Cosgrove keeps his cool to seal Leinster crown

Back in 2005, this writer was in attendance at a Leinster Minor Football League match between Westmeath and Offaly. That game in Rosemount was obviously a far more low-key affair than last Sunday's Leinster club final. However, it came to mind as Conor Cosgrove prepared to take that last-gasp free which ultimately sealed Garrycastle's first Leinster title. Towards the end of the aforementioned minor game, Westmeath were trailing by a single point when they were awarded a '45'. Conor Cosgrove was entrusted with the responsibility of the kick. I was watching the game with Paul Larkin from Castledaly, a colleague of Cosgrove's in the Marist College. I reckoned the kick would be just beyond Cosgrove's range, but Paul insisted that the Garrycastle man would nail it. Paul was proved right and while I was delighted that Cosgrove landed the kick, I was also relieved that I hadn't agreed a wager on it with Paul! In his report on that Westmeath v Offaly minor game, Matt Scally wrote: "As the game moved into injury time and with the last kick of the game, Conor Cosgrove proved himself to have the coolest head on the pitch as he floated over a magnificent '45' to level matters up at the final whistle." Almost the same words - apart from the fact it was the winning point on a much bigger occasion - could be written about last Sunday's precious kick which has etched Cosgrove into Garrycastle and Westmeath GAA lore. In the aftermath of last Sunday's game, Westmeath GAA chairman Tom Farrell compared Cosgrove to Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton, who was dubbed 'the iceman' after his cooly taken free sealed the All-Ireland title last September. Having been introduced as a substitute less than ten minutes earlier, Cosgrove showed remarkable composure last Sunday. But renowned for his sweet left foot, he was the ideal man for the task. "You just think of being a kid and dreaming of a moment like this. "I had to put the occasion out of my mind and concentrate on getting the ball over the bar and thankfully it went right for me," said Cosgrove afterwards. While Cosgrove proved the match winner at the death, all of the Garrycastle subs played a key role last Sunday. Aidan Browne's introduction bolstered a then flagging midfield sector, which had been dominant in the first half. Had Browne not entered the fray, it's unlikely the Westmeath side would have secured victory. Alan Fox was a tigerish presence when introduced and he'll be pushing hard for a starting place in the All-Ireland semi-final, even though the Garrycastle defensive unit was excellent last Sunday until the late Brigid's onslaught. Alan Daly, so often Garrycastle's super sub, also joined the action in the closing stages. And it was heartwarming to hear John Gaffey, in his acceptance speech, remember Alan's hugely popular brother Derek, who sadly died much too soon earlier this year.