Second half rout sees Raharney progress

A masterful second half display from Raharney demolished St. Oliver Plunketts" hopes of being the first Mullingar town team to qualify for a Westmeath senior hurling final since 1967, as the Blues came out on top in last Saturday evening"s semi-final replay at Cusack Park.There were great hopes in the St. Oliver Plunketts camp following the previous week"s stoppage time endeavours, and they looked poised to upstage Raharney when the hero of the first outing, Sean O"Leary, goaled for the Mullingar men shortly after half time.But Raharney - who had led 0-10 to 1-5 at the interval - oozed class and big-game experience, with John Shaw, Brian Smyth and the magnificent Francis Boyle coming up with the important scores to record a flattering nine-point win for Eamon Gallagher"s charges.Smyth was the centre of attention last week, but in the replay, all the plaudits fell on dual player Boyle, who notched up five points and was a constant thorn in the side for Eddie Casey"s troops.For St. Oliver Plunketts, it"s back to the drawing board, and time to once again reflect on what might have been. You can"t help but sympathise with the Mullingar men, who have lost out yet again at the penultimate phase, and if last Saturday week"s dramatic 1-12 to 2-9 draw had gone their way, who knows where it might have led.But it"s Raharney who will face Clonkill in the forthcoming decider, in what many will argue will be a clash between the county"s top two hurling teams. If the Blues hope to emulate the success of 2006, then last Saturday"s achievement will stand them in good stead against the holders.John Shaw pucked Raharney into an early lead after thirty seconds, dropping over a free from the left corner after a foul on Brian Smyth. Over a minute later, Cian O"Leary equalised with a free at the other end, but Francis Boyle cancelled out the effort with the game"s first point from play.Just before Boyle"s point had the effect of settling Raharney, Plunketts had the sliothar in the back of the net. A free from O"Leary found Ciarán Curley in space, and he set up Kieran Gavin - Plunketts" two-point impact sub in the first match.Hurling is a secondary sport for the county"s established full-back, but he showed maturity with a camán when he latched on to Curley"s pass, turned his marker and fired a difficult shot to Jimmy Greville"s net.Gavin"s goal buoyed Plunketts, and another O"Leary free put them a goal ahead. Brian Connaughton replied by converting a 65m award for the Blues, but Noel Gavin restored the advantage with a terrific distance point.However, by the midway point of the first half, Raharney were on level terms. John Shaw showed how important he is to the Deelsiders with points either side of a 30 metre score from Brian Smyth. Shaw"s second effort - the equaliser - demonstrated the range from which he is capable of scoring.St. Oliver Plunketts continued to rely on frees from Cian O"Leary, and he converted another to put the Mullingar side"s noses in front again.Raharney should have grabbed their first goal of the game on 18 minutes, when referee James McGrath awarded them a penalty after Brendan McKeogh was brought down by Plunketts" netminder, Peter Collins (who was yellow-carded as a result). But Brian Connaughton crashed the crucial puck off the crossbar, and Plunketts cleared their lines.John Shaw made it 1-4 to 0-7 moments later, pointing despite the best efforts of Dermot Curley to block his shot. On 23, Niall Flanagan shot over from distance to hand Raharney their first lead since the fourth minute.Plunketts introduced Govinda Geoghegan in place of Eoin O"Meara, but cracks were beginning to appear up front, as it became uncertain as to how they would master an Raharney astute Raharney defence.But the Raharney scoring machine continued to deliver, with Brian Smyth brilliantly controlling a high pass before turning to take his second point of the game.Noel Gavin kept Plunketts in touch with a 50m shot, after being gifted his chance by a wayward pass out of the Raharney defence. But Smyth had the final say of the half, keeping his balance in the left corner to strike a lovely shot off the upright, and the over the bar.PanicWith a minute gone after the restart, Plunketts went into panic stations when John Shaw burst through their defence, only to have his shot saved by Peter Collins. There is no question that had Shaw found the net, it would have been over earlier for the men in green and white.But on 33 minutes, they had reason to celebrate. Plunketts have learned that they can always rely on Sean O"Leary when in a tight spot, and he had an immediate impact when moved further outfield, making a determined push through the Raharney full-back line after picking up a loose ball. He lost control of the sliothar, but swept it into the net amidst of a forest of Raharney players.Leading 2-5 to 0-10, Plunketts should have had the momentum to make life hell for Raharney in the second half. But after the goal celebrations died down, the Mullingar men simply crumbled in the face of Raharney"s front six.Francis Boyle kicked off the comeback trail on 35 with an excellent score from the right win, before a minor from Alan Giles and a John Shaw free cancelled out Plunketts" second goal.Brian Connaughton proved to be an ace in the pack for the Deelsiders, increasing their lead to four (0-15 to 2-5) with a free from the halfway line, and another 65m award.On 47, two Plunketts" substitutes came to the fore when Govinda Geoghegan played a dangerous ball across the face of the Raharney goal. But James Coyle - who entered the fray in place of Aidan Lyons moments beforehand - couldn"t connect with the lofty pass.Raharney countered immediately, and Francis Boyle - who owned the final quarter - pointed to extend the Blues" lead to five. The Mullingar side"s frustration was evident, and in the mean time corner forward Stephen McManus became the second player to receive a yellow card.Raharney bossed the final ten minutes, and their class was underlined by Christopher Flanagan, who found his range with a terrific score from the left wing on 53. Two minutes later, man of the match Boyle added his fourth point of the evening, before being promptly set up for his fifth by a goalbound Brendan McKeogh.As stoppage time began, Brian Connaughton shot over Raharney"s twentieth point with his third 65m puck, and while Plunketts spent the dying moments searching for a goal, it was too little, too late for the Mullingar men.Scorers: Raharney - J. Shaw (2 frees) and F. Boyle 0-5 each, B. Connaughton 0-4 (3 65m awards, 1 free), B.Smyth 0-3, N. Flanagan, A. Giles and C. Flanagan 0-1 each. St. Oliver Plunketts - K. Gavin and S. O"Leary 1-0 each, C. O"Leary 0-3 (frees), N. Gavin 0-2.Raharney: Jimmy Greville; Peter Mullen, Paul Greville, John Greville; Tony Doyle, Conor Jordan, Alan Giles; Niall Flanagan, Brian Connaughton; Francis Boyle, John Shaw, Christopher Flanagan; Daniel Riggs, Brian Smyth, Brendan McKeogh. Subs used: Padraig Connaughton for Riggs (37), David Flanagan for Mullen (56).St. Oliver Plunketts: Peter Collins; Damien Kiernan, Sean O"Leary, Oisín Clinton; Greg Gavin, Dermot Curley, Clive Kenny; Ciarán Curley, Noel Gavin; Conaire Flanagan, Cian O"Leary, Eoin O"Meara; Aidan Lyons, Kieran Gavin, Stephen McManus. Subs used: Govinda Geoghegan for O"Meara (27), James Coyle for Lyons (44).Referee: James McGrath (Turin).