Doyle fires Raharney to facile victory over Fr Dalton's

Raharney 2-26, Fr Dalton's 2-7

Goals from Killian Doyle and Eoin Keyes helped Raharney to overcome Fr Dalton’s in the opening round of the Westmeath Senior 'A' Hurling Championship in Shandonagh last Friday evening.

The side managed by John Shaw had plenty to spare in the end of a game in which they put enough of a gap between the sides to ensure victory was only going one way.

The opening score was debatable in terms of who got it. A loose sliotar was among bodies and while it looked like Raharney’s Eoin Keyes may have gotten the final touch in the melee, it could easily have gone in via a ricochet from a defender. Either way, it mattered little as Killian Doyle smashed home a second goal less than 60 seconds later.

Wides cost Fr Dalton’s early and their confidence was dented further as scores from Doyle, Eoin Keyes and early substitute Éamonn Cunneen put the gap between the teams to an almost insurmountable level before the clock had hit double digits.

The first score for the Ballymore men took 12 minutes as Eoin Nally found the target to raise the white flag. A goal soon after from Jack Duncan did make the scoreline more respectable, but it did not last as Raharney put the boot down and kept firing at will.

Cunneen, Eoin Keyes, Doyle and Rory Keyes all fired two points each before the break as Fr Dalton’s looked to be lost at sea.

The half-time score showed Raharney ahead by 2-13 to 1-3, despite late claims for a penalty for Fr Dalton’s. Owen McCabe was clearly impeded but because he got a shot away (which hit the crossbar), it was deemed sufficient advantage and Raharney, to add insult to injury, raced ahead and hit another point at the other end.

Much like the opening half, there was a sense of ruthlessness from Raharney to put up a tally to make others realise the blues mean business. To be fair to Fr Dalton’s, they did improve and with Jack Kearney operating well in defence along with Kenneth Kincaid, they did restrict Raharney for a period.

They even found scores of their own with Owen McCabe’s goal being followed by the same man hitting two points from dead balls (including a '65).

Raharney, however, found their rhythm again and points from Eoghan Ahearne, Cunneen, Joey Boyle and Doyle ensured that there was to be no fightback.

A great free from distance from Ciarán Clear gave Fr Dalton’s their last point, but Doyle (three) and a late but worth the wait score from Keyes ensured victory was emphatic.

Both sides finished with seven scorers each but with Killian Doyle’s free-taking prowess on show, it was always going to be difficult for the Ballymore men.

Scorers – Raharney: K Doyle 1-10 (9f), E Keyes 1-5, É Cunneen 0-4, E Ahearne 0-3, R Keyes 0-2, C McKeogh, J Boyle 0-1 each. Fr Dalton’s: O McCabe 1-2 (1f, 1 65’), J Duncan 1-0, P Kiernan 0-1, C Clear (f), C Martin, E Nally, R McLoughlin (f) 0-1 each.

Raharney: Aaron McHugh; Conor McKeogh, Pearse Weir-Norris, Luke Darby; David Hickey, Robbie Greville, Gary Greville; Rory Keyes, Calum McKeogh; Joey Boyle, Devin Hill, Robbie Coyne; Killian Doyle, Eoin Keyes, Eoghan Ahearne. Sub used: Éamonn Cunneen for Hill (blood sub, 7-15, permanent, 15).

Fr Dalton’s: Eoin Moran; Eoghan Bannon, Kenneth Kincaid, Liam O’Neill; Patrick Kiernan, Eoin Ryan, Ronan Hanley; Ciarán Clear, Conaire Martin; Owen McCabe, Eoin Nally, Ronan McLoughlin; Jack Kearney, John Gilligan, Jack Duncan. Subs used: Enda Kincaid for Nally (36 mins), Shane Hanley for Ryan (45), Luke Smyth for McLoughlin (58), Seán McCabe for K Kincaid (58).

Referee: Seán Carroll (Cullion).