Clonkill hold nerve to knock out holders Raharney

Clonkill 1-14 Raharney 1-10 Clonkill dethroned Raharney in a disappointing Westmeath senior hurling final played in cold but dry conditions in Mullingar on Sunday afternoon.

The first half failed to ignite and the best chance of a goal came in the seventh minute when Clonkill’s Luke Folan bore down on the Raharney goal but failed to pass the ball with some better-placed colleagues available. At the break, Clonkill led by 0-7 to 0-5.

Two converted frees from Brendan Murtagh doubled his side's advantage early in the second half. At the other end, Cormac Boyle pointed with a goal at his mercy, leaving Clonkill ahead by three points (0-10 to 0-7) after 40 minutes.

Paul Greville slotted over a monster free-kick for Raharney and the holders took the lead against the run of play in the 42nd minute of the match when Killian Doyle dispossessed Cathal Scally and found the net in style.

Equaliser

Team captain

Paddy Dowdall

quickly conjured an equaliser. There followed a fine move involving Luke Folan and Anthony Price, and Niall Dowdall blasted the ball past

Andrew Doyle

.

Raharney's best chance of a late equalising goal came from a 20-metre free by Brian Connaughton on the stroke of the hour, but his shot was blocked. Eoin Price scored Clonkill's insurance point in added-time.

Clonkill: G Healy; S Power, C Scally, J Fagan; L Folan, B Murtagh (0-4, four frees), A McGrath; P Dowdall (0-2), E Price (0-1); M Heffernan, Adam Price (0-1), C Crentsil; N Mitchell, N Dowdall (1-4), Anthony Price (0-2). Subs: D Egerton for Crentsil (34 mins), A Dowdall for Mitchell (39 mins), K Reilly for Heffernan (46 mins), M Keegan for Fagan (60 + 1 mins), P Walsh for N Dowdall (60 + 4 mins).

Raharney: A Doyle; T Doyle, D Giles, C Jordan; G Greville, P Greville (0-1, free), A Sheils; N Flanagan, C Boyle (0-3); K Doyle (1-2), F Boyle, R Greville (0-4, frees); J Shaw, J Boyle, C Doyle.

Subs: P Byrne-Colgan for T Doyle (20 mins), S Quinn for Giles (33 mins), B Connaughton for J Boyle (41 mins), J Goonery for F Boyle (47 mins), M Glennon for Flanagan (51 mins). Referee: B Kelly (St Oliver Plunkett's).