Garrycastle impress in first defence of county title

Westmeath SFC: Garrycastle 2-11, Tyrrellspass 1-11 -- Reigning county champions, Garrycastle collected a valuable brace of points in their opening defence of the Flanagan Cup, under the watchful eye of the namesake of the Westmeath GAA legend after whom the trophy is called, in Cusack Park last Sunday evening.Indeed, new Lake County senior football manager, Pat Flanagan must have been impressed with many of the victors' players as they overcame his former club charges, Tyrrellspass by a far-from-flattering one-goal margin.With the wind seeming to change direction slightly from the curtain-raiser, Garrycastle had whatever advantage was accruing when they played into the Dunnes Stores end of the ground in the first moiety. James Duignan (who, ironically, was to miss some scoreable frees later in the half) opened the scoring with a delightfully-judged free from his hands in the second minute. A minute later, Des Dolan proved (as if proof were needed) that class is permanent despite his absence from the maroon and white jersey in 2010, with a wonderful point from a tight angle, after Cathal Daly had done very well to block his initial effort. A poor wide from Gary Dolan was followed by a timely goal-line interception by Barry Murphy from Paul Dillon's low shot. Tyrrellspass then began to settle and were rewarded with a brace of points from David Glennon (a 30-metre free) and Martin Flanagan (following fine work from Denis Glennon in an unaccustomed midfield role).The play was now switching from end to end and Darren Quinn (whose handling was superb throughout the hour) produced a great catch from Aidan Browne's long-range shot. Shane Mulvihill edged the men in green and red ahead with a point in the 18th minute and Gary Dolan doubled the lead with a well-taken point from 30 metres, some four minutes later. However, the Tidy Town responded in style with four unanswered points between the 26th and 31st minutes, Denis Glennon (two, from a free and play respectively), Keith Scally (after playing a neat one-two with Martin Flanagan) and Ger O'Toole (an opportunist effort) being the men on target. Des Dolan reduced the deficit with a classy point from an acute angle, leaving the scoreboard at the interval reading: Tyrrellspass 0-6 Garrycastle 0-5.Westmeath's only All-Star attacker, Des Dolan, levelled the contest in the first minute of the second half from a routine free. A man with similar City West Hotel ambitions, Denis Glennon then had a 'goal' disallowed for fisting the ball to the net, presumably overhitting an attempted pass in so doing. With less than four minutes elapsed in the second moiety, Des Dolan exchanged passes with Paddy Mulvihill (who had an outstanding all-round game) and the number 15 planted the ball past Darren Quinn from close range. Within a minute, the men in sky blue and navy should have raised a green flag of their own at the other end, Ger O'Toole fly-kicking the ball over Cathal Mullin's crossbar with the net gaping. Further points ensued from David Glennon (from a free) and his older brother Denis (a wonderful shot from a tight angle). James Dolan (who excelled at left half back) soon gave the champions a lead they never looked likely to relinquish with a great point from 35 metres, before Darren Quinn came to his side's rescue yet again with a timely dash from his line to keep out a menacing Des Dolan. However, even Quinn was powerless to prevent Garrycastle's second goal in the seventh minute, recently-introduced substitute Alan Daly rounding off a great move involving Paul Dillon and Paddy Mulvihill to fire home from ten metres.The latter player got his own name on the scoresheet with a neat point in the 18th minute. The losers reduced the gap to a goal with quickfire points from Brian Slevin and Keith Scally (his colleagues doing well to keep the ball in play twice in the build-up). Paddy Mulvihill replied with a fisted point (a goal briefly seemed likely) and another from Gary Dolan (who seemed to have a goal on his mind). Substitute Conor Cosgrove then saw his free come back off the woodwork, before Tyrrellspass tried unsuccessfully to manufacture a goal from a Martin Flanagan '45'. James Duignan rounded off the winners' scoring with a great point from 40 metres and Martin Flanagan's late, late goal from point-blank range amounted merely to a consolation score for Laz Molloy's troops.It's very early days in the race for the Flanagan Cup, but Anthony Cunningham's charges already look like they have the hunger to match their undoubted skill and teamwork to be serious contenders to retain their title come the autumn.Garrycastle: Cathal Mullin; John Gaffey, Enda Mulvihill, Mark McCallon; Neil Rattigan, Doran Harte, James Dolan (0-1); Aidan Browne, Seanie O'Donoghue; James Duignan (0-2, 0-1 from a free), Paddy Mulvihill (0-2), Shane Mulvihill (0-1); Paul Dillon, Gary Dolan (0-2), Des Dolan (1-3, 0-1 from a free). Subs: Alan Daly (1-0) (for S. Mulvihill, 33 mins), John O'Shaughnessy (for Rattigan, 37 mins), Rory McGowan (for Daly, inj, 58 mins), Conor Cosgrove (for D. Dolan, 58 mins).Tyrrellspass: Darren Quinn; Cathal Daly, Barry Murphy, Terence O'Brien; Ger Egan, Gavin Hoey, Philip Sheridan; Denis Glennon (0-3, 0-1 from a free), Keith Scally (0-2); Brian Slevin (0-1), David Glennon (0-2, both from frees), Jamie Gonoud; Dean McNicholas, Martin Flanagan (1-1), Ger O'Toole (0-2). Subs: Sean Bagnall (for Gonoud, 45 mins), Eoghan O'Neill (for O'Brien, 47 mins).Referee: Barry Kelly (Mullingar Shamrocks).by Gerry Buckley