Reddan strike gives Holy Family the breathing space
Holy Family Mullingar 5-10 The Downs N.S. 3-8
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Holy Family captain and vice-captain Oisín Kelly and Pau Dooley raise the cup. Pics: John McCauley.Image 2 of 5
Holy Family hurling team, winners of the Div. 3 title.Image 3 of 5
The Downs team, runners-up in the Div. 3 hurling final.Image 4 of 5
Jamie Byrne of Holy Family in possesion.Image 5 of 5
Terence Gibson of Holy Family challenges Conal Murphy for the ball.A strong Holy Family Mullingar took home the Westmeath Cumann na mBunscol Hurling Division 3 title in TEG Cusack Park recently in front of a strong crowd under the warm weather. The victors made up for their defeat the previous season in the final, while The Downs continue their development through strong tests like this one.
A better start may have served the beaten finalists well but Holy Family simply turned up the heat from the throw-in. Eoin Reddan got the ball rolling with a quickfire point before Oisín Kelly landed a free and then a goal. When Reddan smacked home a second goal (all inside six blistering minutes) the tie looked to be over. Reddan and Terence Gibson continued to shoot on sight and their points suddenly made it 2-4 to 0-0. A double from Oisín Kelly maintained the distance between the teams heading into the second-quarter. The Downs had the ball in the net a second time as James Kenna showed his side the way.
Trailing 2-8 to 2-1 was not ideal for The Downs but did they make amends with two early replies from Kenna (one of those a lovely 35’). Eoin Reddan hit 1-1 in three minutes to effectively kill the tie. The Downs response was clear as Kenna made no mistake adding three more points (two from frees).
Getting in for more goals was too difficult for The Downs. At the far side, brilliant skill by Oisín Kelly helped him create space for the 4th goal. Credit to Na Dúnta, they fought on and reaped some consolation through Kenna’s well-struck 35’ and a beautifully finished goal. Conor Quinlan’s final touch in a melee went over the bar, but there was still time for Pau Dooley to smash home the fifth and final goal of a very entertaining encounter.
Dooley alongside fellow-captain, Oisín Kelly, accepted the trophy from Cathaoirleach Cumann na mBunscol Iarmhí and The Downs NS Principal, Derek Butler.
Scorers - Holy Family Mullingar: O Kelly 2-5 (0-1 from a free, 0-1 from a 35’), E Reddan 2-4, P Dooley 1-0, T Gibson 0-1. The Downs NS: J Kenna 2-7 (0-3 from frees, 0-2 from 35’), C Murphy 1-0, C Quinlan 0-1.
Holy Family Mullingar: Cian Sheerin-Delemere, Jamie Byrne, Seán Dooley, Oisín Kelly, Terence Gibson, Josh Burke, Pau Dooley, Eoin Reddan, Donnacha Doyle, Finn Healy-Harraghy, Kian Newcombe, Coran Quinn, Luke Mulligan, Dylan Hanly, Harry McLaughlin, Luca Hannify, Evan Palmer, Tom Lynch, Liam Duffy.
The Downs NS: Luke Kenna, Harry Doyle, Tom O’Connell, Aidan Quinlan, James Kenna, Cónal Murphy, Conor Quinlan, Rían Gilhooley, Tiernan Coyne, Conor Donohoe, James Doyne, Austin Clarke, Rory Murphy, Michael Kretsu, Peter Fitzpatrick, Dylan Crowley.
Referee: Barry Kelly (St Oliver Plunkett’s).