Flanagan Cup stays in Garrycastle
April 04, 2011When a small group of GAA enthusiasts came together to form a second GAA club in Athlone exactly 30 years ago, they could scarcely have imagined the success that club would go on to achieve.
Since claiming their first Flanagan Cup a decade ago, Garrycastle have become the dominant force in Westmeath football, contesting seven county finals during that period and winning five of them in 2001, '02, '04, '09 and last year at Mullingar Shamrocks' expense. They've also become one of the top club sides in Leinster, even if they are still awaiting their first provincial success.
After becoming only the fourth Westmeath club to reach a Leinster senior final in 2009 when they lost to Portlaoise, Garrycastle had set their sights on going a step further last year but, after accounting for Longford Slashers and Louth's Mattock Rangers, they succumbed to a star-studded Kilmacud Crokes outfit by three points at the semi-final stage. It is a measure of how much expectations have increased within the club that there was a deep sense of disappointment at losing to the 2009 All-Ireland champions in their own backyard of Parnell Park.
Managed by former Galway hurling star Anthony Cunningham once again, Garrycastle suffered just one defeat en route to retaining their county title, and that was on a day when they were short several regulars against Mullingar Shamrocks. The Athlone outfit had already assured themselves of a place in the knockout stages before then, so the defeat was far from costly.
Drawn in the tougher Division 2, Garrycastle opened their Flanagan Cup defence with a 2-11 to 1-11 victory over old rivals Tyrrellspass at Cusack Park. Tyrrellspass led by 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval, but within five minutes of the restart, Dessie Dolan had scored a goal and a point to put Garrycastle in the ascendancy. Tyrrellspass levelled with points from Ger O'Toole and the Glennon brothers, David and Denis, but after James Dolan had restored their advantage, experienced substitute Alan Daly swooped for Garrycastle's second goal to make it a four-point game.
Martin Flanagan grabbed a late goal for Tyrrellspass, but earlier points from Paddy Mulvihill, Gary Dolan and James Duignan had made victory safe for the Shannonsiders.
Garrycastle made it two wins from two when they overcame The Downs by 2-12 to 1-7 in Moate's Hogan Park. The Downs, who would end up in the semi-finals, posted the first two scores before an Alan Daly brace brought the champions level. Barry Conroy had the black and ambers in front again at the end of the opening quarter, but Paul Dillon and Daly replied for Garrycastle to give them the lead for the first time after 21 minutes.
The Downs, however, finished the half strongly, and after Luke Folan equalised, the same player beat Cathal Mullin from the penalty spot to give them a 1-4 to 0-4 interval lead.
Resuming with Dessie Dolan in an uncustomary midfield role, Garrycastle had the first four points of the second half to retake the lead, and while James Conroy levelled for The Downs in the 43rd minute, they tide turned irrevocably Garrycastle's way when points from Paddy Mulvihill, Dolan were followed by a late brace of goals from Alan Daly to ensure a comfortable victory in the end.
Despite being short the services of Mark McCallon, Aidan Browne, Gary Dolan and Paddy Mulvihill, Garrycastle maintained their winning ways with a 0-15 to 2-6 victory over a struggling St. Malachy's side at Tang. It certainly wasn't one of the green and reds' better performances with St. Malachy's twice finding the net and also having another goal disallowed in controversial circumstances.
Garrycastle had five points on the board before Sean Whelan netted for St. Malachy's in the 12th minute. The Athlone side outscored their opponents by 0-3 to 0-1 in the remainder of the half to take a 0-8 to 1-1 lead into the break.
The champions extended their advantage on the restart thanks to points from Alan Daly, Seanie O'Donoghue, Rory McGowan, Dessie Dolan and Conor Cosgrove, but were left hanging on for the win after a second goal from Whelan and points from Alan Mangan brought the margin down to two before 'The Dollar' Daly fisted over an insurance score.
Anthony Cunningham's charges made sure of their place in the knockout stages when they inflicted a crushing 1-13 to 0-3 defeat on Castledaly. The local rivals have had some great battles in recent years, but Garrycastle were far superior on this occasion. After leading by five points at the break, they added points through John Gaffey, Seanie O'Donoghue and Paul Dillon before Alan Daly ended the game as a contest with the only goal 14 minutes from the end.
