Castlepollard edge St. Oliver Plunkett's to secure semi-final slot

In what was effectively a head-to-head to secure a direct route into the semi-final of this year’s Westmeath senior hurling championship, Castlepollard edged out St. Oliver Plunkett’s in an exciting game in Cusack Park on Sunday evening last, with the Mullingar men now facing a quarter-final clash with Ringtown.While the match never reached any great heights, the closeness of the scoring ensured that the good-sized crowd was entertained right to the final whistle. While St. Oliver Plunkett’s will be widely expected to make the penultimate round, this one-point win was a big psychological boost for Castlepollard who are now set for a showdown with age-old rivals Raharney in a mouth-watering last-four encounter. The winners went in front after only 15 seconds, veteran forward Barry Kennedy pointing in style. However, St. Oliver Plunkett’s quickly settled and duly rifled over an unanswered 1-3 between the fourth and 12th minutes.Very reliable long-range freetaker, Noel Gavin slotted over a ‘65’ and sandwiched between a brace of well-taken points from Aaron Craig, Peter Collins pounced to whip the sliotar to the net, after John Dooley’s initial attempt was foiled by Colin McCormack. Approaching the midpoint of the first moiety, Stephen Bardon blasted home a penalty, awarded after a foul on Ollie Devine, which looked to many observers as if it took place outside the large parallelogram. Shane Egan followed up with a converted free to leave just the bare minimum between the sides.After a poorly-struck close-range free from John Dooley, centre half back Noel Gavin showed the way when he dissected the posts from a placed ball on the 65-metre line. The men in blue and gold tacked on four points without reply in the closing minutes of the first half, via Shane Egan (a 55-metre free), Barry Kennedy (a great lift and strike), Stephen Bardon (a free from over 90 metres) and Kevin Brazil (a neat score on the run). With exactly 30 minutes elapsed, Ciaran Curley hit a great point under pressure, leaving the scoreboard at the break reading: Castlepollard 1-6 St. Oliver Plunkett’s 1-5.Within four minutes of the restart, the town side had regained the lead, a brace of successful long-range placed balls from Noel Gavin (a free and a ‘65’) being followed by Peter Collins’ second three-pointer, after an eye-catching run goalward by Aaron Craig. The respective number 11s then traded points - Shane Egan from a 50-metre free and Connaire Flanagan from play from slightly further out. Peter Collins almost completed a hat-trick but the corner forward shot wide of the target. In the 11th minute, Ian Egerton was unable to hold another huge strike from a Stephen Bardon free and Kevin Brazil whipped the ball to the net. Noel Gavin put the men in green and white two points to the good from another great long-range free before Peter Collins had the ball in the ’Pollard net for the third time, but the referee had already whistled for a free-in which Collins pointed. Ian Egerton soon pulled off a great save from Barry Kennedy, but the latter player was not to be denied in the 18th minute when he pounced on a long ball forward and flashed the sliotar to the net for an equalising score. Three quickfire points put the winners in a commanding position as time ticked away - Alan Devine, Kevin Brazil and Stephen Bardon (a huge free) were the men on target. Plunkett’s rallied with two late points from Noel Gavin (a free from the halfway line and a ‘65’ after Colin McCormack did very well to deflect a goalbound effort from Cian O’Leary over the endline).However, there was to be no denying Castlepollard their place in the penultimate round, while the Mullingar men now have to prepare for a potentially tricky quarter-final assignment.Castlepollard: Colin McCormack; Jamie Ward, John P. Murray, Paul Dermody; Stephen Bardon (1-2, 1-0 from a pen, 0-2 from frees), Darren McCormack, Shane Fagan; Derek Murray, David Higgins; Andrew Dermody, Shane Egan (0-3, all from frees), Alan Devine (0-1); Barry Kennedy (1-2), Ollie Devine, Kevin Brazil (1-2). Subs: Donal Devine (for Ward, 49 mins), Andrew Dowdall (for D. Murray, 50 mins), Kevin Gavigan (for A. Devine, 60 mins).St. Oliver Plunkett’s: Ian Egerton; Stephen McManus, Sean O’Leary, Clive Kenny; Micheal Curley, Noel Gavin (0-7, 0-4 from frees, 0-3 from ‘65’s), Greg Gavin; Mickey Harris, Cian O’Leary; Aaron Craig (0-2), Connaire Flanagan (0-1), Ciaran Curley (0-1); Peter Collins (2-1, 0-1 from a free), John Dooley, David Gavin. Subs: Robert Ryland (for Dooley, 38 mins), Damien Kiernan (for McManus, 49 mins), David Murray (for Flanagan, 52 mins).Referee: Matt Shaw (Lough Lene Gaels).