Castletown Geoghegan Hurling Notes
September 15, 2013email: [email protected]
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Under 14 Champions
The Under 14's retained their championship title last Friday evening in Cusack Park. In a repeat of last year's final, Clonkill provided the opposition. In a very closely fought game Castletown came out on top on a scoreline of 5-11 to 2-2, and for the second year running the Jobber McGrath cup was brought home to the village. Our team lined out as follows: Adam Gavigan, Glen Bolger, Fiachra Heeney , Finian Heeney, Aaron Glennon, Ciaran O' Brien (Capt.), Thomas Dalton, Stephen Clarke, Robert Keegan, Eoin Jackson, Padraic Kane, Oisin O Donoghue, Eoin Deegan, Keenan Carroll, Cormac Jackson. Subs: James Cassidy, Brian Keegan, Eoin Kiernan, John Boyne, Jamie Hogg, Jamie Fallon, Darren Fagan.
This capped off a fine year for the team, winning the Feile title and being narrowly beaten in the All Ireland semi final by the team who went on to win the competition. The team will be playing an exhibition game at 2pm on the day of the clubs gathering festival, come along and see the stars of tomorrow.
Senior Championship Semi Final
Castletown reached the Senior Hurling final for the twenty-eighth time by virtue of a 1-19 to 2-9 victory over Lough Lene Gaels last Sunday evening in Cusack Park. Having seen St. Oliver Plunkett's overturn the favourites and current county champions, Clonkill, in the previous semi-final, 'The Gaels' were no doubt planning a similar upset. They began brightly, playing with a gale in the first half and fired over an early point to try to lay down a marker. Castletown responded in kind, and from the resulting puck-out, Joe Clarke linked up with Alan Mangan, who found Niall O'Brien for Castletown's only goal. Lough Lene Gaels responded with a pointed free before Castletown added six unanswered points through David Fennell, Niall O'Brien (2), Kieran Glennon, Alan Mangan and Blaine Lahart. Sloppy play by Castletown allowed 'The Gaels' to reduce the deficit by three to leave it 1-7 to 0-5 and Castletown were now on the back foot in a big way. David Lynch seemed to steady the ship with a well taken point, but from the resulting puck-out, 'The Gaels' carved open the Castletown defence and 'walked' the ball to the net. Niall O'Brien had a free for Castletown to restore a four point advantage at the interval, and the short whistle came at the right time for the black and ambers. The half time score read Castletown Geoghegan 1-9, Lough Lene Gaels 1-5. Whatever about the arctic conditions the spectators were enduring in support of their teams on the terraces, the Castletown team must have experienced the flames of a jet engine, as they roared into the second half, reeling off seven points to 'The Gaels' three, to extend the lead to eight points, 1-16 to 1-8 after fifteen minutes. The teams traded points after that, and there was no real life in the game until the twenty-sixth minute when Lough Lene Gaels found the back of the Castletown net for the second time. The Castletown defence was under siege for the remaining minutes, but held firm to help secure a seven point victory and a final spot against St. Oliver Plunkett's on Sunday 20th October. Final Score: Castletown Geoghegan 1-19, Lough Lene Gaels 2-9. Team: Paddy Maloney, Paul Fennell, Emmett Dalton, Eamonn Clarke, Liam Varley, Ronan Whelan, Dean McDermott, David Fennell 0-3, Joe Clarke (Capt.), David Lynch 0-1, Niall O'Brien 1-7 (5f), Blaine Lahart 0-1, Aonghus Clarke 0-1, Alan Mangan 0-4, Kieran Glennon 0-2. Subs Used: Derek Gallagher for David Lynch, Patrick Clarke for Blaine Lahart, Shane Clavin for Aonghus Clarke.
Intermediate Championship Semi Final
We took on Ringtown in this semi final last Saturday evening in The Downs. Clonkill would be the opposition in the final having beaten Raharney earlier in the day, and both sides were now determined to give it their all on what was a perfect evening for hurling. Rintown had a score on the board early on before a long ball into the Rintown square resulted in Mark McDermott flicking the ball to the back of the net. Pat Clarke then added a point before Ringtown responded with a point and then a goal of their own to kick start their evening. Points were traded on both sides before Ringtown struck for their second goal, and they might have pulled away if it were not for some stout defending from the Castletown backs. Castletown clawed their way back into the game with points from Patrick Clarke, Conor Keegan, and a second goal from McDermott, which was a carbon copy of the first. The halftime score read 2-8 to 2-6 in favour of Ringtown. Castletown fought all the way in the second half, and drew level, but could not get their noses in front, and Ringtown restored a two point lead with time up to secure a place in the final. This team played nine championship games in 2013, winning seven and losing two, and hopefully the regular Summer hurling will encourage more players to commit to this team in 2014. Team: Gary Jackson, John Gallagher, Ronan Corcoran, Frankie Deegan, Eoin Quinn, David Langan, Michael Heeney, Shane Clavin, Colin O'Brien, Seán Mullarkey, Conor Keegan 0-1, Seán Whelan (Capt.), Mark McDermott 2-0, Patrick Clarke 0-, Alan Clarke. Subs Used: Liam Cassidy, Shane Heraty, Robert Burge. Rest of Panel: Fintan Clarke, Luke Cassidy.
The Gathering
Our Gathering event will take place on Sunday 29th September. Our theme for the event will be the Castletown Geoghegan Hurling teams of 1977 to 1990, but will encompass the entire history of the club, from its foundation in 1917, to the present day. There will be three main focal points to The Castletown Gathering - The first will be a display of Castletown Hurling memorabilia and photographs, which will take place in the clubhouse on the evening of Saturday 28th, and all day on Sunday 29th September - The second will be the demonstration of the game of hurling, which has brought us all under the banner of Castletown Geoghegan for so long, where the current Westmeath Féile Champions will display their skills and ability in the early afternoon, followed by a selection of this years Senior and Intermediate teams, in action against the last team to secure the Westmeath Examiner Cup for Castletown, that of 2004. The concluding part of our gathering will be the coming together of the entire club and community, in the grounds of Mount Druid, for a festive evening of the cultural side of the GAA, together with the re-connection of all those club players, members and supporters, who have given so much to the club over the decades. The organising committee would welcome any thoughts, help or assistance that any club member or supporter can give in this endeavor, and all memorabilia and artifacts that can be provided for the purpose of the project will be most welcome.
Lotto
Last week's draw was held in The Drake Inn and the results should appear here next week.
Condolences
The club wishes to express its sympathy with the Hayes family, on the passing of Derry Hayes' mother Pattie, in Cork. May she rest in peace. Tweet
