Garrycastle never troubled by feeble Tyrrellspass

A fit and focused Garrycastle side qualified for this year's Westmeath senior football championship final with remarkable ease last Sunday afternoon, disposing of a bitterly disappointing Tyrrellspass side by a whopping 13-points margin in glorious conditions at Cusack Park.On this evidence, the men in green and red will take all the beating next month as they strive to regain the Flanagan Cup after a five-year wait. However, it has to be conceded that this was arguably the most inept championship display by the Tidy Town since they became a major force at senior level in the county, over a decade ago. In truth, the winners never looked in the remotest trouble and team manager Anthony Cunningham would probably have wished for a much sterner penultimate round game. Still, it will take a mighty effort from either Coralstown/Kinnegad or St. Loman's, Mullingar to prevent Garrycastle from winning their fourth title.Ireland's Indian summer brought a fine crowd to GAA headquarters for this eagerly-awaited clash of two of the Lake County's most successful clubs in the decade soon to end. However, the envisaged classic never materialised and Garrycastle were ominously three points to the good in as many minutes. Great play by the imperious Des Dolan set up Paul Dillon for a neat point after a mere 20 seconds. Dolan, who is sure to have greatly impressed Westmeath's new manager Brendan Hackett in the stands, then pointed a 35-metre free, before James Dolan fired over a third point, when a goal looked a possibility. Denis Glennon reduced the gap in the fourth minute, making space in his own inimitable style and popping the ball over with his left foot.However, Garrycastle already looked by far the livelier team and a sublime pass from Des Dolan set up his cousin James Dolan for a gilt-edged goal chance. He was fouled before he could shoot, but the normally reliable man from the spot, Gary Dolan did not get sufficient power in his low kick and Darren Quinn pulled off a fine save, at the expense of an unconverted '45'. A great block by midfielder Seanie O'Donoghue precipitated a lightning move by the winners which ended with another well-taken point from Paul Dillon. Both sides proceeded to miss chances before Garrycastle spurned another goal opportunity when overlapping corner back Mark McCallon took Paul Dillon's pass close to goal, but his shot did not trouble the vigilant Darren Quinn.It seemed inevitable that Garrycastle would find the net and so it proved in the 18th minute when Des Dolan exchanged passes with his brother Gary and the former All-Star finished with aplomb low to back of the net. A routine free from Denis Glennon brought some brief respite to the men in navy and blue, but Des Dolan responded in style with two classy points from 40 and 30 metres respectively. Sandwiched between these, Cathal Mullin saved Keith Scally's goalbound effort, with suspicions of a foot block. With five minutes of normal time remaining, the industrious Ger Egan fired over a good point for Tyrrellspass, but James Dolan replied with a terrific point under pressure at the other end. Des Dolan's touches continued to cause havoc for the losers' defence but no further scores came off them. With exactly a half hour on the clock, Denis Glennon tapped over a 25-metre free for the Tidy Town, but Paul Dillon rounded off first half scoring when he kicked another very well-worked point deep into injury-time. This left Garrycastle firmly in control at the break, leading by 1-8 to 0-4.Tyrrellspass gave their fans a glimmer of hope that the second moiety would be much more competitive than the first when they got the first two scores on the resumption of play. Denis Glennon kicked both, the first from a simple free and the second a lovely effort from play, with his brother David lucky not to be penalised for a 'double-hop' seconds earlier. However, these scores proved to be a false dawn and Tyrrellspass failed to trouble the scoreboard operators for the remainder of the game. Three points between the eighth and tenth minutes put Garrycastle eight points to the good. Des Dolan, James Duignan and James Dolan were the men on target, as the winners carved open the Tyrrellspass defence with remarkable ease. Laz Molloy's troops urgently needed a goal and it almost came in the 16th minute, but Tim O'Regan's powerful shot whizzed wide of the post.It was virtually one-way traffic for the remainder of the match. James Duignan rounded off yet another flowing move with a fine point in the 17th minute. Even better was to follow with a fabulous point from a very tight angle from Des Dolan.James Duignan added another on the turn in the 21st minute as the losers' challenge petered out, often spilling their limited possession very cheaply. In the last few seconds of normal time, Des Dolan kicked the best of his seven scores, pointing from a seemingly impossible angle. Substitute Alan Daly got in the scoring act in the third minute of added-time, with the Tyrrellspass rearguard still at sixes and sevens.The entire losing side will have been relieved to hear Barry Kelly's last whistle after a very insipid showing, albeit against a side who look very determined to bring home the Flanagan Cup for the first time since 2004. It will take a fair side to stop them.Garrycastle: Cathal Mullin; Padraig Rattigan, John Gaffey, Mark McCallon; Enda Mulvihill, Karl Henson, Doran Harte; Seanie O'Donoghue, Aidan Browne; James Dolan (0-3), James Duignan (0-3), Shane Mulvihill; Paul Dillon (0-3), Gary Dolan (capt), Des Dolan (1-6, 0-1 from a free). Subs: Tom McHugh (for McCallon, 37 mins), Stephen O'Reilly (for Duignan, 51 mins), Alan Daly (0-1) (for Dillon, 54 mins), Robbie Fox (for O'Donoghue, 57 mins), Johnny McGuire (for G. Dolan, 60 +1 mins).Tyrrellspass: Darren Quinn; Barry Murphy, David Murphy, Terence O'Brien; Cathal Daly, Shane Arthur, Philip Sheridan; Adrian Corcoran, Tim O'Regan; Keith Scally, Denis Glennon (capt) (0-5, 0-3 from frees), Ronan Dunbar; David Glennon, Martin Flanagan, Ger Egan (0-1). Subs: John Brennan (for Dunbar, half-time), Ray Sheeran (for Corcoran, half-time), Brian Slevin (for Daly, 41 mins).Referee: Barry Kelly (Mullingar Shamrocks).