Athlone crowned champions in Coralstown/Kinnegad's last final appearance
Coralstown/Kinnegad's presence in this year's Westmeath SFC final probably evokes happy memories for Athlone GAA supporters. After all, the last time the men in red and white were in the final coincided with Athlone's last Flanagan Cup success in 1998 and this year marks the 25th anniversary of that victory.
In an exciting 1998 final played in glorious sunshine at Cusack Park, Athlone were captained to victory by midfield star Rory O'Connell, who would become Westmeath's first football All-Star three years later.
"Powerful Athlone came dancing down the boulevard of dreams" declared the opening paragraph of the Westmeath Independent report on the county final.
The victors "dominated the midfield exchanges for long spells", according to the match report, with O'Connell and the experienced Aidan Collins winning the battle in this crucial sector.
Joe Fallon, Neil Dolan and Shane Geraghty led the way in the scoring stakes for Athlone, with 1995 All-Ireland minor medallist Tom Stuart Trainor also among the scorers. All three Athlone goals (two scored by Neil Dolan) came in the first half.
The Athlone team was managed by the late Brendan Clarke, who was assisted by selectors Denis O'Sullivan and the late Vincent Keating. As a matter of interest, Kerry native O'Sullivan was still carrying out selector duties with this year's Athlone team.
The Shannonsiders' victory on a 3-10 to 3-8 scoreline saw substitute Niall Lynch win his sixth Westmeath senior championship medal.
Eamonn Fleming was top scorer for a Coralstown/Kinnegad team which included such renowned names as Larry Giles and future Westmeath manager Jack Cooney. Interestingly, Coralstown/Kinnegad player Emmet McDonnell had a spell as Athlone manager in later years.
Having lost to Moate All Whites in the 1997 final (after defeating the same opponents in the 1996 decider), it was Coralstown/Kinnegad's second successive final defeat.
The Kinnegad men were missing the services of Anthony Coyne, John Fleming and David Flynn in the 1998 final.
The details of the 1998 Westmeath senior football final are as follows below.
1998 Westmeath SFC final: Athlone 3-10 Coralstown/Kinnegad 3-8
Scorers - Athlone: Joe Fallon 1-4 (0-2 frees); Neil Dolan 2-1 (1-0 pen); Shane Geraghty 0-4, Tom Stuart Trainor 0-1. Coralstown/Kinnegad: Eamonn Fleming 1-4 (0-3f); Emmet McDonnell and James McCaffrey 1-0 each; Larry Giles and Darren Fox (2f) 0-2 each.
Athlone: Richie Daly; Paul Mullen, James Kilroy, Fergal Murray; Philip Allen, Oliver Keating, Fintan Garavan; Rory O'Connell (captain), Aidan Collins; Padraig 'Amby' Fogarty, David 'Dobsey' Prendergast, Shane Geraghty; Joe Fallon, Neil Dolan, Tom Stuart Trainor. Subs used: Brendan Kenny for Allen; Niall Lynch for Fogarty. Rest of panel: Nigel Johnson, Ronan Flynn, Joe Finlass, David Allen, Seamus Qualter, David Geraghty, Joe Temple, Fiachra McLoughlin.
Coralstown/Kinnegad: Kevin Leech; Billy Cole, Martin Fox, Mattie Mulligan; Colm Coyne, Derek Griffin, David Kilmartin; John (Jack) Cooney, Phelim Leonard; Darren Fox, Larry Giles, Joe Giles (captain); Emmet McDonnell, James McCaffrey, Eamonn Fleming. Subs used: Darragh Fleming for Leonard; John Coyne for Cooney; Alan Plunkett for J Giles.
Referee: Liam McDaniel (Kilbeggan Shamrocks).