Garrycastle goals prove crucial in U14 final victory

Garrycastle 4-8 Shandonagh 2-9

Eamon A. Donoghue

The old adage that goals wins matches proved correct in this game as Garrycastle's tally of four goals helped to give them victory over Shandonagh in the Westmeath U14 Division 2 final at Rosemount GAA grounds last Friday evening.

Garrycastle were playing second best to Shandonagh in the first quarter but two goals, including a fortunate one from Senan Keena's long range free, had the Athlone-based side 2-0 to 0-4 in the ascendancy. Keena’s goal was crucial in keeping his team right in the contest, when Shandonagh were clearly on top in that first quarter.

When a player sets a high bar for themselves, it can be very hard to hit such heights again. Keena scored 2-16 for Garrycastle in the semi-final win over Athlone but he rose to the occasion again, notching 1-7 to push his team to victory.

This was a topsy-turvy game that was unpredictable right up to the final whistle. Shandonagh had short moments of dominance and scoring momentum, but Garrycastle got the goals and it was the goals that were the difference. Four of them in all, three in the first half.

The goals left Garrycastle within a single point at half-time, 3-1 to 2-5, but only for those goals, the game could have been out of sight in favour of Shandonagh.

Garrycastle’s big full-forward William Redmond scored Garrycastle’s first goal. After a long delivery by Keena deceived the Shandonagh defensive line, Redmond collected possession in behind the defence and he finished with aplomb.

After Keena’s fortunate goal from a free, then corner-forward James Dillon rattled the net from a tight angle. It came from a Shandonagh error and there was a possibility of a pick off the ground infringement in the build-up to the goal. In any case, these three goals kept Garrycastle in the game.

Shandonagh were the better team in the first half in general play, led by Danny Timlin and aided by DJ Scahill. They scored two goals themselves in that first half. Hubert Socha scored the first and then big midfielder Coby Masterson found himself all alone inside the goalmouth and he finished excellently, beating Daniel Lane in the Garrycastle goal.

After the resumption, Garrycastle brought on Nathan Dolan (son of former Westmeath star Dessie Dolan) and the forward brought a buzz to the fray. He scored 1-1 in the third quarter to put his team 4-3 to 2-7 in the ascendancy.

Keena started to display his array of talents and he kicked a two-pointer for good measure to push his team into a 4-6 to 2-7 lead as the game moved into the fourth quarter.

To their credit, Shandonagh battled to the very end with Scahill and Timlin to the fore, but it was Garrycastle who stood resolute. They added two late frees by Keena after wholehearted work by Harry Killion in forcing the fouls. And there was jubilation among the Garrycastle team, subs and supporters at the sound of the final whistle.

Player of the match: Senan Keena (Garrycastle). Keena played an instrumental role in his side's victory. Not only did he score 1-7, he also kicked a two-pointer at a key stage of the game and his influence was so strong that it helped to keep Shandonagh’s best player, Danny Timlin, on the back foot. Substitute Nathan Dolan and Tristan Murray Allen also contributed plenty to the cause. For Shandonagh, Timlin, when he had the chance to leave Keena and attack, and DJ Scahill were best.

Talking point: There were very helpful team sheets handed out at the entrance in Rosemount last Friday evening, and it’s something that should be repeated in future at all Westmeath championship fixtures, both underage and adult.

Scorers – Garrycastle: S Keena 1-7 (1-0f, 1tp, 0-4f); N Dolan 1-1; W Redmond and J Dillon 1-0 each. Shandonagh: H Socha 1-1; C Masterson 1-0; DJ Scahill 0-3 (3f); A Heitmuller and D Timlin (2f) 0-2 each; M Correa 0-1.

Garrycastle - Daniel Lane; Breándan Galvin, Tiernan Frawley, Paul Fallon; Jamie Costello, Tristan Murray Allen, Yod Zelalem Ayenew; Jason Doolan, Kacper Wziatek; TJ Adewole, Senan Keena, Harry Killion; James Dillon, William Redmond, Kanyi Offoelo. Subs used: Nathan Dolan, Ruairi Holohan.

Shandonagh - Arthur Gavin; Ethan Lennon, Rory Nicholson, Nicholas Dixon; Sean Nicholson, Danny Timlin, Marcelo Correa; Hubert Socha, Coby Masterson; Aedon Heitmuller, DJ Scahill, James Smith; Myles Sleator, Michael Walshe, Daire Egan. Subs used: Conor Madden, John McManus, Donagh Healy.

Referee - Shane Carroll (Caulry).