Raleigh excels as Clann na Gael crowned U14 champions

Clann na Gael 4-09 Clonkill 1-12

A superb individual display by Conor Raleigh was the main talking point in cold but pleasant conditions in Clonkill last Wednesday evening, as the home team lost narrowly to a well-drilled combination side representing Clann na Gael in an entertaining Westmeath U14 Hurling Division 1 final.

The team in green and gold got off to a fine start with a brace of early points from the sticks of Michael Brennan (after 30 seconds) and Ben Loughlin (a third-minute free after he had been fouled). However, the first of many star moments from the aforementioned Raleigh soon arrived when he scored a wonderful goal. Indeed, he quickly followed up with a classy point.

Clonkill regained the lead with points from Brennan (from play) and Loughlin (two frees) with eight minutes elapsed. Raleigh (another great score from play) and Loughlin (his fourth successful free) traded points before Odran Devine broke the scoring monotony for the team in navy with a fine point to level the contest.A Raleigh brace from placed balls (a free and a ‘65’, after Harry Brennan had bravely saved from Channing Dafel) edged the Castlepollard/Brownstown combination ahead. In the 28th minute, Raleigh scored a truly sensational individual goal, before James Nea wrapped up the first half scoring with a well-worked point at the other end. Clann na Gael led by 2-5 to 0-7 at the break.

The Raleigh masterclass continued on the change of ends with four unanswered points by 37th minute – two each from frees and open play. A minute later, James McHugh teed up Colm Clinton for a fine goal to leave the home side just five points in arrears (2-9 to 1-7).

However, sub Eoin Smith responded with an opportunist goal from point-blank range after Dafel had been denied a three-pointer.

Clonkill continued to battle bravely and were rewarded with three unanswered points from Loughlin (two, the first from play, sandwiched between which a 60-metre lineball from Conor Raleigh amazingly struck the crossbar), and centre half back Killian Raleigh.

However, the game’s top scorer was not finished yet and he opted to go low from a 30-metre free in the 54th minute and duly found the net to round off his side’s scoring. Clonkill had the small consolation of scoring the game’s last two points via Brennan (who was brilliantly denied a goal by Eton O’Leary) and Clinton (whose shot was also deflected over the Clann na Gael bar).

After the game, on behalf of Coiste na n-Óg in Westmeath, Pat Collins presented the shield to the joint-captains of Clann na Gael, Conor Raleigh and Luke Ward.

Scorers: Clann na Gael: C Raleigh 3-8 (1-3f, 0-1‘65’), E Smith 1-0, O Devine 0-1.

Clonkill: B Loughlin 0-6 (5f), C Clinton 1-1, M Brennan 0-3, K Raleigh, J Nea 0-1 each.

Clann na Gael: Eton O’Leary; Shane Cox, Ciaran Mulvaney, Sean Hand; Jamie McGuinness, Luke Ward, Joseph Mulvey; Conor McGrath, Jack McGuinness; Conor Raleigh, Odran Devine, Conor Halpin; Aaron Reilly, Channing Dafel, Oisín McGuinness. Sub used: Eoin Smith for Reilly (h-t).

Clonkill: Harry Brennan; Diarmuid Graham, Adam Slevin Kiernan, Michael Long; Callum Cleary, Killian Raleigh, Ciarán McGrath; Alexander Graham, Colm Clinton; James Nea, Michael Brennan, Conor Raleigh; Padraic Craig, James McHugh, Ben Loughlin. Subs used: Adam Hughes for Raleigh (h-t), Aidan Tuite for Craig (h-t), Oisín Keena for McHugh (54).

Ref: Caymon Flynn (St Brigid’s).