Doyle’s brace decisive as Gaels defeat ‘Pollard

Lough Lene Gaels 2-16, Castlepollard 1-10

Two goals from nationally-respected full back Tommy Doyle, operating on this occasion for his club at full forward, were pivotal in Lough Lene Gaels’ comfortable win against neighbours Castlepollard in a Westmeath senior hurling championship game which never reached any great heights in TEG Cusack Park last Friday evening.

In truth, except for a period of ‘Pollard dominance in the second quarter, last year’s finalists looked the better team in a match which will be quickly forgotten, as the standard was way short of what these age-old rivals are capable of producing at their best.

Aided by a slight breeze blowing towards the scoreboard end of the ground, the ‘Yellow Bellies’ raced into a two-point lead by the fourth minute courtesy of Brendan Doyle (open play) and David Williams (a monster free). John McCarthy surprisingly went for a goal from a sixth-minute free at the other end, but he had the consolation of converting the resultant ‘65’after his shot had been blocked.

Derek McNicholas and Darragh Tierney traded opportunist points before a score apiece from Tommy Doyle and David Williams (a free) put the winners ahead by 0-5 to 0-2. The blue and gold-clad outfit were very wasteful at this juncture, and their opponents increased their advantage to four points exactly midway through the first moiety when John Egan pointed after a clever flick by Tommy Doyle.

The fare on offer was poor, and the Gaels could easily have got their first goal. McNicholas and Darragh McCormack exchanged quality points as the scoring rate suddenly increased. The lively Shane Williams pointed for the men in purple and gold, but a quickfire hat-trick from the sticks of Andrew Dermody, McCarthy (a free), and McCormack had the gap down to two points (0-8 to 0-6) by the 27th minute. Shane Williams doubled his tally before the break, leaving the points’ tally – and ironically, the wides’ tally – both at nine to six in the Gaels’ favour at half-time.

Less than three minutes after play resumed, the ‘Jogger’ showed his class with a great catch from a McNicholas lineball, before he bore down on goals and unleashed an unstoppable angled shot past Jimmy Greville. The respective number 11s, McCarthy and David Williams, equally shared the next six points between them from frees, leaving the Gaels ahead by 1-12 to 0-9. Castlepollard ought to have found the net during this period.

However, the side under the tutelage of Johnny Murray and Seamus Sheridan did manage a goal in the 47th minute. McCarthy’s well-struck shot was smartly saved by county ‘keeper Noel Conaty, but he was powerless to keep out Allan Devine’s flick from the rebound. Tommy Doyle’s height and physicality were real headaches for the losers, and he went on to score a game-turning 1-1 - a great point followed by a kicked goal in the 55th minute after a goalmouth scramble following a Brendan Doyle surge.

Dermody doubled his tally for ‘Pollard but there was no way back, and Lough Lene Gaels wrapped up a fine win with three late points courtesy of David Williams (a ‘65’, after he had been superbly denied a three-pointer by Greville, and a free), and a wonderful long-range free by veteran McNicholas.

Scorers – Lough Lene Gaels: T Doyle 2-2, D Williams 0-7 (6f, 1‘65’), D McNicholas 0-3 (1f), S Williams 0-2, B Doyle, J Egan 0-1 each.

Castlepollard: J McCarthy 0-5 (4f, 1‘65’), A Devine 1-0, D McCormack, A Dermody 0-2 each, D Tierney 0-1.

Lough Lene Gaels: Noel Conaty; Dan Reilly, Dan Higgins, Daire Daly; Philip Reilly, Daragh Qamar, Shane Williams; Micheal Daly, Brendan Doyle; John Egan, David Williams, Jason Malone; Derek McNicholas, Tommy Doyle, Marcus Kennedy. Subs used: Eoin Daly for Malone (43), Thomas Kennedy for Egan (48), Jordan Williams for M Kennedy (60+1).

Castlepollard: Jimmy Greville; Sean Lancaster, Darragh Reilly, Oisín Gaffney; Paul Dermody, Conor Gaffney, Martin Egan; Charlie McCormack, Colm Dermody; Joe Rabbitt, John McCarthy, Andrew Dermody; Allan Devine, Darragh McCormack, Darragh Tierney. Subs used: Brian Gilchrist for Egan (25), Ben Murphy for O Gaffney (45), Conor Sheridan for Tierney (47), Alex McCormack for C McCormack (inj., 55).

Ref: Caymon Flynn (St Brigid’s).