Castletown-Geoghegan take Westmeath hurling crown

They were deserved victors over Lough Lene Gaels in Mullingar.

FAST START: Castletown-Geoghegan started as they meant to go on with David O’Reilly scoring a fine goal. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Castletown-Geoghegan 1-27 Lough Lene Gaels 2-17 

Castletown-Geoghegan won the rescheduled Westmeath senior hurling final with a deserved victory over Lough Lene Gaels in Mullingar.

The winners got off to a great start with David O’Reilly scoring a fine goal in the third minute. However, Lough Lene Gaels rallied well and were on level terms (1-2 to 0-5) at the end of the opening quarter, two of their points coming from superb sideline cuts by David Williams.

A quickfire brace from Conor Murphy and a delightful score from O’Reilly put the 2022 champions three clear, but this was wiped out in the 19th minute when Aaron Kennedy found the net. A 21st-minute point from Tommy Doyle put the Gaels ahead for the first time (1-7 to 1-6), but Castletown finished the first half the stronger and a Niall O’Brien hat-trick had them ahead by 1-11 to 1-9 at the interval.

O’Brien pointed just five seconds after play resumed, but the gap was still just two points (1-14 to 1-12) after 39 minutes. However, Castletown-Geoghegan looked the better side for most of the time remaining and it could have been worse for Lough Lene Gaels had ‘keeper Noel Conaty not pulled off a few great saves.

The champions-elect led by seven points (1-21 to 1-14) with 51 minutes elapsed, but points from Doyle and Shane Williams kept the Gaels in touch. Doyle was then denied a goal by Ciaran O’Brien, and there was no way back for them despite sub Jason Malone finding the net on the hour mark.

Scorers – Castletown-Geoghegan: N O’Brien 0-10 (5f, 1‘65’), D O’Reilly 1-5, C Murphy, L Varley 0-3 each, J Gallagher, P Murphy 0-2 each, P Clarke, A Clarke 0-1 each.

Lough Lene Gaels: D Williams 0-7 (4f, 2s/l,1‘65’), A Kennedy, J Malone 1-0 each, E Daly, T Doyle 0-3, S Williams 0-2, M Kennedy, D McNicholas 0-1 each.

Castletown-Geoghegan: C O’Brien; N McKenna, A Glennon, D Maloney; J Bermingham, J Murphy, M Gavigan; P Clarke, S Clavin; C Murphy, A Clarke, L Varley; D O’Reilly, N O’Brien, J Gallagher. Subs: P Murphy for Varley (51), D Fennell for Bermingham (55), M Heeney for C Murphy (60+2), C Lynch for Gallagher (60+4).

Lough Lene Gaels: N Conaty; D Daly, D Higgins, D Reilly; P Reilly, D Qamar, S Williams; B Doyle, M Daly; T Doyle, D Williams, E Daly; M Kennedy, W Williams, A Kennedy. Subs: D McNicholas for W Williams (h-t), J Malone for B Doyle (47), J Egan for D Reilly (47), J Williams for E Daly (inj., 47).

Ref: B Kelly (St Oliver Plunkett’s).