Garrycastle remain the undisputed kingpins of Westmeath club football after another hugely successful year. Here, we chart their path to glory. Garrycastle consolidated their status as the leading football power in Westmeath by retaining their league and championship titles last season. As first-time winners of the Flanagan Cup in 2001, they would have been forgiven had they allowed their standards to drop last year. But, if anything, they were a more formidable outfit. With all but two of the team which started the county final under the age of 24, several more years of Garrycastle domination cannot be ruled out. They are clearly a cut above the rest at present, and with more experience, can only get better. The Athlone-based club has become so successful that it is hard to believe that it didn't exist a little over two decades ago. 'Castle triumphed in all but one of their seven championship outings and who's to say they wouldn't have achieved a 100 per cent winning record if there had been more at stake in their final group game against Coralstown/Kinnegad. The All-County League Division 1 title was retained on the back of an unbeaten campaign with the only blip being a draw with St. Loman's in their final game. Under the guidance of Gowna man Martin McCabe and his co-selectors Jack Veale, Michael Gantley and Gary Sammon, Garrycastle began the defence of their championship crown with an emphatic 2-19 to 2-2 victory over Ballynacargy at Tang on May 19. The gulf in class was apparent from an early stage with full forward Gary Dolan leading the rout. Dolan bagged two goals inside the first quarter and even though Michael Loran pulled one back for Ballynacargy, the champions still led by 2-7 to 1-1 at the interval. With Dessie Dolan, Alan Daly, Ciaran Ryan and Seanie O'Donoghue all finding the target, Garrycastle extended their advantage on the resumption and not even a late Declan Farrell penalty could save Ballynacargy from a humiliating defeat. One of Garrycastle's most impressive showings of the campaign was against 2000 champions Mullingar Shamrocks in their second outing at Moate. Shamrocks opened the scoring through Brian Morley, but the green and red machine soon clicked into top gear and, helped by an Alan Daly goal, they led by 1-6 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter. A Declan Cassidy goal brought Shamrocks back into it, but a similar score from Dessie Dolan left Garrycastle leading by 2-10 to 1-6 at the break. On the restart, the Shannonsiders assumed total dominance, with a third goal from Gary Dolan putting the result beyond all doubt. The champions' quality was again in evidence when they inflicted a 1-13 to 0-5 defeat on St. Mary's, Rochfortbridge on June 25. The scoreline was somewhat unkind to St. Mary's, given the number of chances they created. But their lack of scoring power was never going to trouble a team of Garrycastle's calibre. Garrycastle were six points, 1-6 to 0-3, to the good at the interval with Gary Dolan accounting for the goal after St. Mary's goalkeeper Declan Hogan had saved his initial shot from a penalty. Despite having David O'Shaughnessy sent off for a second bookable offence, the green and reds continued to hold the whip hand in the second half to chalk up another resounding win. Martin McCabe's charges became the first team to secure a semi-final place when they overcame newly-promoted St. Malachy's by 1-11 to 0-6 at Tang. In a poor game, Garrycastle signalled their intentions with three points inside the opening five minutes. Enda Mulvihill scored the only goal in the 18th minute to help them to a 1-6 to 0-3 interval lead. St. Malachy's threatened a comeback in the second half, but with the Dolan brothers on song, 'Castle emerged as comfortable winners in the end. For their final group game against Coralstown/Kinnegad, Garrycastle could afford to field an understrength line-up. Despite this, they looked like keeping their 100 per cent winning record intact until Kinnegad full forward Eamonn Fleming pounced for a dramatic winning goal in the closing minutes. The champions led by 0-6 to 0-3 at half-time and remained in the driving seat until Fleming grabbed an equalizing goal. Dessie Dolan and Justin McAteer replied with points to push 'Castle two clear, but Fleming's second goal with time almost up was enough to give Coralstown/Kinnegad a 2-4 to 0-9 victory. After a six-week break, Garrycastle returned to action on September 1 when they squared up to St. Loman's in the semi-final for the second consecutive year. This proved to be one of their toughest games of the campaign with the Mullingar side pushing them all the way. St. Loman's led by 0-2 to 0-1 after six minutes, but a fisted goal from Gary Dolan three minutes later turned things in Garrycastle's favour. Loman's had reduced the deficit to the minimum before they were dealt another crushing blow when Justin McAteer scored a second Garrycastle goal in the 21st minute. But two points from Paul Martin left just a goal, 2-4 to 0-7, separating the sides at the interval. A brace of scores from Alan Daly and Donal Ryan increased the green and reds' advantage on the restart, but Loman's were unlucky to be denied in the 40th minute when Kenny Lyons thundered a shot off Cathal Mullin's crossbar. With Vinny Gavin in fine form from placed balls, the Mullingar side continued to plug away, but Garrycastle held firm for a 2-9 to 0-12 victory. 