Southern Gaels edged out by Castletown in close battle
Slevin's Coaches Westmeath IHC: Castletown Geoghegan 1-20 Southern Gaels 1-19
By Paul Doolin
In Shandonagh on Friday night, we were treated to everything good about the game of hurling with physicality, good scores, strong defending and even a smidgen of controversy thrown in to boot which made for a thoroughly entertaining hour or so.
Castletown Geoghegan’s second team sneaked home by the minimum in the end as Southern Gaels were left to rue far too many missed opportunities and indeed a much disputed point in the 54th minute that ultimately had a huge bearing on the outcome. That being said, it would be no surprise if these teams were to lock horns again in the latter stages of this year’s championship; both have the players and credentials to do that based on Friday night’s display.
The game started at full throttle from the throw-in with Conor Murphy getting the opener for Castletown Geoghegan, but the Gaels soon found their range and points from Cian McCarthy (long range), Seamus Hoctor (from a free), Cian Geary (from another parish) and the same player from a free almost 80 metres out. Those scores had the Shannonsiders three in front by the tenth minute.
Neale Pierson and Mick Heeney replied with two beauties for Castletown, but Hoctor added another placed ball from distance as the Athlone-based outfit led at the quarter mark. A superb point from Plunkett Maxwell and an equally impressive score from Heeney levelled matters, but two Hoctor frees and wonderful strikes from Sean Murphy and Dermot Treacy re-established a four-point cushion as the momentum swung again.
Castletown retorted in fine style with a Sean Jackson free, Adam Cassidy from a very acute angle, Conor Murphy from downtown, and Andy Conway after a slick move, bringing them right back into the game.
However, Cian McCarthy put the Gaels in front with a stunning point from his own half, before Sean Jackson levelled with a free. Then a Pierson effort came down off the post and fell to Neal Kirby, who netted the opening goal with a fine finish. Hoctor did pull one back with a long-range free but at the break the black and ambers led by 1-10 to 0-11.
With the wind on their backs now, Castletown started the second half in fine style with points from Fergal O’Brien, Pierson and a Sean Jackson free. And, after Hoctor pulled one back with a free, O’Brien replied superbly to keep Castletown ticking over nicely.
Southern Gaels were not for lying down, though, as Eamon Martin shot over from a very acute angle, followed by two super scores from Sean Murphy, one of which could easily have been a goal. Dean Burns and Hoctor (from another placed ball) were also on target during this spell, answered by two from Sean Jackson, a free and a lovely score from play. And so, as we headed into the last quarter, only two points divided the teams.
Jackson extended that lead after some poor Gaels defending, but they hit back immediately and levelled when substitute Sean Donoghue netted, with his long-range effort somehow managing to find the net. When Hoctor pointed another free, it looked as if the comeback was complete.
Castletown now bit down and replied in wonderful style with the previously mentioned disputed point from Pierson, and two exquisite Sean Jackson points looked to have sealed the win with time running out.
Again, the Gaels dug deep but could not find the posts until a Hoctor free put the minimum between the sides as added time began. However, try as they might, the southerners could not manage to get the equaliser and Castletown hung on for a fortuitous, but welcome win, following an epic battle that swung from end to end.
Man of the match: Several in contention on either side with Cian Geary, the Martins (Diarmuid, Eamon and Johnny) and especially Cian McCarthy for the Gaels, while Sean Jackson, Mick Heeney, Eoin Kiernan and Neal Kirby shone for Castletown. But Conor Murphy just gets the vote for an all-round excellent display.
Scorers - Castletown Geoghegan: S Jackson 0-8 (4 frees), N Kirby 1-0, N Pierson 0-3, F O’Brien, M Heeney and C Murphy 0-2 each, P Maxwell, A Conway and A Cassidy 0-1 each. Southern Gaels: S Hoctor 0-9 (8f, 1 65’), S O’Donoghue 1-0, S Murphy 0-3, C Geary and C McCarthy 0-2 each, D Treacy, E Martin and D Burns 0-1 each.
Castletown Geoghegan: Eoin Glennon; Paul O’Sullivan, Ryan Boyne, Eoin Kiernan; Killian Jackson, Plunkett Maxwell, Alan Conlon; Fergal O’Brien, Mick Heeney; Sean Clarke, Sean Jackson, Neal Kirby; Andy Conway, Conor Murphy, Neale Pierson. Subs: Adam Cassidy for Clarke (5 mins), Shane Doran for O’Sullivan (H-T), Conal Fagan for Boyne (49), Adam Clarke for Conway (59).
Southern Gaels: Jonathan Keogh; Graham Houlihan, Diarmaid Murtagh, Paul Hogan; Cian Geary, Diarmuid Martin, Cian McCarthy; Dermot Treacy, Jamie Anders; Johnny Martin, Eamon Martin, Seamus Hoctor; Dean Burns, MJ Kelly, Sean Murphy. Subs: Anthony Mannion for Houlihan (H/T), Sean O’Donoghue for Burns and Chulainn Dowd for Murtagh (50 mins), Sean Dowd for Treacy (58).
Referee: Ken Gunning.