With four wins out of four, Garrycastle looked certain to qualify automatically for the semi-finals, but a surprise 0-5 to 0-12 loss to Mullingar Shamrocks in their final group match saw the Springfield club pip them for top spot in Division 2. The under strength champions were totally outplayed and were already in trouble at half-time when they trailed by 0-2 to 0-7.
All was not lost for Garrycastle, however, who still qualified for the quarter-finals where they squared up to town rivals Athlone. As it turned out, Dessie Dolan returned from his honeymoon to inspire the green and reds to a 0-14 to 0-9 victory. Paul Dillon also impressed for Garrycastle, who qualified for a semi-final meeting with Killucan, despite having defender Tom McHugh sent off late in the first half.
Against Killucan, Anthony Cunningham's men needed to call on all their experience and know-how to eke out a 3-12 to 1-13 win. James Nugent's 12th minute goal helped the challengers to a 1-8 to 0-6 interval lead, but Garrycastle refused to panic and resumed with goals from Mark McCallon and Conor Cosgrove inside the first five minutes before Cosgrove scored a brilliant second goal 10 minutes from the end to seal their place in another county final.
Eager to put titles back-to-back for the first time since 2001 and '02 - not to mention to exact revenge on Mullingar Shamrocks for their earlier defeat - Garrycastle always looked to have the measure of their youthful opponents despite getting off to a slow start. Once again, the showed their experience and composure when recovering from the concession of a superb individual goal by Shamrocks' Lorcan Smyth after 10 minutes to lead by 1-6 to 1-2 at the break. And their victory never looked in any doubt after Paul Dillon fired home their second goal five minutes after the restart.
Bidding for their first county title since 2000, Shamrocks made all the early running with Smyth's superb strike helping them to an early 1-2 to 0-3 lead. But the champions hit back with a goal of their own from James Dolan and had taken a firm grip on proceedings by half-time.
Garrycastle extended their lead to 2-6 to 1-3 after the resumption when Rory McGowan set up Dillon for another well-taken goal. Shamrocks responded by introducing county full back Kieran Gavin - who spent the summer in San Francisco - but it was Simon Quinn who carried the fight to Garrycastle.
Two points from the half forward and another from last year's county under 21 captain Denis Corroon, who was introduced late in the first half, had the margin down to four, 1-6 to 2-8, with five minutes remaining.
Shamrocks were piling on the pressure at this stage and after Darragh Daly was denied a goal, veteran substitute Alan Daly lifted the siege for Garrycastle with a crucial point to restore their five-point advantage.
Quinn pulled back a point for Ray Smyth's side in injury-time, but it was a case of too little, too late as Garrycastle held on with the experienced heads of Dessie Dolan, David O'Shaughnessy and Seanie O'Donoghue guiding them to a 2-9 to 1-8 victory and another Flanagan Cup success.
In the Leinster club championship, Garrycastle had a lucky escape against Longford Slashers in the opening round at Cusack Park. Slashers' Colin Smith had a late chance to force extra-time from a difficult free, but his effort dropped short, enabling Garrycastle to hold on for a 0-13 to 1-9 victory.
The sides were level on 0-4 apiece after 25 minutes before the game suddenly burst into life when a shot by Paul Kelly rattled the Garrycastle crossbar and Colin Smith was on hand to fire the rebound past Cathal Mullin for the only goal.
But the more experienced Westmeath side responded with four unanswered points from Dessie Dolan (two), Seanie O'Donoghue and Paul Dillon to take a 0-8 to 1-4 lead into the break, and they maintained their advantage in the second half with former All-Star Dolan finishing as top-scorer with 0-8 to his credit.
Garrycastle also rode their luck against Louth champions Mattock Rangers in their quarter-final clash at Cusack Park before prevailing on a 2-13 to 2-10 scoreline. The home side raced into an early 0-5 to 0-1 lead, only to be rocked by two quick-fire goals from Adrian Reid and Niall Sharkey. This left Garrycastle trailing by 0-8 to 2-4 at the break.
