Westmeath SHC: Clonkill comeback downs Castletown
October 16, 2011
Clonkill captain Andrew Mitchell raises the Westmeath SHC Cup at Cusack Park Mullingar
Clonkill 1-13
Castletown-Geogheghan 0-14
An upset looked to be on the cards at the interval when Ray Gavin's young Castletown side - who were bidding to win a first title since 2004 - held a 0-8 to 0-4 lead. But substitute Alan Dowdall's 35th minute goal proved a turning point as Clonkill made their experience count to regain the title after a one-year lapse and make amends for their heartbreaking defeat to Raharney in last year's decider.
After Dowdall found the net, Enda Loughlin pointed the favourites into a 1-8 to 0-10 lead, and while Alan Mangan - who managed the Westmeath ladies to All-Ireland intermediate glory in Croke Park last Sunday - levelled for the black and ambers, Clonkill grabbed the next three scores to take a grip on proceedings.
Castletown threw everything at Pat O'Toole's charges in the closing stages, but the goal they so desperately needed wouldn't come as Clonkill held out. Clonkill now advance to a Leinster club championship meeting with the Dublin champions on November 5.
Scorers - Clonkill: A Dowdall 1-1, A Mitchell (2f, 1 '65'), E Loughlin 0-3 each, E Price, Anthony Price 0-2 each, B Murtagh 0-1 (1f), A McGrath 0-1 each. Castletown-Geoghegan: N O'Brien 0-6 (4f, 1 s/l), R Whelan 0-3 (2f, 1 '65'), P Clarke, A Mangan 0-2 each, B Lahart 0-1.
Clonkill - S Nulty; S Cleary, Adam Price, J Fagan; P Dowdall, A Mitchell, S Loughlin; E Price, L Folan; Anthony Price, A McGrath, C Scally; N Dowdall, B Murtagh, E Loughlin. Subs: A Dowdall for N Dowdall (h-t), K Reilly for McGrath (60+3).
Castletown-Geoghegan - P Maloney; D Garvin, E Dalton, E Óg Clarke; D Gallagher, R Whelan, D Fennell; A Clarke, D Langan; D McCormack, J Clarke, D Ruane; N O'Brien, P Clarke, B Lahart. Subs: A Mangan for Ruane (22), N Kirby for McCormack (h-t), M Garvin for Gallagher (45), P Fennell for Langan (50).
Ref - B Kelly (St Oliver Plunkett's). Tweet
