Impressive second half display propels Garrycastle to another final

Gerry Buckley reportsA day after his Galway Under 21 hurling charges were annihilated by Tipperary in the All-Ireland final, Garrycastle manager Anthony Cunningham had something to celebrate last Sunday afternoon when he guided the reigning county champions to the final of the Westmeath senior football championship at Cusack Park, with their impressive second half performance enabling them to oust a very game Killucan side by a somewhat flattering five-point margin in a very entertaining contest.Last year’s Leinster finalists looked to be in real trouble at half-time when they trailed to the very committed underdogs in saffron and white, who deservedly led by 1-8 to 0-6, their goal having come in the 12th minute courtesy of a great finish by James Nugent.However, the game turned completely in the first five minutes after the resumption, with the men in green and red rattling up 2-2 without reply, the goals coming from close range from wing back Mark McCallon and corner forward Conor Cosgrove. By the 49th minute, Killucan had reduced the deficit to the bare minimum, but a brilliant strike by Cosgrove for his second goal effectively sealed the issue in favour of the holders, who now face Mullingar Shamrocks in the decider in October.After a somewhat lacklustre opening semi-final, the 1,503 spectators present were hoping to see a better quality game in the second match of the double-header. And they were not to be disappointed, with 29 scores, many of a very high standard, and some fine passages of play from both sides. After Des Dolan opened the scoring with a typically-classy point in the second minute, Dermot Brady’s charges settled into their stride and proceeded to play some delightful, direct football. Shane Leavy levelled the game in the fourth minute with a great point from an acute angle and, directly from the kick-out (Cathal Mullin experienced quite a few problems in this regard in the early stages) James Nugent’s low-trajectory shot edged Killucan ahead.An astute pass from Des Dolan teed up Paul Dillon for a goal chance, but goalkeeper David Bryan and full back Francis Boyle spread themselves well to keep out a double attempt by the full forward at the expense of an unconverted ‘45’.Bryan soon fisted out a Des Dolan lob, but Justin McAteer was alert to the situation and he equalised from 30 metres. Within a minute, Seanie O’Donoghue picked out Paul Dillon who duly kicked a great left-footed point.Killucan took the lead in the 12th minute when a great run and pass by Conor Jordan freed James Nugent who rifled a great shot to the net via the outstretched fingertips of Cathal Mullin. This great score galvanised the challengers and they added four unanswered points between the 13th and 16th minutes, via Paul Greville (a wonderful score), Shane Leavy (who added in the air to a ‘45‘, taken by his brother Padraig), Greville again (having dispossessed Cathal Mullin, perhaps illegally) and the latter player from a 35-metre free. The champions were now in a real battle and a brace of points from powerful corner forward Paddy Mulvihill (the first when he added to Justin McAteer’s lob and the second having received the ball from a quickly-taken Des Dolan free) settled their nerves. Paul Greville’s outstanding form throughout the entire campaign was maintained in Sunday’s game and the dual star added another point in the 21st minute, having done very well to keep the ball in play from John Shaw’s long punt. Some two minutes later, wing back Christopher Leech got in on the scoring act with an opportunist point. With five minutes of normal time remaining in the first moiety, Killucan’s Anthony Doyle nearly had the misfortune of scoring an own goal, but Conor Cosgrove was wide from the resultant ‘45’. Mark McCallon was very narrowly wide for the champions and Seanie O’Donoghue hit the upright, but Garrycastle eventually managed a point in the 29th minute courtesy of a well-judged free from Des Dolan.The same player was most untypically wild with a late attempt at a point in the final action of the first half. The scoreboard read Killucan 1-8 Garrycastle 0-6, as a brief exchange of ‘pleasantries’ preceded the players entering the tunnel for their half-time break.Whatever Anthony Cunningham said in the Garrycastle dressing room during the interval certainly had the desired effect as his charges turned the game on its head in the opening five minutes of the second moiety.Justin McAteer pointed after a mere 15 seconds and his midfield partner Seanie O’Donoghue was narrowly wide with a fisted effort in the next attack. Within a minute, a fine move involving Rory McGowan, McAteer and Paddy Mulvihill was finished to the net from close range by overlapping wing back Mark McCallon. Seanie O’Donoghue added a great left-footed point and when Rory McGowan’s cross-cum-shot, following a long solo run, fell kindly for Conor Cosgrove, the corner forward scooped the ball to the net. In a flash, a five-point deficit had been transformed into a three-point lead.At the other end, a shell-shocked Killucan side went in search of a badly-needed score, but a weak snapshot by Brendan McKeogh, after Padraig Leavy’s ‘45’ fell short, was easily held by Cathal Mullin and David O’Shaughnessy, who togged out in an unusual half forward role, was on hand to produce a great block on Paul Greville.Sandwiched between a neat point from Shane Leavy and a converted free by Paul Greville, an attempt for a second goal by James Nugent was expertly foiled by Cathal Mullin at the expense of an unconverted ‘45’. Midway through the half, Paddy Mulvihill kicked a great left-footed point and was then narrowly wide with a right-footed effort.A fine free from his hands from 45 metres by Padraig Leavy left the bare minimum between the teams before Conor Cosgrove struck for one of the best goals of the entire championship with nine minutes of normal time remaining, rifling the ball to the top of the net from 15 metres after a great four-man build-up.Substitute Shane Mulvihill, sporting a distinctive face mask following a recent injury, added a point and Paul Dillon soon put Garrycastle two goals clear from a routine left-footed free.A fabulous point from play and another converted free, both from the trusted left boot of Paul Greville, rounded off Killucan’s scoring haul.The same player proceeded to miss a scoreable free, perhaps having been caught in two minds as to whether to take a point or try a lob for a goal. Shane Mulvihill wrapped up the scoring in the second minute of added-time with a great point from 40 metres.Garrycastle will now be favourites to retain their title, with their very strong panel again a noteworthy feature of their credentials. Conversely, Killucan will be aware that perhaps another player or two will be required to reach the holy grail in Lake County football. They are certainly not far off the mark.Garrycastle: Cathal Mullin; James Dolan, John Gaffey, Alan Fox; Mark McCallon (1-0), Karl Henson, Doran Harte; Seanie O’Donoghue (0-1), Justin McAteer (0-2); David O’Shaughnessy, Des Dolan (0-2, 0-1 from a free), Rory McGowan; Conor Cosgrove (2-0), Paul Dillon (0-2, 0-1 from a free), Paddy Mulvihill (0-3). Subs: Enda Mulvihill (for Henson, half-time), Shane Mulvihill (0-2) (for McGowan, 44 mins), Aidan Browne (for McAteer, 53 mins), Alan Daly (for Cosgrove, 57 mins).Killucan: David Bryan; Johnny Greville, Francis Boyle, Stephen Morley; Christopher Leech (0-1), John Shaw, Mark Dunne; Conor Jordan, Padraig Leavy (0-1, from a free); Anthony Doyle, James Nugent (1-1), Cormac Boyle; Brendan McKeogh, Paul Greville (0-7, 0-3 from frees), Shane Leavy (0-3). Subs: Brian Smyth (for J.Greville, 34 mins), Niall Flanagan (for McKeogh, 52 mins), Dan Riggs (for Morley, 57 mins).Referee: Damien Maher (Ballynacargy).