CFCW totally dominant in poor north Westmeath derby

CFCW 3-9, Ballycomoyle 0-1

In a match that was as one-sided as the scoreline suggests, Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall (CFCW) delivered a commanding performance to overwhelm Ballycomoyle, securing a comprehensive victory in the Westmeath Junior 1 Football Championship on Sunday. The encounter, played under breezy but dry conditions in Multyfarnham, saw CFCW dominate their neighbours from start to finish, highlighting the gap between the two sides on the day.

With a 17-point margin at the final whistle, CFCW were deserved winners, their dominance never in doubt and they move on to a quarter-final clash against Coralstown/Kinnegad, but 12 scores (10 from play) is a statistic that they will need to improve on if they are to win the title. For Ballycomoyle, it was a day to forget, as they failed to score in the first half and faced a 15-point deficit. They must now turn their attention to a quarter-final clash with St Loman’s, Mullingar and only time will tell what impact this heavy defeat has; they will hope to regroup and put up a stronger showing in their next outing. Fielding what was essentially a second-string side, they were simply outclassed by a CFCW team at full strength and firing on all cylinders.

The game started with CFCW laying down a marker almost immediately. Ryan Plunkett, showing sharpness and composure, opened the scoring with a well-taken point just two minutes in. Ballycomoyle, still settling into the match, were unable to respond before CFCW struck again. A minute later, Joe Rabbitt confidently converted a free to double their lead.

CFCW’s early pressure paid off in emphatic fashion in the third minute when Ciaran Fagan, skipping clear of the Ballycomoyle defence, latched onto a perfectly weighted pass from Conor Gaffney. Fagan, with a clear sight of goal, kept his nerve to slot the ball past the Ballycomoyle goalkeeper, Joe Higgins, giving CFCW a dream start with a 1-2 to 0-0 lead. This early goal was a clear indication of the control CFCW would exert throughout the match.

The intensity of CFCW’s play was relentless. Just two minutes after his goal, Fagan was on the scoresheet again, this time with a point after receiving a well-timed pass from Darragh McCormack. CFCW were clearly in the ascendancy, moving the ball with fluidity and purpose, leaving Ballycomoyle chasing shadows.

In the fifth minute, Joe Rabbitt added another point, a superb effort following a slick build-up involving Allan Devine and Conor Gaffney. Rabbitt’s point pushed CFCW’s lead to 1-4, and at this stage, Ballycomoyle were struggling to get any foothold in the game. The neighbouring teams, usually well-matched rivals, were worlds apart on this occasion, with CFCW totally dominant.

As the game progressed into the second quarter, CFCW continued to pile on the pressure. Mark Cunningham added to the tally with a point in the 16th minute, stretching the lead to 2-4. The gulf in class was evident as Ballycomoyle remained scoreless, unable to muster a response. A minute later, Darragh McCormack chipped in with another fine point, showcasing the confidence flowing through the CFCW side.

The defining moment of the first half came in the 19th minute. Emmet Corrigan, spotting an opportunity, launched a high, hopeful ball into the danger area. John McCarthy, showing excellent anticipation, outfoxed his marker to win possession in behind before calmly finishing low into the bottom corner, past the advancing Joe Higgins. McCarthy’s goal put the game beyond doubt, and when McCormack added a neat point just before the half-time whistle, CFCW had built an unassailable 3-6 to 0-0 lead.

The 15-point margin at the interval reflected the one-way traffic that had unfolded in the first half.

The half-time break provided little respite for Ballycomoyle, whose performance up to that point had been disappointing. They managed only one score in this match and that was in the seventh minute of the second half when Max Charles finally got his side on the scoreboard with a point that clipped the inside of the upright before going over. It was a well-taken effort, but merely a consolation in the context of the game. Ballycomoyle’s struggles in attack were emblematic of their overall performance, as they failed to register another score for the remainder of the match.

CFCW, on the other hand, continued to control proceedings. In the 14th minute, Mark Cunningham added another point to his tally after receiving a smart pass from Johnny Hardman. The score extended CFCW’s lead further, and there was no sign of them ever losing control as the game wore on.

As the match entered its closing stages, CFCW continued to push forward, eager to add to their tally. In the 24th minute, Joe Rabbitt pointed from a free, and just two minutes later, he capped off a terrific individual performance with a superb point from play. This final score, set up by substitutes Donald Moore and McCarthy, was the perfect way to round off an emphatic victory and he could even afford to have a penalty saved by Higgins in the 58th minute.

For Michael Tynan's CFCW side, this victory not only secures progression in the championship but also delivers local bragging rights over their neighbours, at least for now. Their all-round team performance, characterised by sharp attacking play and a solid defensive effort, bodes well for the challenges that lie ahead. However, the overall standard of the match left much to be desired, with Ballycomoyle’s depleted squad unable to provide the contest that might have been expected between these traditional rivals. David Molloy and Philip Rainey will be hoping their charges recover for the quarter-final.

Scorers - CFCW: D McCormack and C Fagan 1-2 each, J Rabbitt 0-4 (2f), J McCarthy 1-0, R Plunkett 0-1.

Ballycomoyle: M Charles 0-1.

CFCW: Gary Sullivan; Conor O'Grady, Darragh O'Reilly, Ryan Moore; Emmet Corrigan, Glen Plunkett, Conor Gaffney; Luke Moore, Darren Kilcoyne; Darragh McCormack, Allan Devine, Mark Cunningham; John McCarthy, Ryan Plunkett, Joe Rabbitt. Subs: Martin Egan for McCormack (inj., 30), Alan Naughton for Kilcoyne (h-t), Brian Gilchrist for Corrigan (onj., 44), Sen Dermody for Plunkett (54), Donald Moore for Devine (55).

Ballycomoyle: Joe Higgins; Brian Gaffney, Billy Ryan, Ciaran English; Tjaye Higgins, James McHugh, Micheál Daly; Brendan Doyle, Charles Flynn; Max Charles, John Egan, Alex Little; Evan Farrelly, Eoin English, David Williams. Subs: Daire Hannon for Gaffney (40), Odhran Hannon for T Higgins and Fergal Tiernan for Doyle (49), Aaron Kennedy for Williams (50), Kevin English for C English (51),

Ref: Ken Daly (Loughnavalley).