started brightly but faded somewhat in standard as the hour progressed.
The ‘Yellow Bellies’ could not have dreamed of getting off to a better start, Brendan Doyle feeding Marcus Kennedy who found the net after just 19 seconds. However, Alan Mangan’s wind-assisted charges quickly responded with a point apiece from Jack Gallagher (a free) and Joe Clarke (open play).
The impressive Eoin Daly and Gallagher (another free) traded points, as did Daly again and Clarke, to leave the Gaels ahead by 1-2 to 0-4 with ten minutes elapsed.
Both goalies were called into action to good effect before Castletown edged ahead with points from Dean Slevin (a superb sideline cut), and from play by Morgan Gavigan and David O’Reilly (both from tight angles).
A David Williams free was cancelled out by a fine point from play from Pauric Kane before Daly completed a delightful points’ hat-trick in added-time. Castletown-Geoghegan led by 0-8 to 1-4 at the interval.
On the change of ends, they stretched their advantage with unanswered points from the sticks of O’Reilly and Conor Lynch (a ‘65’ following what was almost a bizarre own goal).
However, two classy points from Westmeath star Derek McNicholas (who had spent almost 20 minutes in ‘casualty’ before resuming for the second half), either side of Kennedy’s second outstanding three-pointer in the 37th minute, turned the tide in favour of the team under the joint-tutelage of Brian Conaty and Martin Williams.
The men in the famous black and amber jerseys replied with a Gallagher hat-trick (two frees and a neat finish from play) to edge ahead (0-13 to 2-6) early in the final quarter.
But they failed to add to their tally in the closing stages as Lough Lene Gaels eked out a significant win by scoring six points, courtesy of McNicholas (three quality scores, the second of them from a long-range free), Shane Williams and David Williams (two - a routine free and a ‘65’on the hour mark, after Kieran Glennon had saved smartly from sub Jordie Williams).
After the match, Frank Mescall, the Westmeath County Board chairman, presented the cup to the winning captain, Micheal Daly.
Scorers – Lough Lene Gaels: M Kennedy 2-0, D McNicholas 0-5 (1f), D Williams (2f, 1‘65’) and E Daly 0-3 each, S Williams 0-1. Castletown-Geoghegan: J Gallagher 0-5 (4f), J Clarke and D O’Reilly 0-2 each, P Kane, C Lynch (‘65’), D Slevin (s/l) and M Gavigan 0-1 each.
Lough Lene Gaels: Noel Conaty; Darragh Qamar, Tommy Doyle, Kevin Hogan; Aaron Hill, Micheal Daly, Warren Williams; Philip Reilly, Derek McNicholas; Thomas Kennedy, Eoin Daly, Brendan Doyle; David Williams, Shane Williams, Marcus Kennedy. Subs used: Aaron Kennedy for McNicholas (blood, 14 to h/t), Aaron Kennedy for T Kennedy (50), Daire Daly for Qamar (52), Jordie Williams for Reilly (57).
Castletown-Geoghegan: Kieran Glennon; Eamonn Óg Clarke, Johnny Bermingham, Pauric Kane; Aonghus Clarke, Conor Kane, Mick Heeney; Plunkett Maxwell, Conor Murphy; Joe Clarke, Conor Lynch, Dean Slevin; David O’Reilly, Morgan Gavigan, Jack Gallagher. Subs used: Fergal O’Brien for Lynch (45), Eoin Kiernan for Slevin (57), Brendan Heeney for Murphy (57).
Ref: Alfie Devine (Castlepollard).