Cunningham points the way as Ringtown finally win intermediate title

Slevin’s Coaches Intermediate Hurling Championship Final: Ringtown 0-15, Raharney 1-9

Gerry Buckley reports

Ringtown belatedly shook off the bridesmaids’ tag in Westmeath intermediate hurling when they deservedly defeated Raharney by an unflattering three-point margin in yesterday afternoon’s decider at TEG Cusack Park.

The fact that the game seldom reached any great heights will not unduly bother the Whitehall-based outfit who always looked the more likely winners on the day.

With a teak-tough defence, a hard-working midfield, and a livelier attacking sextet than their opponents, Nigel Mannion’s troops will now ply their trade in the senior ‘B’ ranks in 2023 after several near-misses in recent years.

A final tally of three red cards (one to Ringtown and two to Raharney) may paint a picture of a dirty contest, but this was far from the case. The second card to the losers seemed merited, but the two earlier dismissals were somewhat unexpected for those who witnessed the off-the-ball occurrence.

Aided by a useful wind blowing towards the scoreboard end of the ground, Ringtown were four points to the good in as many minutes, the scores coming courtesy of Ryan McAuley (after a John Shaw delivery had been caught at the other end by the winners’ goalkeeper Pat Burke), Ciaran Moran, Jason Moran (a ‘65’) and Mark Cunningham.

Jack Larkin opened the Deelsiders’ account in the sixth minute, but this was soon cancelled out by a fine score from the stick of Emmet Corrigan. By the end of the opening quarter, Raharney had the gap down to the bare minimum (0-5 to 0-4) via a brace of Shaw frees and an opportunist score from Jamie Carr.

The men in green and gold striped-jerseys took over again with four points in six minutes via Darren Kilcoyne (a great long-range strike), two routine frees by Jason Moran, and a delightful effort from the impressive Cunningham.

A Shaw lineball almost whizzed past Burke before the same player slotted over a 50-metre free. Cunningham completed his points’ hat-trick with aplomb from near the stand sideline in the 27th minute.

Sean Boylan added a neat point, and the first half ended with Conor Slater fielding the sliotar superbly from a huge free taken by Burke. Ringtown led by 0-11 to 0-5 at the interval.

Shaw converted a needlessly-conceded ‘65’ some 45 seconds after play resumed, but it proved to be a false dawn for Brian Connaughton’s charges who were to go another 23 wind-assisted minutes without adding to their small tally.

Cunningham was now on placed ball duty for Ringtown and he didn’t disappoint, converting a ‘65’ and a free in quick succession to stretch his side’s lead to seven points (0-13 to 0-6) by the end of the third quarter.

Donie Mullen spurned a decent goal opportunity for the men in white with a blue trim in the 46th minute. Cunningham soon slotted over another free before Burke pulled off a crucial save from a batted effort by Carr. In the 51st minute, Corrigan and Slater received their marching orders with straight red cards.

With six minutes of normal time remaining, a long-range free from Shaw dropped just short, but sub Aaron Reidy was on hand to whip the ball to the net. Ringtown responded very well with a great angled point from Luke Moore.

This proved to be their last time to trouble the scoreboard operator while Raharney clawed away at the six-point deficit, ultimately halving it with scores from substitutes Darragh Core and Leon Broderick, and a free deep into added-time from Shaw. Seconds before the final whistle, Brian Smyth’s brief cameo ended when he was red-carded.

After the match, Westmeath County Board chairman, Frank Mescall, presented the Adrian Murray Cup to one of Ringtown’s joint-captains, Pat Burke. Due to his earlier dismissal, the other joint-captain, Emmet Corrigan, was not permitted to join him on the podium.

Scorers – Ringtown: M Cunningham 0-6 (2f, 1 ‘65’), J Moran 0-3 (2f, 1 ‘65’), D Kilcoyne, C Moran, E Corrigan, R McAuley, S Boylan and L Moore 0-1 each. Raharney: J Shaw 0-5 (4f, 1 ‘65’), A Reidy 1-0, J Larkin, Darragh Core, J Carr and L Broderick 0-1 each.

Ringtown: Pat Burke; Thomas Daniels, Shane Murtagh, Niall Moran; Charles Flynn, Darren Kilcoyne, Ryan Moore; Paul Nangle, Ciaran Moran; Mark Cunningham, Emmet Corrigan, Ryan McAuley; Sean Boylan, Johnny Hardman, Jason Moran. Subs used: Luke Moore for Hardman (h-t), James Boylan for J Moran (38), Anthony Nea for Nangle (60).

Raharney: Dan Greville; Cian O’Connor, David Weir, Jack Coyne; Colm Murray, Conor Slater, Eoin Weir; Dean Core, Jack Larkin; Michael Doherty, Jamie Carr, Robbie Coyne; Brian McGrath, John Shaw, Donie Mullen. Subs used: Leon Broderick for Core (h-t), Neil Carthy for E Weir (h-t), Darragh Core for Doherty (43), Aaron Reidy for Mullen (48), Brian Smyth for Carr (50).

Ref: Bernard Heaney (Clann na nGael, Meath).