Sports Review 2022: NOVEMBER

The men’s Leinster club football championships got under way in November. In junior competition, a penalty from Stephen Sweeney was crucial as Multyfarnham advanced to the semi-finals with a win over Offaly’s Ballycommon. However, Steven Cleary’s charges lost a low-scoring last-four clash after extra-time against St Abban’s of Adamstown, Co. Wexford. At intermediate grade, Shandonagh were stunned by Kilkenny side Mullinavat and made an early exit, while at senior, The Downs kicked off their campaign with a comfortable win over Ardee St Mary’s at TEG Cusack Park on November 6. Later in the month, they encountered Meath champions Ratoath in the Leinster semi-final, and goals from Niall Mitchell and Ciaran Nolan led to a famous 2-12 to 0-17 win. However, The Downs had to survive a late scare, as Ratoath hit six scores on the trot and almost forced extra-time.

On the hurling front, Castletown Geoghegan met the might of Ballyhale Shamrocks in the AIB Leinster Club SHC quarter-finals, and shipped a heavy 5-25 to 0-15 loss. Defeat was also the outcome for Fr Dalton’s as they took on Tullamore at intermediate level, while at junior grade, Westmeath intermediate champions bowed out of Leinster after a thrilling quarter-final against Blacks and Whites of Kilkenny, which went to extra-time.

A number of outstanding local competitions were finalised in November. Jack Gallagher was on fire for Castletown Geoghegan as they annexed the junior ‘A’ hurling championship at Clonkill’s expense; Ringtown made it a double for 2022 by winning the junior ‘B’ hurling final; Lough Lene Gaels and Brownstown enjoyed senior ‘B’ and junior ‘B’ camogie success respectively; Coralstown/Kinnegad beat St Mary’s Rochfortbridge in the junior ‘B’ football final; and Eamonn Cunneen scored 1-11 as Raharney defeated Na Piarsaigh in the premier U19 hurling final, while Southern Gaels won the Division 2 competition.

Delvin, the only women’s side still involved in provincial competition, reached the final of the AIB Leinster club junior ‘B’ camogie championship by defeating Annacurra of Wicklow. In the Leinster final, they met St Bride’s of Louth in Abbotstown, where a late free from player of the match Denise McGrath earned the Valley the cup and a path to the All-Ireland series.

Elsewhere in Gaelic games, it was announced that Dublin legend Jason Sherlock would become the high-profile coaching addition to Westmeath senior football manager Dessie Dolan’s backroom team. Sherlock will work alongside Dolan as a performance coach for the 2023 campaign. Meanwhile, the minor ladies’ football county finals were played in late November, with Méabh O’Hara netting twice as St Loman’s, Mullingar won the Division 1 final. In the other deciders, St Joseph’s (Division 2), Killucan (Division 3), Moate (Division 4) and The Downs (Division 5) prevailed.

In soccer, Mullingar’s Aidan Keena ended the League of Ireland Premier Division season as the league’s top scorer with 18 goals (21 in all competitions), and was named on the PFAI Team of the Year, as well as being voted Sligo Rovers’ player of the year by fans. Loughnavalley’s Jessica Hennessy started for Athlone Town as they lost to Shelbourne in the FAI Women’s Cup final. Locally, Mullingar Town defeated St Peter’s 3-0 to keep their CCFL Senior Division campaign on track, with Tristan Finnane netting a hat-trick. They went on to beat Birr Town 3-1, and went second in the table with a 2-0 win over Mountmellick United. In the Paddy Cotter Cup meanwhile, Mullingar Athletic won 6-5 on penalties in a town derby against Mullingar Celtic to progress to the second round. Raharney United mourned the death of hugely dedicated clubman Eamonn Mulhall, while a Real Football Academy, Mullingar U13 trio was selected for the FAI National Academy assessments.

On the athletics front, Mullingar Harriers had a day to remember at the Leinster Senior and Juvenile Cross Country, with tremendous success across all ages and categories; they also went on to perform strongly at the All-Ireland finals in Donegal. Maura Dervin and Sean McMullin won team honours at the British and Irish Masters International Cross Country in Santry; and Harriers pair Cormac Dalton and Jamie Battle achieved the requisite standard for selection to represent Ireland at the European Cross Country Championships.

In snooker, Terry Parker pipped Richie Toal to the Mullingar Open Snooker Championship title in a thrilling finale, while Stephen von Beaumont captured the Westmeath Intermediate Players’/Classic Snooker Championship. In pitch and putt meanwhile, All-Ireland U20 champion Jack Buckley (Collinstown) put the cherry on top of a hugely successful year by winning the Westmeath Senior Matchplay Championship. At the Collinstown club, Buckley’s clubmate Alan Hanlon won Player of the Year.

In rugby, Jack Boyan lined out for Ireland as they won an U18 international against Italy, while closer to home, Mullingar’s 1st XV had some setbacks in the Leinster League 1B, drawing with Cill Dara at home before losing to Wicklow and Athy. Leinster stars Rónan Kelleher and Will Connors visited the club’s grounds during the month, and met with some of Mullingar’s underage teams.

Elsewhere in November, Eugene McComb and Eoin Corrigan won the Hallowe’en Pairs at Mullingar Bowls Club; the Captains’ Dinner returned to Mullingar Golf Club, after a hiatus of over two years due to Covid; Westmeath GAA Handball hosted the Bro Hugh Gallagher Development Blitz; Lakeside Wheelers Cycling Club elected a new committee for 2023; while Mullingar Tennis Club achieved a great victory over Wexford in the Leinster Tennis Leagues.