Castletown Geoghegan captain Aonghus Clarke lifts the Westmeath Examiner Cup after last Monday's SHC final replay versus Lough Lene Gaels. Westmeath GAA chairman Frank Mescall (left) made the presentation. Photo: John McCauley.

Castletown retain crown as O’Reilly goal seals victory

Published: Thu 30 Oct 2025, 1:19 PM

Castletown Geoghegan 3-15 Lough Lene Gaels 2-9

Castletown Geoghegan won back-to-back Westmeath senior hurling titles for the first time since the 1950s - their 16th in total - with a comfortable win over Lough Lene Gaels in difficult conditions at TEG Cusack Park last Monday afternoon.

Goals from Shane Clavin, Liam Varley and David O'Reilly, as well as 0-7 in frees from Niall O'Brien, helped Alan Mangan's charges to the victory in this replay, a just reward for the entertaining style of hurling they have treated followers of Westmeath hurling to all year.

Lough Lene Gaels, meanwhile, just lacked the firepower on the day, with centre forward David Williams accounting for all but three of their scores. Though they trailed by only three at the break, the Gaels badly needed to set out their stall early in the second half but the purple patch they hoped for never arrived.

Having been so close to victory in the drawn game, Lough Lene Gaels are now left reflecting on their third final defeat in a row.

Castletown led 1-3 to 0-1 after eight minutes, with man of the match Peter Clarke (0-2) tormenting them through the centre and Shane Clavin finding the net on the stroke of a minute after being teed up by David O'Reilly.

David Williams put the Gaels back into contention with a ninth-minute penalty after a foul on Tommy Doyle, his shot deflecting off Castletown netminder Ciaran O'Brien. Amid the greasiest of conditions, Williams did well to strike but both he and Castletown's Niall O'Brien had their difficulties in front of the posts.

Castletown led 1-8 to 1-5 at the break but even after O'Brien missed a couple of frees after the restart, the Gaels struggled to generate scores and the black and ambers pulled away.

They led 2-9 to 1-5 after 38 minutes when David O'Reilly again turned provider, this time setting the experienced Liam Varley on his way to a close-range finish.

Using the ball better and always looking more likely to generate scores, Castletown Geoghegan even had depth off the bench, with Jack Gallagher making a huge impact in the final quarter, tacking on two fine scores.

He also had a hand in Castletown Geoghegan's third goal on 52 minutes, dispossessing the Gaels' Shane Williams before setting up David O'Reilly for a skilful finish.

At the other end, the Gaels raised a second green flag after a spectacular shot from David Williams found the top corner. Williams finished with an impressive 2-6 and could have had more in kinder conditions, but in truth the Collinstown men were far too reliant on their no. 11.

At full time, Castletown Geoghegan captain Aonghus Clarke collected the Westmeath Examiner Cup from Frank Mescall, chairman of Westmeath GAA.

Castletown will travel to Portlaoise to face Laois champions Clough Ballacolla on Sunday, November 9 in the quarter-finals of the Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship (throw-in 1.30pm).

Man of the match: Peter Clarke (Castletown Geoghegan). The recipient of the official award, Clarke got Castletown off to a flyer with three points inside the first 14 minutes and he was always a threat, whether with searching pucks from distance or sprints through the centre. David O’Reilly, Niall O’Brien, Naoise McKenna and Peter Murphy also impressed for the winners, while Jack Gallagher produced a memorable 20 minutes off the bench.

Scorers - Castletown Geoghegan: N O'Brien 0-7 (7f); L Varley 1-1; S Clavin and D O'Reilly 1-0 each; P Clarke 0-3; J Gallagher and A Clarke (1f) 0-2 each. Lough Lene Gaels: D Williams 2-6 (1-0 pen, 0-4f); D Qamar, T Doyle and S Williams 0-1 each.

Castletown Geoghegan - Ciaran O'Brien; Aaron Glennon, Naoise McKenna, David Maloney; Morgan Gavigan, Jack Murphy, Johnny Bermingham; Shane Clavin, Peter Murphy; Aonghus Clarke, Peter Clarke, Liam Varley; David O'Reilly, Niall O'Brien, Conor Murphy. Subs used: Jack Gallagher for C Murphy (47 mins), Dean Slevin for Varley (59), Mick Heeney for Clavin (60), Odhran Gavigan for O'Brien (60+3).

Lough Lene Gaels - Noel Conaty; Daire Daly, Dan Higgins, Philip Reilly; Micheál Daly, Daragh Qamar, John Egan; Brendan Doyle, Shane Williams; Thomas Kennedy, David Williams, Tommy Doyle; Jason Malone, Marcus Kennedy, Eoin Daly. Subs used: Derek McNicholas for T Kennedy (26 mins), Aaron Kennedy for Egan (47), Jordan Williams for M Kennedy (54).

Referee - Barry Nea (Clonkill).