Kelly impresses as Plunketts prevail

St Oliver Plunketts 2-7 Raharney 2-3

St Oliver Plunketts took the U14 Division 3 title in very cold conditions last Wednesday evening at the expense of home side, Raharney, thanks in no small part to exceptional performances by Eoin Reddan, Oisín Kelly, and Pau Dooley.

Held scoreless in the first half, Raharney came out a different side in the second period and were level within seven minutes of the restart. However, Plunketts had enough to stave off the fightback and win out by four points.

Both sides fielded familiar names from the Cumann na mBunscol finals a fortnight ago. Reddan, Kelly, and Dooley had combined for 5-7 in the Division 3 final for their school, Holy Family Mullingar, in a thrilling victory over The Downs NS.

It was Kelly who almost got things going in the opening minute, striking just wide from a long-range free. He made up for it on four minutes, perfectly connecting from out wide to raise the white flag. Raharney got going but found John Cleary in fine form in the Plunketts goal. He cleared two efforts from Darragh O’Donoghue in quick succession.

At the other end, the almost-unmarkable Pau Dooley raised a cheer from the green support – including manager and father, John – when he buried to the net from an incredibly tight angle to make it 1-1 to no score on ten minutes.

But for a hugely impressive block from Calvin Collins it could have been more. Kelly added his first from play with a fine no-look, over-the-shoulder point. Raharney grew into the contest with Ben Leavy operating well in both defence and attack when he joined, but it was Kelly, yet again, who was at the heart of things. This time, Nathan McDermott the beneficiary of a lovely pass from the midfielder before chipping over. The McNamees, Cian and Oisín, seemed determined to shutout the Joristown attack at every opportunity and preserve their 1-3 lead.

Cleary also played his part with the defenders in front of him. The Plunketts netminder pulling off one of the great saves to deny Cadán Gore, those in attendance almost disbelieving at the agility of the goalkeeper to reach one-handed to bat the powerful strike from the Raharney forward.

Billy Farrell then cut in behind the Plunketts rearguard only to be denied at the death by Oisín McNamee’s desire to stop him. At the break, it was all one-way traffic in terms of the scoreboard. Plunketts ahead 1-3 to 0-0.

Astonishingly, even with the aid of a stiff breeze, Raharney came out fighting and to their credit found parity with four unanswered scores in as many shots. First, Hugh Kennedy pointed almost immediately from the throw-in before O’Donoghue finally got the score his endeavours had deserved. With tails up, Raharney went for a goal and found it courtesy of a rasping effort from Gore. The sides were level when Ruairaí Fleming found his range – another player worthy of adding his name to the tally.

Plunketts regrouped, but Kelly saw his drilled free cleared off the line when a point looked easier. Despite Seán Dooley operating exceptionally in the sweeper role, there was little he nor anyone could do about Raharney taking the lead in the 44th minute. Fleming’s free flicked expertly to the net by Dylan Morley.

The lead lasted about five minutes before Kelly rifled Pau Dooley’s pass into the top corner. Ahead by the single score, 2-4 to 2-3, John Dooley’s troops tried to keep the scoreboard ticking to remove the Raharney threat.

McDermott added his second having fought bravely for a 50-50 ball with eight minutes to go. Dooley then finished his scoring for the day with a great point. The last score would be reserved for Kelly following a clever layout by Eddie Leavy.

If this is the future for Westmeath hurling then there is a lot to be encouraged by. Not just some fine individual performances in scoring, but also maturity in passing, teamwork, and desire. A tight game in the end, but one which Plunketts deserved in the grand scheme.

Scorers:

St Oliver Plunketts: O Kelly 1-4 (1f), P Dooley 1-1, N McDermott 0-2

Raharney: C Gore, D Morley 1-0 each, R Fleming, D O’Donoghue (free), H Kennedy 0-1 each

St Oliver Plunketts: John Cleary; Cian McNamee, Oisín McNamee, Cody McKeown; Donicha Creevy, Senan Walshe, Conor Glynn; Eoin Reddan, Oisín Kelly; Nathan McDermott, Eddie Leavy, Adam Mulligan; Seán Dooley, Finn Jacob, Pau Dooley. Rest of panel: Coran Quinn, Hugh McDermott, Adam Hannon, Jamie Byrne, Michael Walshe, Darragh Kiernan, Alex Morgan, Donnacha Doyle, Evan Palmer, Dylan Hanly.

Raharney: Eoghan Heffernan; Ben Leavy, Calvin Collins, Liam Tifft; Cillian McGee, Ruairaí Fleming, Tadgh Geraghty; James Kenna, Darragh O’Donoghue; Noah Gough, Cadán Gore, Hugh Kennedy; Dylan Morley, Darragh McGauran, Billy Farrell. Rest of panel: Ivan Godeliauskaite, Luke Kenna.

Referee: John Williams (Delvin)

Player of the Match: Oisín Kelly (Plunketts).