Black and Ambers condemn Brownstown

It was a winner takes all showdown between Castletown-Geoghegan and Brownstown to see who would remain in the title race and who would face the indignity of relegation.This contest promised much but by the time referee Mick Mannion blew the final whistle it had disintegrated into a very one sided affair indeed with Castletown calling on all their experience to overwhelm a young and not quite streetwise Clonmellon outfit. They did so with a brand of hurling that was easy to watch in its simplicity of execution and but for brief spells in the opening half they were completely dominant in virtually every position on the field.Brownstown for their part never reached the standard that they have shown in previous games and their never say die spirit simply abandoned them on Sunday as Castletown steam rollered their way to a quarter-final spot. This was vintage Castletown as their older players turned back the clock while the younger ones stepped up to the mark for the first time and when they were in free flowing mood they were a joy to behold. Joe Clarke led the line in sparkling fashion and his incisive running and distribution cut open a very beleaguered Brownstown defence time and again while Derek Gallagher and Keith Gorry rolled back the years somewhat with vintage displays that reminded one of more successful times for the Black and Ambers. The result certainly does not flatter the winners and they are beginning to hit form just at the right time and with injury worries now abating they could still have a major say in the destination of the Championship.Castletown were rocked just before throw in when the talismanic Ronan Whelan was ruled out after an accident that saw him needing treatment in Mullingar Regional Hospital. Their line-up was hastily rearranged with Gorry moving to midfield and John Brennan coming into the attack. It certainly affected Castletown as they were slow to settle but Gorry got the ball rolling when he struck a superb point from long range for the opening score. Robbie Dugdale levelled matters moments later when the Brownstown half forward evaded several tackles to pick off a lovely score.Two pointed frees from Robbie Jackson pushed Castletown ahead again and Brownstown were guilty of some very needless fouling. Johnny McGuinness replied for the Archerstown blues with a pointed free before Jackson countered with a free of his own as the Brownstown defence struggled to cope with a pacy Castletown attack. McGuinness pointed another free before James Durkan had a goal bound shot tipped over superbly by Brownstown custodian, Stephen Reilly and McGuinness followed that up with another pointed free. At this stage the game was nip and tuck and enjoyable to watch with play switching from end to end constantly with firstly Gorry getting a point for Castletown and then Dara Brady nullifying that moments later for Brownstown. Castletown began to up the ante with Derek Gallagher scoring two wonder points and then Jackson converting two frees to push Castletown five ahead and beginning to show some of the strengths that have made them such a force in Westmeath hurling over the last number of years. A McGuinness free slightly stemmed the tide momentarily but Gallagher struck for another monster point from distance but the game really turned in castletowns favour just two minutes before half time when a high hanging ball from a Jackson free was flicked to the net by Paddy Moloney and it gave Castletown an eight point cushion at the break leading 1-11 to 0-6.Brownstown needed a quick repost in the second half and they looked to have gotten it when McGuinness pointed another free but they were outplayed for the next ten minutes as Castletown hammered home their advantage. A Jackson free was added to by John Brennans first of the game and then Moloney added another from a very narrow angle and then tow in arrow from Jackson, one superbly struck free, and the game was drifting well out of sight for Brownstown. It certainly was when Gallagher stormed down the field, found Moloney who in turn found Brennan and he simply tapped the ball to the net to finish the game as a contest. McGuinness pointed a free and then scored one from play to slightly narrow the gap but it was just finger in the dyke stuff as Jackson, Gorry and Gallagher added three super point from play and the black and ambers began to open the shoulders and swagger as in days of old. Jackson added his tenth and his side's 20th with a fabulous point after a great run by Joe Clarke and the scoring was completed when McGuinness displayed the vast array of skills in his arsenal t o score one of the points of the match, alas on a losing side. Castletown relief was palpable and they looked a totally different side to their earlier Championship form while for Brownstown it's back to second tier hurling after just one year in Senior ranks.Jackson was immense for Castletown in general play and from the dead ball while Gorry and Gallagher were superb in midfield. Joe Clarke terrorised the Brownstown defence while Durkan, David Langan and Ian Corrigan were others to impress on what was a good day for the black and ambers. McGuinness, Phillip Gilsenan and Kenny Higgins were the pick of the Brownstown team but this looked like a game too far for the Clonmellon club and after so much promise and indeed their fair share of hard luck they must now plan for next season in Senior 'B'.Scorers: Castletown-Geo. - Robbie Jackson 0-10 (7 frees), Paddy Moloney and John Brennan 1-1 each, Derek Gallagher 0-4, Keith Gorry 0-3, James Durkan 0-1.Brownstown - Johnny McGuinness 0-7 (6 frees), Barry Davis, Dara Brady and Robbie Dugdale 0-1 each.Castletown-Geoghegan: Niall Kelly, John Gallagher, Emmett Dalton, Ronan Corcoran, Ian Corrigan, David Langan, Eamonn Óg Clarke, Derek Gallagher, Keith Gorry, James Durkan, Joe Clarke, Robbie Jackson, Paddy Moloney, Alan Mangan. Subs: Kevin Jackson for Corrigan, Diarmuid Garvin for Dalton, Pat Clarke for Brennan and Sean Whelan for Moloney 51 mins, Mark McDermott for Mangan 54 minsBrownstown: Stephen Reilly, Gary Gilsenan, Maurice Gavigan, Jimmy McQuaid, Johnny Fitzpatrick, Phillip Gilsenan, Conor Sleator, Kenny Higgins, Paul Gilsenan, Barry David, Johnny McGuinness, Dara Brady, James Beggan, Seamus McNamee, Robbie Dugdale. Subs: David Dolan for Beggan H/T, Gavin Mulvey for Brady and Martin Kelly for Gary Gilsenan 52 mins.Referee: Mick Mannion.