Raharney always in control against weak Plunkett’s side

Raharney 3-25, St Oliver Plunkett's 0-5

Reigning Westmeath senior ‘A’ champions Raharney had a very facile win against their ‘B’ counterparts St Oliver Plunkett’s in the second leg of last Saturday’s hurling double-header in TEG Cusack Park, the Deelsiders proving to be full value for their whopping 29-point winning margin.

In truth, this no-contest was of very little value to either victor or vanquished. The men in blue will be serious challengers for the Westmeath Examiner Cup, as has been the case for many years, while the Mullingar outfit are already under serious relegation pressure as they get set to face Castlepollard in what may prove to be a winner-takes-all game the weekend after next.

Ironically, Plunkett’s took the lead via a Paddy Lynam free with exactly a minute elapsed – the Longford player went on to have an untypically mixed day from placed balls. However, John Shaw’s wind-assisted troops went on to score an unanswered 1-9 during the ensuing 18 minutes.

Darren Finn scored the first of the points before he and Eoghan Ahearn combined for Cormac Boyle to rifle the ball past Conor Lynch (who went on to make some smart saves as the game progressed). The other eight white flags were shared between Boyle, Killian Doyle (three, including two frees), his twin brother Ciaran (two from play), and influential wing back David Hickey (a great brace from open play also).

It was the 23rd minute before a bitterly disappointing side in white and green doubled their tally with a well-worked score from the stick of Thomas Meehan. A Killian Doyle ‘65’ (after Ahearn had been superbly denied by Lynch), another Ciaran Doyle effort from play, a neat point from Brian McGrath, and a great angled shot from Robbie Greville in the last action of the half, left Raharney all but home and hosed as they led by 1-13 to 0-2 at the interval.

A point each from the Doyle twins – a Killian free just 45 seconds into the second moiety, and a team score finished by Ciaran – put the holders 16 points clear by the 33rd minute. Lynam (a free) and Davy Gavin (a nice score from play) briefly interrupted Raharney’s dominance, but normal service was quickly resumed with two Killian Doyle frees preceding a 41st-minute goal from Boyle (when teed up by Robert Coyne, after slack defending by Ciaran McKenna’s charges).

The entertainment value for the small crowd was negligible at this juncture, with a procession of scores at the Dunnes Stores end of the ground greeted by virtually no applause. Points from sun Brian McHugh, Killian Doyle (three – a ‘65’, a free, and open play) were followed by Raharney’s third goal in the 52nd minute, Eoin Keyes setting up sub Eamonn Cunneen for a clinically-taken three-pointer.

Finn and Cunneen tagged on points before the losers’ measly total was wrapped up by Lynam from a free on the hour mark. In added-time, Keyes opened his account, and Cunneen brought his total to an impressive 1-2 from his quarter of an hour cameo with a great point after a Ciaran Doyle lineball, thereby ending a very forgettable hour-and-a-bit for those in attendance.

Scorers – Raharney: K Doyle 0-10 (6f, 2‘65’), C Boyle 2-1, E Cunneen 1-2, C Doyle 0-4, D Finn, D Hickey 0-2 each, R Greville, E Keyes, B McGrath, B McHugh 0-1 each.

St Oliver Plunkett’s: P Lynam 0-3 (3f), D Gavin, T Meehan 0-1 each.

Raharney: Aaron McHugh; Conor McKeogh, Jamie Mulkearns, Darren Finn; David Hickey, Robbie Greville, Gary Greville; Cormac Boyle, Michael Doherty; Robert Coyne, Killian Doyle, Brian McGrath; Ciaran Doyle, Eoin Keyes, Eoghan Ahearn. Subs used: Rory Keyes for Ahearn (38), Brian McHugh for Hickey (38), Eamonn Cunneen for Boyle (inj., 47).

St Oliver Plunkett’s: Conor Lynch; Zach Aherne, John Fry, Tomass Turks; Colm O’Leary, Aaron Craig, Brian Reidy; Cathal Craig, Paddy Lynam; Matthew Cunningham, Davy Gavin, Thomas Meehan; Ross Corroon, Ciaran Curley, Liam Carey. Subs used: Sean Kelly for C Craig (inj., 44), Nathan Cornally for Corroon (inj., 47).

Ref: James McGrath (Turin).