Doyle seeking redemption
Lough Lene Gaels captain Tommy Doyle is brimming with determination as he leads his side into another Westmeath Senior 'A' Hurling final at TEG Cusack Park on Sunday, October 27. After last year’s heart-wrenching defeat to Raharney in the county decider, Doyle and his teammates are eager to set the record straight when they face 2022 champions Castletown Geoghegan in what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter.
Reflecting on last year’s disappointment, Doyle is both pragmatic and optimistic about the opportunity to put things right. “We’re really looking forward to it," he said. "Last year was my first final after 12 or 13 years of playing senior club hurling, and you do wonder at times if you’ll ever get back to that stage. To bounce back after such a disappointing defeat last year is a testament to the hard work that’s been put in by the management and players. It’s been a long road, but now we’re back, and we know exactly what we need to do next week.”
For Doyle, the return to the final is a reward for the dedication and effort shown by the entire team over the past year. “It’s been enjoyable to get where we are, but we’re under no illusions; getting to the final is just one part of it. Now it’s about getting over the line.”
The two teams are no strangers to each other, having met in last year’s semi-final, which Lough Lene Gaels won. Castletown Geoghegan, however, come into this year’s final eager to reclaim their crown, and Doyle is well aware of the quality they possess, particularly from the county players he knows so well. “I have huge respect for the Castletown lads,” Doyle said. “I’ve hurled with Aonghus Clarke since we were under-13, and we were both coached by his father. I’ve lived with Liam Varley in college, so I know the boys well through the good times and the bad. But all that love goes out the door once the game begins - we’ll be going toe-to-toe on Sunday.”
The Gaels’ journey to the final hasn’t been without its challenges, but Doyle believes the team’s steady improvement throughout the season has put them in a good position to succeed. “We’ve had a couple of blips along the way, and that’s just part of it,” he said. “The great thing about this group is that lads have stepped up when others have had an off day. I don’t think we’ve had an outstanding team performance yet, so hopefully everything clicks on Sunday.”
One area where Doyle sees significant progress is in the contributions from younger players, who have stepped up to the plate this season. “In the past, we might have been reliant on one or two of us to pull through, but this year it’s been brilliant to see younger lads like Dara Qamar and Marcus Kennedy coming through in the full-back line,” Doyle explained. “We’ve had lads who haven’t played major minutes this year still showing up to every session, pushing everyone on. The commitment has been outstanding, and that drives everything forward.”
The captain also praised the strong sense of community that has developed around the team, with younger players from the club showing their support by attending training sessions and learning from the senior squad. “There’s a great buzz around the place," Doyle said. "Philly (Philip Reilly) was saying earlier that the young lads are here at every session, pucking away themselves, and it’s great to see them picking up hurleys at such a young age. Hopefully, that’s something that drives the club forward in the future.”
Despite the sense of optimism, Doyle is acutely aware of the challenge that awaits in Castletown Geoghegan, a side he knows will be as hungry for victory as Lough Lene Gaels. “There’s been a lot of hard work to get back to this stage, but we know it’s going to take twice as much to get over the line,” he acknowledged. “When you start the year, anyone can get to the final: the way the structure is set up, every game matters. It went down to the final game in the group stage, and both ourselves and Castletown had to get results to make it through. That’s the way it is now, and it’s as tough as ever to get to a final.”
While Lough Lene Gaels have done the hard part by reaching the final for a second consecutive year, Doyle knows the real battle lies ahead on Sunday. “We’ve got this far, but there’s still 60-70% of the work left in this final game,” he said. “We know what’s at stake, and we’re ready for the challenge.”
As Lough Lene Gaels look to go one step further this year and lift the county title, Doyle’s leadership and the team’s collective effort will be crucial. “It’s been a long year of hard work, but we know what we need to do,” he concluded. “Now it’s time to get the job done.”
With Castletown Geoghegan eager to reclaim their title and Lough Lene Gaels determined to make up for last year’s heartbreak, Sunday’s final is set to be an enthralling contest between two of Westmeath’s finest hurling teams.