Reynolds’ last-gasp goal wins the day for Castletown

Radisson Blu Athlone Westmeath Minor (U17) Hurling Championship Final Replay: Castletown-Geoghegan 2-15, Raharney 1-15

Gerry Buckley reports

Sometimes young players need a second chance to shake off big match nerves and show their true worth, and Saturday’s Westmeath minor hurling final replay in The Downs was a case in point, with Castletown-Geoghegan edging out Raharney in a pulsating contest where the skills on show were immeasurably better than the drawn encounter.

In truth, neither team really deserved to lose this gripping match, but sport is often cruel and the understandable post-match dejection in the Deelside ranks contrasted sharply with the joy exuded by the black and amber-clad players, mentors and supporters after what was a sporting and very well-refereed game. Ironically, both sides played significantly better when playing against the wind.

Castletown-Geoghegan’s senior/minor double for 2022 is now complete, and this minor hat-trick bodes well for the ambitious club whose focus will now be on a daunting trip Noreside for Alan Mangan’s charges to face arguably the strongest outfit in the land, Ballyhale Shamrocks, next Sunday fortnight in the Leinster quarter-final.

Wind-assisted Castletown opened the scoring via a Peter Murphy free after 90 seconds, but Joe Mulvaney equalised from a placed ball a minute later. Caoleann Ready, whose fielding skills and all-round athleticism were very regularly to the fore in the first half, nudged Raharney ahead from a tight angle in the fifth minute. The same player almost got in for a goal before his team-mate Mulvaney doubled his side’s lead with a great angled shot on the run.

A point apiece from Shane Corcoran (whose side-stepping in full flight was a joy to behold) and Murphy levelled the contest at 0-3 apiece by the tenth minute, but the boys in blue and white pounced for 1-2 without reply by the end of the opening quarter, courtesy of a well-taken goal from Cormac McKeogh (after a great flick by Ready to Mulvaney in the build-up) either side of points from the latter (a free) and Ready (after he had effected great catch).

A routine free conversion from Murphy ensued at the other end but, with Ready continuing to be the focal point of their attacks, the Deelsiders tagged on further points from the sticks of Mulvaney (two frees) and McKeogh.

Ready twice came close to finding the net – he will be disappointed with spurning the first of these opportunities – before the sides equally shared four points by half-time. Corcoran and Murphy (a tricky free) raised the white flags for the winners, with a Mulvaney brace from frees wrapping up the scoring to leave Raharney ahead by 1-10 to 0-6.

A quality point from Ready increased his side’s lead in the 32nd minute, but astute tactics from the winners’ management were to dramatically curb the full forward’s influence thereafter.

Castletown-Geoghegan came right back into contention when Adam Cassidy was left with the simple task of flicking the sliotar to the net from close-range after great approach work by Corcoran and Murphy, and points followed from Sean Jackson (after great skill by Corcoran), Corcoran himself, and Andrew Dalton (from what looked like an impossible angle). The gap was now just two points (1-11 to 1-9) with 42 minutes on the clock.

Point exchanges followed between McKeogh (a fabulous score) and Jackson (now moved from defence), the latter (a routine free) and Mulvaney (an opportunist score), and Jackson again (despite being pressurised) and Eoin Daly (an immediate reply). Jackson was narrowly wide from a ‘65’, but he compensated with a point from play at the end of a patient move. Murphy tied up the scoring at 1-14 each in the 59th minute, with many in the large crowd now on their feet.

A minimum of three minutes’ added-time was announced. In the first of these, Mulvaney slotted over a free after Ready had been fouled. Murphy responded with a free conversion from inside his own half.

McKeogh was wide under pressure, and extra-time looked certain until Philip Reynolds emerged as the Castletown hero when he managed to get through on goal and bat the ball to the net from point-blank range. Alfie Devine’s whistle sounded seconds later.

After the game, Alan Leech, the Westmeath Minor Board chairman, presented the Ben Kelly Cup to a very fitting recipient in Sean Jackson.

Scorers – Castletown-Geoghegan: P Murphy 0-6 (4f), S Jackson 0-5 (1f), A Cassidy and P Reynolds 1-0 each, S Corcoran 0-3, A Dalton 0-1. Raharney: J Mulvaney 0-9 (7f), Cormac McKeogh 1-2, C Ready 0-3, E Daly 0-1.

Castletown-Geoghegan: Sean Clarke; Dylan Drake, Thomas Conlon, Jack Mulligan; Eoin Robinson, Sean Jackson, Killian Jackson; Shane Corcoran, Neale Pierson; Adam Clarke, Peter Murphy, Adam Cassidy; Dylan Corrigan, Philip Reynolds, Andrew Dalton. Subs used: Morgan Redmond for A Clarke (44), Eanna Maxwell for Dalton (57).

Raharney: Mark Doherty; Mikie Duffy, Sean McGee, Ryan Murphy; Adam Smith, Cian Weir, Aaran Flanagan; Callum McKeogh, Dean Enright; Joe Mulvaney, Cormac McKeogh, Eoin Daly; Eoin Briody, Caoleann Ready, Ciaran Kavanagh. Subs used: Winston Larkin for Kavanagh (20), Jayden Hill for Enright (39), Finan Reilly for Briody (56).

Ref: Alfie Devine (Castlepollard).