Garrycastle recover from shaky start

Garrycastle are on course for a fourth Flanagan Cup success this decade, following a comfortable five-point win over St. Loman"s in the first leg of last Sunday"s Westmeath senior football championship double-header at Cusack Park, but only after enduring an early scare from the Mullingar blues.In what was a relatively small attendance in the initial stages of the game, the entertainment on offer was far from riveting but this won"t unduly concern Martin McCabe"s troops who always looked the likely winners from the moment Paddy Mulvihill"s goal in the last half-minute of normal time in the first half gave them a three-point lead against a hitherto-dogged St. Loman"s outfit. With former All-Star, Des Dolan pulling the strings throughout the field on the change of ends, the green and reds were well in control and they wrapped up the victory with a succession of well-taken points in the second moiety.Des Dolan was in the thick of the action right from the throw-in and he set up Paddy Mulvihill for the opening point of the game, with only 12 seconds on the clock. However, the Mullingar men stunned the crowd in the third minute, Ciaran Kilmurray keeping Willie McGovern"s free in play against the odds, before almost walking the ball into the Garrycastle net for a tonic goal. They increased their lead within seconds, Conor Lynam benefiting from hesitancy from Cathal Mullin to add a point from play. Although never a remotely dirty contest, the yellow cards were already coming thick and fast before Garrycastle reduced the deficit to the bare minimum by the ninth minute, with a brace of points from two of their highly-vaunted full forward line - Des Dolan (from a 25-metre free) and Paddy Mulvihill (his screamer from play being tipped over by an alert Stephen Gallagher).In the 12th minute, Ciaran Kilmurray kicked a fine point on the turn from close range. Some six minutes later, the latter player notched his second goal of the contest, fisting Conor Lynam"s cross to the net from the edge of the small parallelogram, leaving his side ahead by 2-2 to 0-3. However, the remainder of the half belonged to the winners, who piled on 1-5 without reply. A great point under pressure from Paddy Mulvihill was followed by two converted frees from his hands from Des Dolan. Younger brother, Gary was then unlucky to see his instinctive fisted effort from Paddy Mulvihill"s pass go wide, via the upright. Aidan Browne left just a point between the teams with a great score from near the 45-metre line. It then took a brave block by Ollie Plunkett to keep Paul Dillon"s goalbound shot out, with Rory McGowan shooting the rebound wide. Stephen Gallagher impressively held Paul Dillon"s high shot, but the St. Loman"s netminder was powerless to prevent Rory McGowan equalising in the 28th minute. With the countdown clock reading 32 seconds, Des Dolan dispossessed Tommy Lambden near the halfway line and he precipitated a move which ended with Paddy Mulvihill punching the ball to the net for a crucial goal. In the last passage of play, Stephen Gallagher pulled off a great save from Gary Dolan, but Garrycastle still led at the break by 1-8 to 2-2.The two number 12s swopped points in the early exchanges of the second half, James Duignan (from play) and Conor Lynam (a free) both finding the range. Duignan then turned provider for Paddy Mulvihill to increase his side"s advantage. A weak effort by Ciaran Kilmurray was easily held by Cathal Mullin, but Des Dolan was more decisive at the other end, converting a 25-metre free after he had been fouled. An opportunist point by substitute Kieran Lynam kept St. Loman"s well in touch, but this was soon cancelled out by a tap-over free with his left foot by Paul Dillon, after Rory McGowan had been fouled at the end of a long solo run. Conor Lynam then pointed a tricky free for the losers, leaving his side trailing by four points at the midpoint of the second moiety.John Gaffey came forward from defence to score Garrycastle"s 13th point, but Ciaran Kilmurray responded with a fine point under pressure. James Duignan took his eye off the ball at the crucial moment as a goal beckoned for Garrycastle, but James Dolan compensated with a lovely point in the 19th minute. The winners had oodles of possession at this juncture but St. Loman"s were still in the hunt, Stephen Gallagher again coming to their rescue with a great save from James Dolan. With five minutes of normal time remaining, Conrad Reilly"s first score of the afternoon left St. Loman"s trailing by four points. Adrian Charles then fisted the ball wide from a half-chance and Ciaran Kilmurray"s ambitious goal attempt was smothered by a massed Garrycastle defence. An intuitive flick by substitute Justin McAteer set up Paddy Mulvihill for the last score of the game in the dying seconds of normal time. With Des Dolan popping up all over the pitch, Garrycastle saw out the game quite comfortably and the winners were on the attack as the final whistle blew.Garrycastle will be difficult to beat in the county final, their vastly-experienced team holding trump cards throughout the pitch. Doran Harte and John Gaffey caught the eye in defence, while Aidan Browne continues to look a very promising midfielder. Des Dolan is a wonderful athlete and leader, while Paddy Mulvihill"s 1-5 from play was a great return in an attack where James Duignan and Rory McGowan also worked tirelessly.Overall, St. Loman"s are likely to feel pleased with their progress in 2008 but they still remain a little short of what"s required for outright championship success. Stephen Gallagher had a fine game in goals, while David Rushe and Kenny McKinley defended well. While their centrefield may need bolstering, they undoubtedly have very lively forwards in Conor Lynam and Ciaran Kilmurray.Garrycastle: Cathal Mullin; Karl Henson, Seanie O"Donoghue, Pauric Rhattigan; Doran Harte, John Gaffey (0-1), James Dolan (0-1); Stephen O"Reilly, Aidan Browne (0-1); Rory McGowan (0-1), Gary Dolan, James Duignan (0-1); Paul Dillon (0-1, from a free), Des Dolan (0-4, all from frees), Paddy Mulvihill (1-5). Subs: Enda Mulvihill (for Henson, 37 mins), Alan Daly (for G.Dolan, 37 mins), Justin McAteer (for O"Reilly, 53 mins), Conor Cosgrove (for Duignan, 59 mins).St. Loman"s, Mullingar: Stephen Gallagher; Ollie Plunkett, James Davitt, Adam Carroll; David Rushe, Kenny McKinley, Paddy Dowdall; Adrian Charles, Tommy Lambden; Willie McGovern, Conrad Reilly (0-1), Conor Lynam (0-3, 0-2 from frees); Enda Matthews, Ciaran Kilmurray (2-2), Conor Cochrane. Subs: Paul Leonard (for Carroll, 24 mins), John Ahearne (for, Lambden, half-time), Jonathan Plunkett (for McGovern, half-time), Kieran Lynam (0-1) (for Matthews, 38 mins), Senan Russell (for Dowdall, 49 mins).Referee: Peter Daly(Athlone).