Caulry conquer the ‘Castle as goals prove decisive
Caulry 2-13 Garrycastle 0-13
By John Dingle
A strong second half showing steered Caulry past neighbours Garrycastle in this Westmeath Junior 2 Football Championship semi-final at St Kieran's Park, Castledaly last Sunday afternoon.
Caulry led by just a single point at half-time but pulled away during the second half to win by six points and secure a date with St Mary's, Rochfortbridge in the decider.
The Mount Temple/Baylin side drew first blood when raising the green flag with just three minutes played in this high noon contest, as Thomas Dunning set up Roan Sweeney to find the net early on.
A Liam Malynn free kick increased the lead before a similar effort at the other end opened Garrycastle's account as Des Dolan found the range after nine minutes. A further free from the former Westmeath star further reduced the deficit, but Aaron Murphy again left a goal between the teams with a 13th-minute point.However, Garrycastle headed into the second quarter just a point behind when Dylan Keegan fired over a superb two-pointer. Neither team took control of proceedings thereafter to leave a point in the difference at the interval.
Malynn (a free) edged Caulry two points in front but Garrycastle responded once more as Ger Heneghan sent over a point from the right after 26 minutes. Another Malynn free again put two between the teams.
Dolan though drew Garrycastle level on the stroke of half-time with an accurate long range free which yielded two points on the scoreboard. Caulry completed the scoring in the first additional minute when Malynn sent over another point, from play this time. It left the red and white outfit narrowly in front by 1-5 to 0-7 when the half-time whistle sounded.
The lead could have been greater only for some inaccurate shooting from Caulry as their wide count eventually reached double figures. There might also have been further scores during time added on but Caulry's Sweeney was denied his second major score when Garrycastle goalkeeper Michael Moore blocked his shot. Dolan was also out of luck at the other end when his shot bounced off the upright to leave the second half nicely balanced.
It was felt that the second half would again be a close encounter but it failed to live up to expectations. Dolan levelled matters when play resumed from another free and Garrycastle appeared to have been handed the opportunity to gain the upper hand when Caulry were down a man for ten minutes after David Gaynor was shown a black card.
It looked like they were taking advantage of the situation when Dylan Keegan edged the Athlone team in front for the first time after 35 minutes. The response from Caulry was positive though as they went back in front with a point from John Maguire and a '45’ from the accurate boot of Malynn.
Dolan again levelled matters with a free but just three further scores were registered by Garrycastle as their challenge faded heading into the final quarter. A lack of firepower in attack proved costly for Franco Doolan's team as only Dolan's accuracy from free kicks kept them competitive.
Malynn chipped in with another free and then a two-pointer from play to put Caulry in front by a goal. Dolan kept the 'Castle in touch with a point after 47 minutes but the next two scores were crucial as Caulry stretched their advantage to six.
Dunning raised the second green flag after 51 minutes and another free from Malynn left it 2-11 to 0-11 in Caulry's favour. The two Caulry goals proved to be the difference at the end.
Garrycastle could not rally in the closing stages as their attempt at forcing extra-time fell well short of being achieved. A Dylan Keegan free after 57 minutes reduced the deficit to five, but goals were needed when Maguire scored another point for Caulry on the stroke of full-time.
Philip Monaghan closed Garrycastle's account with a point in the first additional minute but Caulry completed the scoring two minutes later as Alan Lynam popped over a point to leave Philip Rainey’s team ahead by six, 2-13 to 0-13, at the finish.
St Mary's now await in the final after the Rochfortbridge team got the better of Rosemount following a dramatic penalty shoot-out after extra-time had failed to separate the teams.
Man of the match: Liam Malynn (Caulry). The forward was accurate from frees and open play, with a superb two-pointer midway through the second half a particular highlight of his performance.
Talking point: The number of former county stars still contributing on the playing front, albeit at a lower level, as Westmeath duo Dessie Dolan and Doron Harte and Roscommon's Ger Heneghan lined out for Garrycastle.
Scorers - Caulry: L Malynn 0-9 (1tp, 0-5 frees, 1 45’); R Sweeney and T Dunning 1-0 each; J Maguire 0-2; A Murphy and A Lynam 0-1 each. Garrycastle: D Dolan 0-7 (1tpf, 4f); D Keegan 0-4 (tp, 1f); G Heneghan and P Monaghan 0-1 each.
Caulry - Cillian Nagle; Rory Hatton, Eoin Shortall, Ciaran Gaynor; Darren Hynds, Roan Sweeney, Daniel Lynam; Alan Lynam, David Gaynor; Alan Daly, Aaron Murphy, Liam Malynn; Thomas Dunning, Willie Buckley, John Maguire. Subs: Luke Hamilton for D Lynam (41 mins); Dean Burns for Buckley (49).
Garrycastle - Michael Moore; Nathan McKeon, Gary Mullery, Doron Harte; David Carter, Jack Mulvihill, Jonathan McGuire; Killian Redmond, Diarmaid Murtagh; Ger Heneghan, Dessie Dolan, Anthony Mannion; Michael Greene, Aaron Keegan, Dylan Keegan. Subs: Philip Monaghan for McGuire (41 mins); Killian Keegan for Greene (50); Conor Duignan and Shane Moran for Harte and Heneghan (55); Peadar Mulvihill for Dolan (56).
Referee - Eoin Jordan (Athlone).