Tang bid to finally land county title prize
Two teams who have been knocking loudly on the door over recent years - Tang and Milltownpass - will meet in the Westmeath intermediate football final tomorrow (Saturday, 2.30pm, TEG Cusack Park).
Tang were beaten by Moate All Whites in last year’s decider, while Milltownpass were the defeated finalists in 2019 (when Caulry emerged as champions) and 2018 (losing to Shandonagh).
Now one of the two sides is destined to lift the Peter Geraghty Cup and make the breakthrough to the senior ranks of Westmeath football.
Whatever happens, it will be the end of a famine for major silverware. Tang are bidding to win their first intermediate title since 1993 (when they defeated neighbours Maryland in a replay). For their part, Milltownpass won their sole intermediate crown in 1981.
Tang needed extra-time to win their semi-final against Castledaly, but overcoming a club which operated at senior level for many years should act as a confidence boost.
Having trailed by 0-11 to 0-6 early in the second half, Tang manager Michael Tumelty was naturally delighted with the character shown by his side in that exciting win over Castledaly.
“We started slowly and the lads did show a bit of character and plenty of battling qualities to drag themselves back into it,” he told the Westmeath Independent.
“We’ve had a game or two like that during the year. We know the lads won’t give up and they do believe in themselves.”
Shane Coughlan and Adam Neary are often key figures in attack for Tang and while things didn’t work out for them in the first half against Castledaly, Coughlan came to the fore in the second period.
“Shane was a thorn in their side all the time and he won a few crucial frees for us. Adam went into the game with a bit of a knock, a groin injury, and he wasn’t just firing as well as he normally would. Both of them are good lads,” said Michael.
Tang went into the Castledaly game without long term absentee John Tumelty, while Conor Marlow was unable to start and Tommy Lennon was forced off through injury in the first half. Yet Tang managed to cope with those setbacks, in addition to losing John Rock to a black card near the end.
“We’ve had an injury or two but we’ve got used to it and the lads have knuckled down,” said Tumelty.
Drawing from a small catchment area with limited numbers, a lack of depth is something which has been pinpointed as costing Tang in the past.
“We’ve had a few young lads coming through over the last few years. For a few years when we got to quarter-finals and semi-finals, maybe we didn’t have enough depth in the squad. But now we have a decent squad. We’ve had a couple of key guys getting injured which you don’t want, but we do have the bit of cover,” said Tumelty.
Young players such as Jack Keenan, Conall McKiernan and Ronan Hanley all impressed in the semi-final. “They’re all good young players, they’ve come on over the last couple of years, and they’ve drove the team on,” said the manager.
However, his son John won’t be involved in the final. “He did his ligaments and he was unlucky to get an infection, that set him back. It will be next year before he’s back,” said Michael.
On a positive note, Martin Rock made a notable impact off the bench against Castledaly. “Martin has had a knock during the year and he’s only getting back into it. He did well when he came on (in the semi-final),” said Tumelty.
Though well aware of the inter-county experience in the Milltownpass panel – through players like Sam Duncan, Brandon Kelly and Finbar Coyne – Tumelty believes his charges can match their opponents. Tang did overcome Milltownpass in the group stages, but a far bigger prize is at stake on Saturday.
“It will be a tight battle. The four teams which were left in the semi-finals were all fairly even. Milltownpass are a strong team and they have some quality players. But overall, I think we have a strong team, we’re decent everywhere. We won’t fear them or anything. We were there (in the final) last year and we felt we could have won it. Hopefully this year we can get over the line,” said Tumelty.
With so many agonising defeats in semi-finals over the years, Tang have been waiting a long time for championship success, and Tumelty admitted that it would mean a lot to emerge victorious on Saturday.
“It would be great to get a win. It’s good to be in the mix at the end… but you’d like to win one. It would be a great boost for the club,” he added.
Tang panel - Westmeath IFC final 2021
Patrick Conlon (aged 20, student), goalkeeper
Martin Rock (28, hospitality industry), forward
Niall McGarry (20, student), forward
Conall McKiernan (21, apprentice), back
Richard Laffan (20, student), back
Robert English (34, farmer), back
Ian Coughlan (24, student), back
Niall Lynn (30, student), forward
Niall Bannon (33, teacher), forward
Aidan Burke (31, construction manager), forward
John Tumelty (21, student), midfield
Adam Neary (22, student), forward
Shane Coughlan (21, student), forward
Tommy Lennon (22, student), forward
Garry Curran (19, student), back
Kieran Duncan (32, motor factor wholesale), back
Michael Galvin (33, plumber), goalkeeper
John Rock (28, retail), back
Conor Marlow (26, defence forces), midfield
Jason Coughlan (21, student), back
Killian Foxe (22, finance), back
Andrew Gill (23, student), back
Keelan Galvin (21, retail), back
Sean Egan (31, accountant), forward
Jack Keenan (19, student), forward
Eoghan Bannon (20, student), back
Ronan Hanley (19, plasterer), back
Owen Coughlan (28, finance), goalkeeper
Chris Connor (30, defence forces), back
Willie Flanagan (30, electrician), forward
Ciaran Hanley (19, student), forward
Joe Conlon (40, finance), forward
Dean Reddin (31), midfield
Patrick Clear (21, student), forward
Ciaran Clear (19, student), forward
Fergus Farrell (26, student), midfield
Eoin Duffy (18, student), back
Darragh Burke (27, finance), forward
Joshua Flanagan (32), forward
Callum McGarry (18, student), back.