Senior Football Championship Semi final
GARRYCASTLE 1-14 CORALSTOWN/KINNEGAD 0-6
Garrycastle seniors qualified for their 10th Westmeath senior football final since 2001 with a comprehensive win over Coralstown/Kinnegad in sun drenched Mullingar last Sunday afternoon.
Right from the start Garrycastle moved the ball with pace and precision and had a goal in the first minute when Conor Cosgrove took a pass from Desie Dolan and shot for goal, his initial effort was saved by Damian Molly but Conor gathered the rebound and finished to the net. A Dessie Dolan free was struck over the bar in their next attack, Eoin Monaghan had another goal opportunity but his effort was just wide. A point from James Dolan was added to by another pointed free by Dessie Dolan to establish a 1-3 to no score lead by the 8th minute. Coralstown/Kinnegad finally got on the scoreboard in the 10th minute with a point from play. Eoin Monaghan suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury as he tried to gather possession and was stretchered off, accompanied by a sympathetic round of applause, after a long break in play in the 13th minute. Garrycastle continued to dominate and points from James Dolan increased their advantage. Coralstown/Kinnegad responded with a second point before Alex Gardiner got one for Garrycastle. Garrycastle's injury woes continued when Alan Fox came off with a hamstring injury to be replaced by Enda Mulvihill. Karl Henson broke forward to point for Garrycastle and deep into injury time James Dolan pointed yet again. Coralstown/Kinnegad did register a point in the 6th minute of injury time to leave it 1-7 to 0-3 at the break.
The second period took a similar pattern to the first with Garrycastle having most of the possession. The sides exchanged points, the Garrycastle effort coming from James Dolan. A pointed free from Dessie Dolan was added to with a wonderful point from the wing by the same payer. Conor Cosgrove had a good point as Garrycastle added to their lead. James Duignan replaced Mathew Guiheen and got on the scoreboard with a good point in the 52nd minute. Coralstown/Kinnegad responded with a point straight away. James Dolan added yet another point and Coralstown/Kinnegad had a point from a free. Cathal Mullin made an excellent save to deny Coralstown/Kinnegad at the expense of a 45, which was not converted. Michael Monaghan had the last score, a point from play, in the final minute to leave it 1-14 to 0-6 at full time.
This was an excellent performance from Garrycastle but they will surely have to play better in the final if they wish to capture their seventh senior title. In truth Coralstown/Kinnegad did not offer much resistance. Nonetheless there were very good performances from Jack O'Donoghue, Karl Henson and John Gaffey in defence. Justin Barrett and Aidan Browne dominated in midfield throughout, while Dessie Dolan, Alex Gardiner and James Dolan were most prominent in attack.
We all wish Eoin Monaghan a speedy recovery from his injury.
GARRYCASTLE: Cathal Mullin, Mark McCallon, Jack O'Donoghue, Alan Fox, Karl Henson (0-1), John Gaffey, Gary McCallon, Justin Barrett, Aidan Browne, Eoin Monaghan, Dessie Dolan (0-4, 3f), Matthew Guiheen, Conor Cosgrove (1-1), Alex Gardiner (0-1) and James Dolan (0-5).
SUBs: Michael Monaghan for Eoin Monaghan (inj, 13 min); Dnda Mulvihill for A Fox (inj, 24 min); James Duignan (0-1) for M Guiheen (46 min); Damian Rushe for C Cosgrove (51 min); Sean Brennan for D Dolan (57 min); Seanie O'Donoghue for A Gardiner (59 min).Blood Subs: Tom McHugh for Mark McCallon; James Duignan for M Guiheen.
Junior B Championsgip semi final
GARRYCASTLE 0-7 ST. MARY'S ROCHFORTBRIDGE 1-14
Garrycastle lost their Junior B title to a stronger, more committed St. Mary's team in Garrycastle on Saturday afternoon.
Garrycastle missing a significant number of first choice players were always on the back foot in this game. St. Mary's were 3 points up and about 12 minutes into the match when Paul Gunning pointed a free for the home side. A further point from the visitors was matched by a point from play by Emmet Keena after 18 minutes. Garrycastle's next score at 27 minutes was their last of the first half, another pointed free by Paul Gunning. Half time score 0-8 to 0-3 to the visitors.
If the home team were to make any inroads into this game they needed to up their performance in the second half but it was the visitors who started the sharper, adding 3 further points to their tally before Garrycastle opened their second half account with another Paul Gunning converted free. The home team got two quick points in succession from Noel Galvin and Sean Moran midway through the second half but the rally was short lived as St.Mary's continued to keep the score board ticking over with some very accurate scoring. Enda Keena contributed Garrycastle's last score one minute from time. St. Mary's had one last attack and managed to get a goal almost on full time.
Credit must go to the Garrycastle players who rallied to the cause on the day not least Ben Kennedy who came on as a second half substitute having come direct from a Minor Match in Kilbeggan. Credit also to Padraig Cosgrove, who managed the team on the day.
