All too easy for Clonkill against weak Fr Dalton’s

Clonkill 8-17, Fr Dalton's 1-5

Gerry Buckley

Last Sunday’s first leg of a Westmeath senior hurling championship double-header in TEG Cusack Park proved to be a complete non-event, with a very experienced Clonkill side brushing aside a very weak challenge from Fr Dalton’s.

Frankly, this mismatch was of no real benefit to either team. The Loughegar men, with Brendan Murtagh rolling back the years in attack, maintained their challenge for a knockout spot, while their opponents totally failed to deliver on the promise shown in earlier outings in this championship.

Eamonn Gallagher’s charges had the aid of a useful breeze blowing towards the scoreboard end of the ground, but they spurned some early chances. Clonkill, wearing black and amber-striped jerseys, proceeded to score 1-4 without reply by the 20th minute. Three of the points came from the aforementioned Murtagh (including one free), while he was the unselfish provider for Daire McLaughlin’s sixth-minute goal. Alan McGrath, who was a constant threat at full forward, raised the other white flag at the end of a fine 12th-minute move.

John Gilligan opened Fr Dalton’s account with a great angled point in the 22nd minute. However, a totally mishit ‘65’ by Brian Finerty soon summed up his team’s off-colour display. They could only manage three further points in the first moiety – another great score by Gilligan, a neat finish from Enda Kincaid, and a routine free conversion by Owen McCabe.

For their part, Frank Aughey’s troops scored three goals during the same period, but they are unlikely to get similar chances against stronger opponents. The three-pointers came courtesy of Luke Loughlin (after a trademark run goalward in the 27th minute) and an opportunist brace from the evergreen Murtagh (in the 29th minute and the third minute of added-time respectively). The game was already over as a contest at the break with Clonkill ahead by 4-4 to 0-4.

The men in white jerseys with a green trim gave their small band of supporters a tiny glimmer of hope when Sam Maxwell scored a great goal some 40 seconds into the second moiety. However, it proved to be very much a false dawn and they could only muster one more score during the remainder of a totally forgettable performance – a McCabe free in the 57th minute.

By contrast, Clonkill seemed to be able to score at will and they racked up a further 4-13 in the second half.

The goals came from the sticks of Murtagh (who showed his power to complete his hat-trick in the 37th minute), McGrath (a simple opportunity in the 51st minute), quickly followed by both Peadar Scally (in acres of room), and McGrath again (with a cleverly-whipped shot). Indeed, it took brave goalkeeping by Eoin Moran and fine defending by Brian McCabe to prevent Murtagh and Luke Loughlin respectively from bring the winners’ goal tally to double figures.

The 13 Clonkill points were shared by Oisín Loughlin (two), Murtagh (three, including two frees), Shane Power, Darragh Egerton (three well-struck placed balls – two frees and a ‘65’), Luke Loughlin, McLaughlin (two), and McGrath.

In truth, James McGrath’s final whistle came as a relief to all and sundry, on and off the pitch.

Scorers – Clonkill: B Murtagh 3-6 (0-3f), A McGrath 2-2, D McLaughlin 1-2, L Loughlin 1-1, D Egerton 0-3 (2f, 1‘65’), P Scally 1-0, O Loughlin 0-2, S Power 0-1.

Fr Dalton’s: S Maxwell 1-0, O McCabe (2f), J Gilligan 0-2 each, E Kincaid 0-1.

Clonkill: Andrew Mitchell; Shane Power, Darragh Egerton, Andrew Shaw; Mark Keegan, Paddy Dowdall, Oisín Loughlin; Luke Loughlin, Rian Holding; Brendan Murtagh, Peadar Scally, Ciaran Nolan; Daire McLaughlin, Alan McGrath, Jordy Smyth. Subs used: Luke Kenny for Smyth (inj., 25), Josh Murtagh for B Murtagh (51).

Fr Dalton’s: Eoin Moran; Eoin Ryan, Brian McCabe, Sean McCabe; Sean Keena, Jack Kearney, Padraig Nestor; Ciaran Clear, Sam Maxwell; Enda Kincaid, John Gilligan, Ivan Smyth; Owen McCabe, Brian Finerty, Jack Duncan. Subs used: Kenny Kincaid for S McCabe (h-t), Kieran Martin for Smyth (h-t), Ronan McLoughlin for E Kincaid (45), Conor McNeill for Keena (inj., 56), Ciaran Finerty for Duncan (56).

Ref: James McGrath (Turin).

Examiner' Eye on game

Man of the match

Brendan Murtagh (Clonkill). Class is permanent! The versatile veteran racked up a whopping 3-6 at his ease, albeit the losers’ defence had a real off-day.

Key moment

Fr Dalton’s players missed some early chances which might have kept the game competitive for longer.