However, in carbon-copy fashion, Garrycastle took a leaf out of their opponents' book to nab a brace of goals in the 32nd and 33rd minutes through Paddy Mulvihill. Mattock refused to throw in the towel, though, and with Garrycastle leading by just two points late on, David Reid was unlucky to see his fisted effort come back off the crossbar. Following that let-off, the Lake County kingpins swept down the field and Shane Mulvihill pointed to give them a three-point win.
Garrycastle's 2010 adventure came to an end when they suffered a 0-10 to 0-13 defeat to Kilmacud Crokes in the semi-final at Parnell Park. Longford's Brian Kavanagh kicked 0-6 as the Dublin champions overturned a two-point interval deficit to progress to the provincial decider against Offaly's Rhode.
In what was a close and tense affair, Crokes' greater strength in depth ultimately proved the difference. They started well with Mark Vaughan, who was a late replacement for the injured Niall Corkery, and Declan Kelleher shooting points inside the first four minutes.
But Garrycastle, who were without their injured captain Doran Harte, responded with unanswered points from Dessie Dolan ('45), Rory McGowan and Paul Dillon to open up a 0-4 to 0-2 lead. Kevin Nolan hit back with a point which should have been goal before Paddy Mulvihill made it 0-5 to 0-3 in the 23rd minute.
McGowan and Dolan added points for the Athlone outfit, while Kavanagh had two for Crokes to leave the score reading 0-7 to 0-5 in the visitors' favour at half-time.
Crokes upped the tempo after the restart with scores from Kavanagh, Vaughan and Kelleher giving them a 0-8 to 0-7 lead. A Dillon free restored parity for Garrycastle before Liam Og O hEineachain edged the home side back in front in the 43rd minute.
Further points from Kavanagh and Barry O'Rorke extended Crokes' lead before Dolan brought the deficit down to the minimum again. But in the final six minutes, Kevin Nolan and Kavanagh tagged on scores to leave three in it at the final whistle.
Garrycastle lined out as follows in the county final: Cathal Mullin; James Dolan, John Gaffey, Alan Fox; Mark McCallon, Karl Henson, Doran Harte; Seanie O'Donoghue, Aidan Browne; David O'Shaughnessy, Dessie Dolan, Rory McGowan; Conor Cosgrove, Paul Dillon, Paddy Mulvihill. Subs used: Alan Daly, Shane Mulvihill, James Duignan, Enda Mulvihill and Donovan Hermbusche.
'Castle add junior 'B' title
An injury-time point at the end of extra-time from Conor Cosgrave handed Garrycastle a dramatic 3-9 to 1-14 victory over Ballynacargy in the delayed 2010 junior 'B' championship final which took place in Ballynacargy on January 16 last.
Cosgrove's winner, which came in the fifth minute of stoppage-time, completed a remarkable recovery by the Athlone men who had trailed by 10 points, 1-0 to 1-10, at half-time in normal time. Fielding only a handful of their senior championship winning team, Garrycastle were well off the pace in the opening 30 minutes and had to wait until the 25th minute for full forward Kevin Hogan to open their account with a well-taken goal.
The visitors had it all to do in the second half and still trailed by seven points, 1-4 to 1-11, with six minutes of normal time remaining. But quick-fire goals from centre back Sean Brennan and Conor Cosgrove closed the gap to the minimum before Cosgrove equalised from a free to force extra-time.
At the end of the first period of extra-time, Garrycastle led by 3-7 to 1-12 following points from Paul Donovan and Cosgrove. Ballynacargy regained parity in the second period and looked to have done enough to earn a replay until Cosgrove swooped for the winning point.
Garrycastle's junior 'B' championship winning team was: Stephen McGuire; Gary Mullery, John Murphy, Alan Fox; Anthony Larkin, Sean Brennan, Conor Harrington; Noel Galvin, Justin McAteer; Padraig Cosgrove (captain), Conor Cosgrove, Finbar Murray; Brian Carthy, Kevin Hogan, Paul Donovan. Sub used: Sean Carey. Tweet
