Fr Dalton's win battle of the south
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Fiachra Feeney of Southern Gaels gathers the ball, with Oisín O'Donoghue in support, during the Féile Division 3 final at TEG Cusack Park.Image 2 of 5
Louie Dillon and DJ Connaughton support James Slevin of Fr dalton's in the Féile na nGael hurling Division 3 final at TEG Cusack Park.Image 3 of 5
The Fr Dalton's team that won the Féile na nGael hurling Division 3 title.Image 4 of 5
The Southern Gaels team, defeated in the Féile na nGael Division 3 decider by Fr Dalton's.Image 5 of 5
Fr. Dalton's captain William Geraghty, pictured following his side's success in the Féile na nGael Division 3 decider at TEG Cusack Park.The first of the Westmeath Féile na nGael hurling finals in windswept and showery TEG Cusack Park on Easter Monday last pitted the two southernmost hurling clubs in the county against each other. And the bragging rights for 2023 just about went to Fr. Dalton's, who made the most of their chances against a gallant, but shot shy Southern Gaels.
With only six scores in total over the 40 minutes, this wasn’t a free shooting spectacle, but both teams did themselves and their clubs proud with as honest a game of hurling as you are likely to see. Indeed, the commitment and desire of both sides was commendable and appreciated by the sizable crowd in attendance on the Bank Holiday.
Fr Dalton's opened the scoring when a long-range Jack Whyte free went all the way to the net, but the Gaels recovered and after a superb point from Dara Geary, they then took the lead when substitute Peter Bourke kicked to the net for them to lead after a frantic opening 15 minutes.
Fr Dalton's dominated to the end of the half, though, and after Whyte had added to his tally with a terrific point (and following great saves by both goalies) the Ballymore side regained the lead on the stroke of half-time when Rory Connaughton kicked to the net as the Gaels failed to clear.
At the interval, Fr Dalton's enjoyed a 2-1 to 1-1 lead.
After the break the weather worsened and the game became attritional and fractured, with neither side troubling the score board. Once and again both goalies were brought into action with fine stops, but amazingly the last score of the game came from William Geraghty who netted from all of 50 yards. Despite late chances for the Gaels to get back into the game, they simply could not penetrate a solid Dalton's defence in which Diarmuid Savage and Louie Dillon were impassable.
MEMORABLE
The Gaels did waste one final hurrah when a goalmouth scramble could have gone anywhere, but Daltons held on for a memorable win and afterwards new Westmeath Coiste na nÓg chairman Barry Kelly presented the shield to captain William Geraghty, much to the delight of the Fr. Dalton's faithful.
Scorers - Fr. Daltons: Jack Whyte 1-1, William Geraghty and Rory Connaughton 1-0 each. Southern Gaels: Peter Bourke 1-0, Dara Geary 0-1.
Fr. Dalton's: Jack McDonnell; Kyle Creagh, Diarmuid Savage, Robert Byrne; James Slevin, Owen Blom, DJ Connaughton; Louie Dillon, Ben Whyte; Cian Moran, Jack Whyte, Tristan Duncan; Nick Finerty, William Geraghty, Daragh Maxwell. Subs used: Rory Connaughton, Charlie McGauran, Joe Maguire, Conor Cunniffe, Daragh Molloy and Jake McKnight.
Southern Gaels: Thomas Daly; Finn McCormack, Daniel Nugent, Eoghan Brett; Conleth Feeney, Aaron Hardiman, Jack Dowling; Oisin O’Donoghue, Anthony Carroll King; Fiachra Feeney, Darragh Bradley, Dara Geary; Eoghan Joyce, Thomas Herron, Eoin Whelan. Subs used: Peter Bourke, Odhran Mitchell, Jack Dowling, Fiachra Feeney, Daniel Crosbie.
Referee: Matt Shaw (Clonkill).