Clonkill 3-16 Castletown-Geoghegan 2-16
(After extra-time)
The Westmeath SHC final went to extra-time in dreadful weather at TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar this afternoon with Clonkill completing a hat-trick of triumphs in memorable fashion.
Conditions could hardly have been worse for hurling, with driving rain from start to finish and a swirling wind which favoured Castletown-Geoghegan in the first half.
Both free-takers, Niall O'Brien and Brendan Murtagh, were on form in the opening period.
The challengers were two points up entering added-time when Aonghus Clarke found the net with aplomb at the end of a delivery by Johnny Bermingham to leave Castletown-Geoghegan ahead by 1-9 to 0-7 at the break.
Castletown led by five points when sub Niall Mitchell, who was not expected to feature after picking up a shoulder injury earlier in the autumn playing football with The Downs, found the net to bring Clonkill right back into contention.
Castletown still looked certain to win their first title since 2017 when they led by three points deep into added-time, but Jordy Smyth came to Clonkill’s rescue with a well-taken equalising goal to leave the sides tied at 2-12 to 1-15.
There was a dramatic start to extra-time with Joe Clarke’s goal being immediately cancelled out at the other end by that man Mitchell. The sides remained tied, 3-13 to 2-16, at half-time in extra-time.
Battle-hardened Clonkill won the day by scoring three unanswered points in the second ten-minute period from the sticks of the returning Peadar Scally and Murtagh with two - a free and a neat score from play.
After the match, Murtagh became the first player to lift the Westmeath Examiner Cup for a third time, while Clonkill centre half back Darragh Egerton picked up the man of the match award.
Clonkill: A Mitchell; M McGrath, A McGrath, K Reilly; O Dowdall, D Egerton, P Dowdall; S Power, P Scally (0-01); A Dowdall, L Loughlin (0-01), C Nolan; J Smyth (1-01), B Murtagh (0-12, 0-08f, 0-01‘65’), E Price (0-01).
Subs: C Austin for Scally (37), N Mitchell (2-00) for Nolan (39), J O’Brien for O Dowdall (42), A Price for Power (48), N Dowdall for Smyth (62), P Scally for E Price (64), C Nolan for Austin (10+2, e-t), M Keegan for P Dowdall (h/t, e-t).
Castletown-Geoghegan: K Glennon; A Glennon, D McDermott, C Kane; E Quinn, J Bermingham, L Varley; D Lynch, P Maxwell (0-01); A Clarke (1-6, 0-03f), N McKenna, B Carey; J Clarke (1-01), N O’Brien (0-08, 0-06f), C O’Brien.
Subs: A Corbett for Carey (33), C Murphy for McKenna (49), M Gavigan for C O’Brien (57), C O’Brien for Corbett (11, e-t).
Referee: C Flynn (St Brigid’s).