GARRYCASTLE: Mark Keenan, Sean Gunning, Stephen Maguire, Ronan Donoghue, Coleman Gantley, John O'Shaughnessy, Francis Doolan, Jonny Maguire, Anthony Larkin, Sean Moran, Noel Galvin, Enda Keena, Emmet Keena, Paul Gunning, Keith Donoghue.
Subs: S. Brennan for K. Donoghue, G. Mullery for F Doolan, B. Kennedy for C. Gantley, C. Murray for Emmet Keena.
Minor Championship Div 3
GARRYCASTLE 1-7, MILLMORE GAELS 9-12
Garrycastle were comprehensively beaten by a much stronger Millmore Gaels side in the Minor Championship Division 3, (13-a-side) semi-final in Kilbeggan on Saturday morning. With only 8 minors available, it needed six of the under-16 squad to make up the numbers, including three players playing their first game at minor level.
Facing a strong Millmore Gaels side, it was always going to be an uphill struggle, and thus it proved, as Millmore signalled their intent and went for goals right from the throw in. They had 2 goals and a point on the board, before Garrycastle notched up their first scores, a pointed free from Cathal Mannion following a foul on Mark Duffy, and a sweetly struck point from Kenny Dolan following good build-up play from mid-field. However, from there until the end of the first half, it was one-way traffic for Millmore, and they notched up a huge lead, before Cathal, again from a free, scored Garrycastles third point.
Event though the match was effectively over as a contest by half-time, the Garrycastle team emerged with purpose in the second half, and took the game to Millmore. An early point from Mark Duffy was followed by a great chance for Liam Leahy, who did everything right, but was denied by an excellent save by the Millmore keeper. No fewer than 3 consecutive wides followed, as Garrycastle tried hard to narrow the gap on the scoreboard. Closest was Cathal, following a good through ball from Cian Hayden, which ended up in the side netting. A lapse of concentration allowed Millmore in to poach a goal against the run of play, but this was responded to immediately by a goal fom Ken, following a cleverly taken free by Ben Kennedy. Garrycastle continued to push forward and were rewarded with points from Mark, Cian and Bill. However, try as they might, the wide count kept increasing, with some shot options being perhaps a little on the optimistic side.
The Garrycastle team can be proud of the fact that even facing such an uphill task, their heads did not drop, and they played as a team right to the final whistle. They outscored Millmore Gaels in the second half and should have had much more to show on the scoreboard for their efforts.
Team:
Matthew McBride, Adam Keena, Mark Denby, Brian Leahy, Bill Kelly (0-1), Sean Kilgarriff, Ben Kennedy, Cian Hayden (0-1), Liam Leahy, Cathal Mannion (0-2, 0-2f), Eoin Duignan, Mark Duffy (0-2), Kenny Dolan (1-1).
Sub: Caolan Jameson for Brian Leahy (45mins), Brian Leahy for Kenny Dolan (inj. 58mins)
Craic on the Track
Garrycastle GAA held another very successful "Craic on the Track" event on Sunday with an even bigger crowd than last year . In great humour and glorious sunshine the hundred of runners and strollers headed out to the water, mud, bog and forest and had a great time, helped no doubt by the Live music from Fergie Jameson and Mike Mc Menamin in the forest. This has become a firm favourite as a family event and talk of next year bigger and better has already started. The winners of the inaugural Craic on the Track team event trophy went to the very youthful "Tomchamps" team.This "Craic on the Track" has its origins in the fundraising efforts of Martin Rattigan for King of the Castle competition run last year and it was fitting that Martin, who became "King of the Castle" was on hand to crown the new champs and present the Cup to
Team Captain Mark Denby and his team mates Caolan Jameson, Ross Mulvihill, Jack Brody,Bill Kelly and Cathal Mannion.The Club would like to say a huge thank you to all who helped in every way from the Knights of Malta to the Reserve Defence members, the Ladies Club for their sterling work under pressure at Registration, all of the Stewards who spent hours at their stations and then had to rush away to the county Senior Semi-Final which was put on as first match in Cusack Park. The Keane family, in allowing us access their land added a new dimension to the route and also helped with stewarding and preparation..The Athlone Equestrian Centre and Gaffeys farm are vital components of this huge event and the club are indebted to all the Gaffey family. So on to next year and the planning will start early and hopefully when we request a " free weekend" next year, we will not get three semi-finals in 24 hours.
Lotto
Numbers drawn : 3,9,21 and 23. The Jackpot was not won. Match 3 winners : Eileen Molloy, Anne Davin, B Murray and Gerard Murphy. Each winner receives €25. The jackpot is now €2,250
Fixtures
U14 Championship : V The Downes in Garrycastle this Saturday at 2pm
U16 Championship : V Moate in Ballymore this Saturday at 12:30pm
Congratulations to Peadar Mulvihill and his wife Claire on the birth of their baby girl Eve. Best wishes from all in Garrycastle.