Williams and Na Piarsaigh deliver fine performance

Na Piarsaigh 1-14, Castletown Geoghegan 2-8

Producing a very determined effort, Na Piarsaigh upstaged pre-match favourites Castletown Geoghegan to claim the Westmeath U19 Division 1 hurling championship title, at Clonkill on Sunday morning.

After a lot of overnight rain, the host club did remarkably well to have the pitch playable and the soft sod meant a lot of battles had to be fought on the ground. It was in this scenario that Na Piarsaigh excelled and their work rate was outstanding over the course of the match, while in David Williams they had the outstanding individual player as they emerged with victory over 14-man Castletown Geoghegan.

Weather conditions were calm and cold, but the rain held off and supporters were treated to a gripping contest. Castletown Geoghegan were fancied by many to continue their great record with this talented bunch and they led by a point at half-time, 2-4 to 1-6. The leaders seemed well placed when Sean Jackson put them two points clear in the 42nd minute, but they managed just one further score (a Jackson free in the closing minute) as Na Piarsaigh upped the ante in fine style.

A second yellow card for Peter Clarke in the 58th minute meant Castletown Geoghegan finished the match with 14 men and it served to compound a miserable day for the talented side.

The combination of Turin and Lough Lene Gaels won the last 23 minutes (including added time) by 0-6 to 0-2 to claim the spoils and it was a victory for collective resolve as well as skill.

It was Na Piarsaigh who led early on through a David Williams point and the frantic early exchanges set the tone for a great final. Neale Pierson had Castletown Geoghegan on level terms, but a brace of Williams frees ensured the combination side led 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter.

Indeed, Na Piarsaigh looked the better team for much of that period and it took alert defending from Castletown Geoghegan to deny them a goal.

The Black and Ambers battled back and a pointed free from Sean Jackson in the 17th minute got them motoring. They were through on goal moments later, but Adam Cassidy couldn’t get his effort on target and eventually the ball was knocked out of play for a ‘65’, which Sean Jackson converted.

Castletown Geoghegan took the lead in the 20th minute when Jackson shot over a free, but William replied in similar fashion to keep it intriguing. Then came a brace of Castletown Geoghegan goals to put them firmly in the driving seat.

Firstly, Jackson’s free from long range travelled deep and the ball was batted out by ‘keeper Alex Little, only for Adam Cassidy to pounce and tap the ball to the net. Then in the final minute of normal time, David O’Reilly’s pass sent Peter Clarke clear and the industrious midfielder finished to the net in clinical fashion.

In the dust-up that followed, Clarke incurred a yellow card and that would prove costly before the game was up.

Na Piarsaigh were in no mood to stand and admire and they finished the half impressively. Williams converted two frees in added time and then came a crucial moment when skipped clear of the opposing cover and found the roof of the net with a superb strike. It was terrific skill by the rising Lough Lene Gaels star, whose quick lift from the heavy sod gave him every chance of carving the Castletown Geoghegan defence open.

Castletown Geoghegan were keen to make amends for what they considered a disappointing first half and they got the opening score when play resumed as Jackson shot over a free. Adam Clarke was introduced in attack as they tried continually to find the right balance, with O’Reilly and Peter Clarke deployed at full forward for different spells.

Nothing seemed to work, though and that was testament to the relentless collective effort of the Na Piarsaigh players.

A pointed free from Williams kept them in contention, but when Peter Clarke shot a free from inside the Castletown Geoghegan half, the ball hopped over for a point, leaving it 2-6 to 1-7 after 40 minutes.

Williams (free) and Jackson (who shot a fine point from distance) then traded scores as the tit for tat nature of play continued. Four unanswered points at this stage ensured Na Piarsaigh were back in front for the first time since the 17th minute. Williams was the man on target each time with converted frees and the pressure on the Castletown Geoghegan defence was leading to unnecessary fouls. Indeed, Na Piarsaigh could have been further ahead but for a couple of wides from placed balls, but it still looked rosy for them with a 1-12 to 2-7 advantage after 57 minutes.

Momentum was with the combination side and while Jackson hit over a free from distance, it was Na Piarsaigh who pressed on again. After substitute Calum Burns saw his effort come down off the upright, Conor Heffernan was fouled, leading to a Williams point in the third minute of added time. Heffernan then sent Burns clear and when he was fouled, Williams converted the free, meaning only a goal could rescue the situation for Castletown Geoghegan.

However, full-time was nigh and it was Na Piarsaigh who emerged convincing winners.

Amid great scenes of joy, Westmeath GAA chairman, Frank Mescall presented the cup to David Williams to complete a great day for the centre forward. For Lough Lene Gaels it made up for the disappointment of losing the senior final so narrowly, while for Turin, it represents another fine achievement for a small, but proud hurling community.

Scorers - Na Piarsaigh: D Williams 1-14 (0-13f). Castletown Geoghegan: S Jackson 0-6 (4f; 1 ‘65’), P Clarke 1-1 (0-1f), A Cassidy 1-0, N Pierson 0-1.

Na Piarsaigh: Alex Little; Kevin Hogan, Cian O’Neill, Jack Dowling; Declan McGrath, Darragh Smith, Oisín L’Estrange; Craig Neville, Conor Leech; Conor Heffernan, David Williams, Ciaran Kiernan; Cian Reilly, Daniel Buckley, Ryan Williams. Sub: Calum Burns for Reilly (20).

Castletown Geoghegan: Sean Clarke; Alan Conlon, David Maloney, Dylan Corrigan; Odhrán Gavigan, Peter Murphy, Killian Jackson; Peter Clarke, Shane Doran; Neale Pierson, David O’Reilly, Shane Corcoran; Adam Cassidy, Sean Jackson, Andrew Dalton. Subs: Adam Clarke for Dalton (34), Philip Reynolds for Cassidy (48).

Ref: Alfie Devine (Castlepollard). 

Examiner's Eye on game

Man of The Match

David Williams (Na Piarsaigh): Sometimes it’s difficult to make the call, but this was a routine choice as David Williams was simply outstanding on the day with all of his sides scores.

Score of the match

The goal from David Williams in first half injury-time: he showed wonderful skill to pick the ball off the wet sod on the run and his finish to the roof of the net was clinical.