Meehan hits double as St Oliver Plunkett’s sink Southern Gaels

St Oliver Plunkett's 2-16, Southern Gaels 1-10

Despite an early Southern Gaels goal, St Oliver Plunkett's always looked likely winners of this Westmeath U-19 Division 2 hurling final at Hogan Park, Moate last Sunday.

St Oliver Plunkett's responded impressively to the early scare of Cian Geary's goal and, aided by Thomas Meehan's first green flag, they led 1-11 to 1-5 at half-time.

The Athlone side cut the deficit to three points (1-11 to 1-8) early in the second half, but they were unable to get any closer.

After their heavy defeat in the Leinster club IHC the previous day, this victory was a welcome boost for St Oliver Plunkett's and, overall, the Mullingar club can reflect on 2023 with considerable satisfaction.

Southern Gaels were overly dependent on Cian Geary's free taking prowess and they struggled to score from open play. Their chief problem was the inability of their forwards to secure possession which meant the Plunkett's defence was rarely troubled.

St Oliver Plunkett's were the sharper team throughout, with the quality of their fielding and striking a few notches above that of their opponents. They also had an edge in the physical stakes, despite the best efforts of the men in yellow and maroon.

The Moate pitch held up well given the recent weather and the day itself was quite pleasant for November, with Storm Debi yet to make her damaging presence felt.

In the opening minute, Geary's low trajectory free from long range went all the way to the Plunkett's net. This gave the defending champions an early tonic, but Plunkett's wasted no time in responding. By the seventh minute, the sides were level at 1-2 to 0-5, with Eoin Meehan (two), Nathan Cornally (a free), Shane Ormsby and Thomas Meehan on target for Plunkett's.

Influential wing-back Sean Hayes put Plunkett's in front for the first time and after Donnacha Maguire added another point, the Mullingar men struck for their first goal (11th minute). Thomas Meehan's superbly taken goal, availing of Cornally's delivery, would not have looked out of place at a more exalted level of hurling.

Geary's third pointed free kept the Gaels ticking over and after Sean Mulvany scored at the other end, Anthony Mannion contributed the Athlone side's first from open play (17th minute). Two points from Cornally (one free) and one from Ormsby, with Geary replying with a long range free, left six between the teams at the interval.

Southern Gaels made a determined start to the second half, with Luke O'Connell among those who battled hard for possession around midfield. Two more frees from Geary (the first from a considerable distance) and a neat point from Ruairí Ó Duibhir reduced the gap to three points, raising hopes of an upset.

However, Cornally steadied the Plunkett's ship with their first point of the second half and they never looked back thereafter, with Mulvany adding his second a couple of minutes later.

The Gaels had a half-chance of a goal when Geary's delivery landed inside the Plunkett's defence but they just couldn't take advantage, though Johnny Martin did clip over a point in ensuing play.

Points from Donnacha Maguire and Ormsby (two in quick succession from the strong midfielder) enhanced the winners' lead. The men in white and green embellished their victory with a second goal late on, though there was an element of good fortune attached. Ben McNamee's point attempt was batted down by Southern Gaels goalie Conn O'Hara and Thomas Meehan rifled the sliotar to the net.

A fine consolation point from Southern Gaels midfielder Páidí Ó Leocháin completed the scoring, before St Oliver Plunkett's captain Thomas Meehan was presented with the trophy by John Cunningham (representing Westmeath GAA).

Player of the match: Shane Ormsby (St Oliver Plunkett’s): Ormsby was a powerful presence around midfield, and contributed four points from play. There were plenty of impressive performers on the Plunkett’s side, including Nathan Cornally, Thomas Meehan, Donnacha Maguire, Sean Hayes and Ben McNamee. For Southern Gaels, Cian Geary led the way but they lacked the ball winning capacity to take advantage of his deliveries into the forward line.

Jimmy’s still reffing matches: One of the linesmen on duty last Sunday was 73-year-old Jimmy Weldon of Lough Lene Gaels and, after the match, the long-serving official headed to Ballinacree in Meath to referee an underage ladies’ football final. Despite suffering several serious injuries while playing hurling and others while at work, Jimmy is still going strong!

Scorers - St Oliver Plunkett's: T Meehan 2-1; S Ormsby and N Cornally (2 frees) 0-4 each; E Meehan, D Maguire and S Mulvany 0-2 each; S Hayes 0-1. Southern Gaels: C Geary 1-6 (1-6fs); A Mannion, R Ó Duibhir, J Martin and P Ó Leocháin 0-1 each.

St Oliver Plunkett's: Pádraig Casey; Cian Fitzgerald, John Fry, Matthew Evans; Ben McNamee, Liam Carey, Sean Hayes; Shane Ormsby, Nathan Cornally; Donnacha Maguire, Darragh Hughes, Sean Mulvany; Michael Weir, Thomas Meehan, Eoin Meehan. Subs used: Daniel McCann and Charlie Foy for Fitzgerald and Evans; Matthew Doyle for Hughes.

Southern Gaels: Conn O'Hara; Ryan Fallon, Paul Hogan, Anthony Mannion; Aaron Murphy, Cian Geary, Diarmaid Murtagh; Páidí Ó Leocháin, Luke O'Connell; Josh Kenny, Luke Whelan, Eoin Hardiman; Johnny Martin, Dean Burns, Ruairí Ó Duibhir. Subs used: Seán O'Donoghue for Kenny; Sean O'Neill for Burns; Luke Sylvester for Hardiman; Ciaran Morgan for Ó Duibhir; Dara Shortall for Mannion; Evin Kinahan for Martin.

Referee: Sean Carroll.