Goal hungry Raharney scoop Under 14 crown

A trio of first half goals from a skillful Raharney side were crucial in ensuring that this year's Under 14 'A' hurling title went to the banks of the Deel.Both sides impressed in their respective semi-finals, so it was a difficult final to call before the throw-in. But as the first half progressed, it became clear that Raharney's stars of the future were hungry for some premier silverware.The Blues' heavy-hitters were on song, and this was a crucial factor in deciding the destiny of the cup. Pearse Byrne-Colgan (full-back), Darren Giles (centre half-back), Niall Grainger (midfield), Killian Doyle (centre half-forward) and skipper Frank McHugh (full-forward) formed the spine of a Raharney team brimming with confidence.Left reeling after a first half blitz by Raharney, St. Oliver Plunkett's made an excellent account of themselves in the second, with Conor O'Brien, Cathal Burke, Sean Byrne, Dylan Cannon and Paddy Lynam all finding their range.Raharney soared into a 2-1 to nil advantage after ten minutes, and any solid ground regained by Plunkett's was undone when they were hit by a third Raharney goal shortly before the break. This gave the Deelsiders a 3-3 to 0-4 half time lead.Although they would eventually lose by five points, the Mullingar men fought back bravely after the restart, outscoring their opponents and keeping Raharney's output to a minimum.PouncedRaharney controlled the opening exchanges, with Ciaran Doyle pointing a 50 yard free, before Niall Grainger pounced for the Blues' opening goal on seven minutes, after latching onto a clever pass from Frank McHugh.Two minutes later, the Deelsiders netted for a second time. In a breathtaking piece of skill, a long ball from Killian Doyle found the paw of Sean Quinn, who duly turned his marker and shot to the net with aplomb.Their opponents were reeling, and a robust challenge on Raharney's Shane Farrelly by Plunkett's centre-forward Cathal Burke resulted in a yellow card for the latter. But the Mullingar side's lot improved, and a good free from Dylan Cannon on 19 got them off the mark.Conor O'Brien followed this with a perfectly flighted 65 metre award, but comeback plans were almost put on hold on 22 minutes, when Raharney's Killian Doyle once again linked up with Sean Quinn; but this time, Quinn poked the sliothar just wide of the target.Plunkett's, playing against a strong breeze, battled on in determined fashion, and reduced the arrears to four points with a second Dylan Cannon free.But their ambitions were scotched after 26 minutes, when a deflected shot by Raharney's Frank McHugh ended up in the net, restoring the Deelsiders' supremacy.Niall Grainger and McHugh respectively notched up two further points, sending Raharney into a three-goal lead.But it wasn't all bad for their opponents. A third free from Cannon allowed Plunkett's to finish the half with a score, but they badly needed goals to get back into the reckoning.PenaltyPlunkett's immediately had a chance to find the net after the restart, when a foul on substitute Sean Kavanagh resulted in a penalty being awarded by referee, Matt Shaw. Cannon, the finest free taker on the pitch, took his point from the spot, but Raharney cancelled this out with a fine point from the left hand side by Cameron McKenna.Plunkett's almost got a deserved first major on 40 minutes, when Cathal Burke fired a low shot across the face of goal. But Lady Luck smiled on Raharney, and at the other end, Burke's opposite number, Killian Doyle smashed a shot to the net from 20 yards to make it 4-4 to 0-5 after 45 minutes.Despite the scoreline, Plunkett's were deserving of their place in the final, and can take some consolation from the fact that they bossed the final quarter.Points from Paddy Lynam, Dylan Cannon and Ciaran Mullen preceded St. Oliver Plunkett's first and only goal, taken with style, initiative and power by Cathal Burke.But a five point lead at the whistle made comfortable winners of Raharney, as captain Frank McHugh received the Under 14 'A' cup from Westmeath Minor Board chairman, John Weir.Scorers: Raharney - N. Grainger and F. McHugh 1-1 each, S. Quinn and K. Doyle 1-0 each, Ciaran Doyle (free) and C. McKenna 0-1 each. St. Oliver Plunkett's - C. Burke 1-0, D. Cannon 0-5 (3 frees, 1 pen), C. O'Brien (65'), P. Lynam and C. Mullen 0-1 each.Raharney: Daniel Greville; Christopher Doyle, Pearse Byrne-Colgan, Dylan Raleigh; Shane Farrelly, Darren Giles, Shane Gorman; Niall Grainger, Aaron Glynn; Ciaran Doyle, Killian Doyle, Cameron McKenna; Derek Conroy, Frank McHugh (capt.), Sean Quinn. Subs used: James Goonery for Conroy (38), Eoin Weir for Quinn (51), Jack Duignan for Christopher Doyle (60).St. Oliver Plunkett's: Stephen Hassett; Danny Purcell, Jack Quinn, Sean Byrne (capt.); Luke Byrne, Conor O'Brien, Sean Flanagan; Ricky McCarthy, Paddy Fagan; Paddy Lynam, Cathal Burke, Dylan Cannon; Sean Lee, Dean Scally, Conor Bracken. Subs used: Ciaran Mullen for Lee (inj., 14), Sean Kavanagh for Scally (h/time), Sean O'Brien for Bracken (h/time), Donal Liddy for Flanagan (54), Stephen Kavanagh for Fagan (59).Referee: Matt Shaw (Lough Lene Gaels).