Tubberclair return to senior ranks after emphatic win

South Westmeath clubs completed a clean sweep of the adult football titles in the Lake County at Cusack Park, when Tubberclair won the intermediate title for the first time since 2002, with a fully-merited win over Ballynacargy.The green and golds are worthy champions, even if seven points was a slightly flattering winning margin. The losers were dealt a major blow with less than ten minutes elapsed when county senior panellist Willie Murtagh was injured and was soon forced to withdraw. He reappeared late in the contest but was clearly not his usual influential self. Shortly after this, Michael Loran's powerfully-struck penalty kick rebounded off the Tubberclair crossbar and any slim hopes of a last-gasp Ballynacargy comeback evaporated. However, Frank Mescall's charges will be the first to concede that the better team won on the day and the winners' brief stay in the intermediate ranks ended when referee Sean Sheridan blew the final whistle shortly before 5 pm.Approximately 3,200 spectators turned up on a cold but dry autumn afternoon for this eagerly-awaited contest. They were not to be disappointed. A competitive contest featured many passages of fine football, with well-taken scores the order of the day. Indeed, the two Tubberclair goals which ultimately swung the tie were both of a high quality, Conor Elliott's terrific individual score in the ninth minute being matched by a sublime finish from inter-county star Fergal Wilson, with ten minutes of normal time remaining. The latter player was later selected as official man of the match, but he was run close in the voting by fellow-attacker, Francis Spollen and tigerish defenders, James Martin and Bernard 'Beano' Cassells.Prior to the commencement of the game, a minute's silence was observed in memory of recently-deceased Gaels, Noel Loran (Ballynacargy), Jackie Collins (Moate) and Derek Davis (Dunshaughlin), before the crowd was treated to a rousing rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann from St. Malachy's Scór singer par excellence, Kathryn Nea.Ballynacargy had wind advantage in the first moiety, but it was Tom Lennon's troops who started the brighter.Francis Spollen opened the scoring after a mere 15 seconds, with a fine shot from his weaker right foot. Fergal Wilson doubled this lead in the third minute when he slotted over a 30-metre free, after he had been fouled. However, the blue and golds were ahead by the sixth minute. A terrific solo point from Liam O'Reilly was quickly followed by an equally well-taken point from 40 metres by Mark Wallace. A fine block on Danny Scally, who had a goal on his mind, resulted in a '45' which was converted with aplomb by Dwayne Maher.In the ninth minute, Tubberclair went into a lead they would never relinquish when David Ganly picked out Conor Elliott who embarked on a lengthy solo run before dispatching a rasping shot past Richard Price for a wonderful goal. Then came Willie Murtagh's injury after a solo run of his own and, while his replacement Aidan Lyons showed his vast experience with a fine display, Murtagh's loss was incalculable. In the 12th minute, Ian Coffey was fouled and the promising teenager dusted himself down before tapping over the resultant free. In the next couple of passages of play, Ballynacargy's Declan McGuinness came forward from defence to shoot for scores, with a point and a wide resulting from his forays. Just past the midpoint of the half, Ian Coffey's shot from 30 metres went barely over the crossbar to put the winners a goal to the good.Gary Connaughton then held Liam O'Reilly's free, while at the other end Francis Spollen appeared to foul Kieran Sheridan before fielding the ball and slotting over his second point of the afternoon. The losers soon benefited from a questionable free themselves and Liam O'Reilly's wild kick fell for Dwayne Maher whose shot went wide via the butt of the post. Weak defending from Ballynacargy let Fergal Wilson in for a simple point in the 26th minute, but the losers managed the last score of the half, with a minute of normal time remaining, Dwayne Maher availing of fine play by Aidan Lyons to rifle over a great point. Ballynacargy could have narrowed the gap in the dying moments but a few efforts fell short and were wide of the target, leaving Tubberclair ahead by 1-6 to 0-5 at the interval.After a very early wide from Ian Coffey, his team-mate Thomas Doogan increased Tubberclair's lead with a terrific point, with exactly a minute elapsed. Soon afterwards, current All-Star goalkeeper, Gary Connaughton produced one of his trademark catches from Gary Keena's shot. In the seventh minute, Francis Spollen kicked a great point after a patient Tubberclair move to push his side six points ahead. The winners' backs continued to defend resolutely, a vital touch from team captain James Martin as Liam O'Reilly threatened danger being indicative of this. A foul on Declan McGuinness gave Dwayne Maher the chance to slot over a 25-metre free in the 17th minute. The blue and gold-clad fans got more to cheer about some two minutes later, the same player converting a routine free after Danny Scally was fouled.However, their optimism was unfounded and Fergal Wilson won an aerial duel and applied a delightful finish to a move involving Robert Buckley and Thomas Doogan, to put Tubberclair in front by seven points in the 20th minute. Simon Lawless was wide after a surging run out of defence, but a flicked effort from Francis Spollen stretched the winners' advantage.With five minutes of normal time remaining, Dwayne Maher converted another straightforward free. Bal's fading hopes of salvaging the tie then got a major boost when Liam O'Reilly was dragged to the ground in the large parallelogram and a penalty kick was correctly awarded.Substitute Michael Loran blasted his spot-kick against the underside of the crossbar and Liam O'Reilly was unable to guide the ball goalwards from the rebound. In the 30th minute, Declan McGuinness reacted well to a fisted clearance from Gary Connaughton to nab his second point of the match. However, Fergal Wilson fittingly rounded off match scoring with a first-time shot after good work by Francis 'Brolly' Spollen.Moments later, throngs of Tubberclair fans invaded the pitch to salute their heroes. In the stand, James Martin was presented with the cup by Des Maguire, chairman of the Westmeath Football Board and Tom Farrell, chairman of the Westmeath County Board. Worthy intermediate champions were crowned and Tubberclair will now hope to produce a typically-wholehearted campaign in the upcoming Leinster championship.Tubberclair: Gary Connaughton; Simon Lawless, James Martin, Rory Walsh; Bernard Cassells, Niall Walker, Enda McGee; Thomas Doogan (0-1), David Ganly; Ian Coffey (0-2, 0-1 from a free), Jeffrey Farrell, Conor Elliott (1-0); Fergal Wilson (1-3, 0-1 from a free), Francis Spollen (0-4), Robert Buckley. Subs: Michael Hopkins (for Farrell, 44 mins), Liam Doogan (for Coffey, inj, 52 mins), Mark Fitzgibbon (for Ganly, 60 +1 mins), David Cassells (for McGee, 60 + 2 mins), Ronan Walker (for Elliott, 60 + 3 mins).Ballynacargy: Richard Price; Griffin Kearney, Kieran Sheridan, Aidan Scally; John Keena, Timmy Mescall, Declan McGuinness (0-2); Mark Wallace (0-1), Andrew Heduvan; Danny Scally, Mark Murphy, Willie Murtagh; Liam O'Reilly (0-1), Dwayne Maher (0-5, 0-1 from a '45', 0-2 from frees), Gary Keena. Subs: Aidan Lyons (for Murtagh, inj, 17 mins), Jason Wallace (for J.Keena, 35 mins), Daniel Keena (for G.Keena, 44 mins), Michael Loran (for Heduvan, 53 mins), Willie Murtagh (for Maher, 55 mins).Referee: Sean Sheridan (Tyrrellspass).