Westmeath SHC Final: Lough Lene Gaels overcome Raharney
A general view of TEG Cusack Park. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Westmeath SHC Final
Lough Lene Gaels 1-16 Raharney 0-16
By Gerry Buckley at TEG Cusack Park
Lough Lene Gaels are Westmeath senior hurling champions for the first time since 2002 after they edged out Raharney by a goal in ideal conditions for hurling in front of a big crowd in Mullingar.
The new champions had suffered the heartbreak of losing the last three county finals, but Joey Williams’ charges are worthy winners of the Westmeath Examiner Cup for the eighth time.
After a lively start which saw Raharney go two points ahead in the opening four minutes, courtesy of a Killian Doyle free and Robbie Greville from play, Lough Lene Gaels responded.
Lough Lene Gaels edged ahead by 0-4 to 0-2 by the end of the opening quarter, a score from play by Ryan Williams being followed by three converted frees by team captain David Williams. Raharney then pounced for four unanswered points of their own from the sticks of Eamon Cunneen (two - open play and a monster free), Calum McKeogh, and Eoghan Ahearn.
Both teams added three points to their total during the remainder of the first half – Cunneen with another brace for Johnny Greville’s troops, and the other from former All Star nominee, Killian Doyle, whose twin brother and team skipper Ciaran had to retire injured in the 26th minute, with two David Williams’ frees and John Egan from open play accounting for the scores of the Collinstown men. At the break, Raharney led by 0-9 to 0-7.
The Gaels had a dream start to the second moiety with David Williams pointing twice in as many minutes – a quality score from play and a free – before the same player converted a 35th-minute penalty after influential sub Marcus Kennedy had been fouled.
This proved to be a double-whammy for Raharney as full back Jamie Mulkearns picked up a second yellow card for the incident. Kennedy tagged on a point from play, and a David Williams ‘65’ put the champions-elect 1-11 to 0-9 ahead with 42 minutes on the clock.
They still led by four points (1-13 to 0-12) when Killian Doyle looked sure to find the net, but Noel Conaty pulled off a smart save. Doyle compensated with a quickfire brace of points on the hour mark, as a minimum of five minutes’ added-time was signalled. The gap was down to the bare minimum when Cunneen added to his tally.
However, Lough Lene Gaels were not to be denied and a Philip Reilly point from play, shortly before Marcus Kennedy was red-carded, was followed by two great free conversions by David Williams to give them a four-point cushion. A Killian Doyle free left the deficit at a goal, but Raharney were unable to conjure up an equalising goal in the single minute remaining.
Scorers for Lough Lene Gaels: D Williams 1-10 (1-0pen, 8fs, 1‘65’), M Kennedy 0-2, P Reilly, R Williams, D McNicholas, J Egan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Raharney: K Doyle 0-8 (5f), E Cunneen 0-5 (1f, 1‘65’), R Greville, E Ahearn, Callum McKeogh 0-1 each.
Lough Lene Gaels: N Conaty; D Daly, D Higgins, M Daly; P Reilly, J Egan, T Doyle; B Doyle, S Williams; C McCrossan, D Williams, E Daly; R Williams, D McNicholas, J Malone.
Subs: M Kennedy for Malone (23), D Qamar for T Doyle (blood, 32 – 33), D Qamar for McCrossan (46), A Kennedy for E Daly (52), W Williams for S Williams (60+1).
Raharney: A McHugh; S Quinn, J Mulkearns, D Finn; G Greville, R Keyes, R Greville; C Boyle, Callum McKeogh; E Cunneen, Cormac McKeogh, Ciaran Doyle; E Ahearn, J Boyle, K Doyle.
Subs: D Hill for C Doyle (inj., 26), C Ready for Boyle (blood, 50 -52), C Ready for Ahearn (54), B McGrath for Boyle (55), R Coyne for Callum McKeogh (57), Conor McKeogh for Finn (60+6).
Referee: C Flynn (St Brigid’s).
