Kinnegad boys triumph as Esker Gaels fade in second half

Coralstown/Kinnegad 2-6 Esker Gaels 0-6

Coralstown/Kinnegad’s scoring consistency over both halves was the main reason they beat Esker Gaels in the Westmeath Minor Division 3 Football Championship final at Home Instead Lakepoint Park, Mullingar last Sunday.

It was a fairly mild morning in terms of the temperatures, but a strong, blustery wind blew across the field. Coralstown/Kinnegad had the elements in the their favour in the first half and they used them to their advantage.

With Conor Callaghan to the fore, they were leading 1-2 to 0-2 after 15 minutes. Callaghan was the key player in the first quarter, and he scored his side's goal. He added a point and assisted in Shane Govan’s score.

Nathan Corcoran and Ben Martin kicked two points each for Esker Gaels (a combination of Maryland/Tang and St Joseph’s) to keep themselves in the game.

Coming up to half-time, Coralstown/Kinnegad had a lead of 1-4 to 0-4 but Esker Gaels finished the half strongly. Adam Smyth, who played as a 'plus one' in defence, marauded forward to kick an inspirational score and that was followed by a William Geraghty point to leave the bare minimum between the sides at the interval, with Coralstown Kinnegad leading 1-4 to 0-6.

That left Esker Gaels with plenty of cause to be hopeful with the wind helping them for the second half, but they didn’t score again. They seemed to run out of ideas and gradually confidence. But the eventual losers were still just one point in arrears in the 52nd minute as both teams failed to score for almost 22 minutes of the second half.

Coralstown/Kinnegad were the more impressive side, they were more offensive and they had six wides in that lengthy scoreless spell.

The victors brought on Callum Lynch at full forward and the tall substitute turned the game in his side’s favour. Lynch kicked an inspiring score, the first score of the second half in the 52nd minute. Lynch was also involved in their next score, kicked by Dylan Flynn.

Then Lynch was involved again; this time his eagerness for possession and assistance in the build up helped to set up John Rogerson, who scored the goal that put the game to bed. There was five minutes of added time played but it was too late for Esker Gaels and the Kinnegad based side held on for a deserved win.

Coralstown/Kinnegad’s last ten minutes won the game. They used the elements better and they had a better supply of scorers. The introduction of Lynch also helped and, overall, they deserved the title.

One had to wonder what happened to the Esker Gaels challenge in the second half? They had put themselves in the perfect position at the interval, just a point in arrears and with the elements in their favour for the second half. But they didn’t score again and despite the windy conditions, there are little excuses that can be offered for their failure to score in over 30 minutes.

Scorers – Coralstown/Kinnegad: C Callaghan 1-1, J Rogerson 1-0, D Flynn 0-2, S Govan, L Lavelle and C Lynch 0-1 each. Esker Gaels: N Corcoran 0-2, B Martin 0-2 (1f), A Smyth and W Geraghty 0-1 each.

Coralstown/Kinnegad: Oisin Murray; Alex McCabe, Liam Lavelle, Eoghan Daly; Seán Speller, Wayne O’Neill, Eoin Mulligan; Shane Govan, John Rogerson; Aaron Kavanagh, Conor Callaghan, Dylan Flynn; Finn McDermott, Andrew Coyne, Matthew Kiernan. Subs Evan Holbrook for McDermott (42 mins); Callum Lynch for Coyne (45); Ronan Kearney for Kiernan (59).

Esker Gaels: Seán Elliffe; DJ Connaughton, Cathal Reilly, Michael Cummins; Alex Johnston, Eoghan Fallon, Kyle McCormack; Keelan Blom, Daniel Taplin; Nathan Corcoran, William Geraghty, Eoin Conlon; Adam Smyth, Owen Tandy, Ben Martin. Subs used: Tristan Montgomery for Conlon (43 mins); Eoin Conlon for Tandy (55).

Referee: Vinny Cox (Rosemount).