Late points secure thrilling opening day win for Raharney
Raharney 1-22, Castletown Geoghegan 2-17
By Gerry Buckley
If the soon-to-be-announced Westmeath senior hurling manager sees a glut of matches of the standard displayed in last Friday night’s opening fixture in the race for the Westmeath Examiner Cup in TEG Cusack Park, he will have great hopes for the county side.
Of course, the protagonists, Raharney and Castletown-Geoghegan could easily end up contesting the final in October. Accordingly, it was no great surprise for the disappointingly-small crowd that these age-old rivals produced a terrific contest, with the Deelsiders edging their opponents by two points, both scored deep into added-time.
A classy point from David Hickey and a Killian Doyle free had John Shaw’s troops two points to the good by the fifth minute. Tit-for-tat point exchanges ensued, courtesy of Jack Gallagher and Doyle (a free), David O’Reilly and Doyle (another free), Eamonn Cunneen and O’Reilly (from a tight angle), Liam Varley (a free) and Doyle (a ‘65’), and Plunkett Maxwell and Eoghan Ahearn. This left the men in blue ahead by 0-7 to 0-5 at the end of the opening quarter.
Alan Mangan’s charges took the lead for the first time in the 19th minute when a long run from Westmeath championship debutant and Carlow native Jack Murphy teed up O’Reilly for a typically well-taken goal.
Jack Gallagher soon doubled the losers’ advantage before Doyle opened his account from open play at the other end.
An unanswered 1-2 – points from Varley (after a clever rob) and the outstanding Johnny Bermingham, and a fine opportunist goal from Gallagher – put the men in black and amber two goals clear (2-8 to 0-8) by the 26th minute, but Raharney rallied with points from Cunneen and a brace of Doyle frees.
Peter Clarke pointed shortly after the half-hour had elapsed, but a flicked goal from Devin Hill (after a shot from the hard-working Robert Coyne had been blocked) was a huge lift to a hitherto-wasteful Raharney outfit seconds before the half-time whistle despite trailing by 2-9 to 1-11 at the break.
The evenly-matched sides were on level terms at the end of the third quarter, during which the promised rain duly arrived. A quality point from the talented O’Reilly doubled Castletown’s lead prior to a point exchange between the respective number 8s, Maxwell and Cunneen.
Doyle (a great ‘65’ from near the stand sideline) and Varley (a free) traded points, before a Doyle brace (a free and open play) tied up the scoring at 1-15 to 2-12.
The teams equally shared six points by the 51st minute (two Varley frees, and one from play by sub Peter Murphy for Castletown, with sub Cormac Boyle, Michael Doherty, and Hickey on target for the winners). Similarly, Doyle and sub Aonghus Clarke, Varley and Doyle (frees at either end) swapped scores, leaving a draw looking very likely with almost two of the announced minimum three minutes of added-time used up.
However, the impressive Cunneen (seconds after his sideline cut was short of the target) edged his side in front, and from the resultant misplaced puck-out Doyle slotted over the insurance point to round off a thoroughly entertaining game.
Scorers – Raharney: K Doyle 0-13 (7f, 2‘65’), E Cunneen 0-4, D Hill 1-0, D Hickey 0-2, M Doherty, E Ahearne, C Boyle 0-1 each. Castletown-Geoghegan: D O’Reilly 1-3, L Varley 0-6 (5f), J Gallagher 1-2, P Maxwell 0-2, J Bermingham, P Clarke, A Clarke, P Murphy 0-1 each.
Raharney: Aaron McHugh; Conor McKeogh, Jamie Mulkearns, Darren Finn; David Hickey, Robbie Greville, Brian McGrath; Eamonn Cunneen, Michael Doherty; Robert Coyne, Killian Doyle, Devin Hill; Ciaran Doyle, Eoin Keyes, Eoghan Ahearn. Sub used: Cormac Boyle for Hill (35).
Castletown-Geoghegan: Ciaran O’Brien; David Maloney, Aaron Glennon, Naoise McKenna; Shane Clavin, Jack Murphy, Johnny Bermingham; Plunkett Maxwell, David Fennell; Conor Murphy, David O’Reilly, Liam Varley; Morgan Gavigan, Peter Clarke, Jack Gallagher. Subs used: Aonghus Clarke for Gavigan (39), Peter Murphy for Fennell (48).
Ref: Barry Kelly (St Oliver Plunkett’s).