'Castle had Dessie Dolan controversially red-carded in the dying moments, but he was still eligible for the county final on September 29, having completed his four-week suspension the night before. It could be argued that Garrycastle would have got by without their star forward such was the emphatic manner of their victory over a very disappointing Castledaly side. Appearing in their first senior final, the Offaly-border outfit seemed completely overcome by nerves, although Garrycastle must still be commended for what was a magnificent all-round display. Played before an attendance of over 6,000, the final was controlled from start to finish by the champions. At half-time, they held a 0-6 to 0-3 lead but, in truth, they would have been out of sight but for three missed goalscoring opportunities. Dessie Dolan hit three of those first half points, but a well-marked JP Casey kept the challengers in touch from frees. The second half turned out to be a rout with Gary Dolan's goal from a penalty opening the floodgates. The impressive Donal Ryan rounded off a brilliant move with Garrycastle's second goal in the sixth minute before Gary Dolan added a third three minutes later. Points from JP Casey and Damien Doyle gave Castledaly a glimmer of hope, but with David O'Shaughnessy reigning supreme at midfield, the supply into the Garrycastle forward line never dried up and the Athlone outfit completed an impressive day's work when substitute Padraig Cosgrove netted their fourth goal on the stroke of full-time. Garrycastle's winning margin of 14 points, 4-11 to 0-9, was the biggest in a county final since 1966 when Mullingar Shamrocks walloped Maryland by 5-10 to 1-5. The victory also ensured that Garrycastle became the first team since the great Mullingar Shamrocks side of the early 1990s to retain their crown. Shamrocks went on to complete a four-in-row of successes in 1995 - what odds on this talent-laden Garrycastle outfit emulating that feat? The Garrycastle side which retained the senior football championship was: Cathal Mullin; Padraig Rattigan, Karl Henson, John O'Shaughnessy; Doran Harte, Seanie O'Donoghue, Enda Mulvihill; David O'Shaughnessy, Ciaran Ryan (0-1); Justin McAteer, James Duignan, Donal Ryan (1-4); Alan Daly (0-2), Gary Dolan (2-0), Dessie Dolan (0-4). Subs used: Padraig Cosgrove (1-0), Stephen O'Reilly, Noel Galvin, Tom McHugh and Enda Nugent. 'Castle take senior 'B' title as well Garrycastle's capture of the senior 'B' championship title at Cusack Park last September proved that the club certainly isn't lacking in strength in depth. With team captain Donal Ryan leading by example, Garrycastle overcame a gallant St. Mary's, Rochfortbridge by 2-14 to 0-12 to claim their first piece of silverware of the year. The Athlone side's victory was never in any doubt with their second goal after 11 minutes of the second half ending the game as a contest. Managed by Richie Murray, Garrycastle opened the scoring through Padraig Cosgrove, only for St. Mary's to reply with unanswered points from Ian Cunningham and Austin Bradley (two). By the 20th minute, the southerners had edged in front thanks to scores from Rowan Mulvihill, Cosgrove and Donal Ryan. Ryan, Cosgrove and Doran Harte tagged on further points before St. Mary's 'keeper Eamonn O'Brien fumbled a Rowan Mulvihill free and young Rory McGowan was on hand to finish to the net. Trailing by 0-5 to 1-9 facing into the second half, St. Mary's looked to have a massive task on their hands, but four points without reply from Barry Pierce (two), Cunningham and Bradley left just a goal separating the sides. That was as close as the Rochfortbridge men came, however, as Donal Ryan then swooped for a second goal to put Garrycastle firmly in the driving seat. St. Mary's never gave up, but the goal they so desperately sought never materialized and Garrycastle were able to push further ahead before the end with points from Ryan, Cosgrove (two) and substitute Anthony Duigenan. The Garrycastle team was: Fergal Nee; Tom McHugh, Michael Mulvihill, Padraig Rattigan; John Murphy, Enda Nugent, Niall Fagan; Doran Harte, Stephen O'Reilly; Christopher Nally, Rowan Mulvihill, Donal Ryan; Rory McGowan, Colman Gantley, Padraig Cosgrove. Subs used: Anthony Duigenan, Noel Galvin and Declan Dockery. Tweet

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