Raharney 2-19 Lough Lene Gaels 2-17
Killian Doyle, an All Star nominee last year, broke Lough Lene Gael hearts in ideal conditions for hurling at TEG Cusack Park by rifling home a great goal for Raharney deep into injury-time to deprive the underdogs of a first Westmeath senior hurling title in 21 years.
David Williams opened the scoring for the underdogs with a great point in the second minute, but Raharney took control at this juncture and they led by 0-05 to 0-01 by the eighth minute courtesy of points from the Doyle twins, Ciaran (one from play) and Killian (two frees), Eoin Keyes and Eamon Cunneen.
They went on to lead by 0-07 to 0-04 by the end of the opening quarter, at which stage a wasteful Raharney side had seven wides racked up to their opponents' two.
Joey Williams’ side came right back into contention when veteran attacker Derek McNicholas, who had scored a fabulous point some four minutes earlier, launched the sliotar goalward in the 18th minute and Jason Malone was fouled. From the resultant penalty, David Williams drilled the ball low to the net.
The next goal chance came in the 25th minute when Killian Doyle seemed sure to find the net, but somehow Daniel Reilly scooped the ball off the goal line via the upright. The Gaels led by a point at the end of normal time, but Killian Doyle converted two monster frees in added-time to leave Ger Flanagan’s troops ahead by 0-11 to 1-07 at the interval.
Three points from the impressive Eoin Daly (later named as man of the match) and a David Williams free had Lough Lene Gaels a goal to the good (1-11 to 0-11) by the 35th minute. Killian Doyle’s 40th-minute penalty (after a foul on sub Brian McGrath) was saved by his fellow-Westmeath player Noel Conaty, with Doyle converting the resultant '65’. However, the Gaels, appearing in their final county final in 14 years, looked well en route to success when McNicholas fired home a great goal in the 45th minute to put his side ahead by 2-13 to 0-15.
Six minutes later, McGrath scored a fine individual goal to leave the margin at the bare minimum (2-14 to 1-16). With Westmeath star Tommy ‘Jogger’ Doyle playing very well in an unfamiliar attacking role, Lough Lene Gaels led by a point (2-17 to 1-19) at the end of normal time.
A surprisingly low amount of one minute (minimum) added time was announced and shortly after this had elapsed, a questionable decision resulted in a long-range Ciaran Doyle free which found his brother Killian who bore down on goals and duly fired an unstoppable shot past Conaty.
There was still time for McNicholas to see a 25-metre free come back off the butt of the post to round off a pulsating match.
Raharney: A McHugh; C McKeogh, J Mulkearns, D Finn; C Boyle, R Greville (0-01), D Hickey; E Cunneen (0-01), G Greville; R Keyes, K Doyle (1-11, 0-09 frees, 0-01 ‘65’), J Boyle (0-02); E Keyes (0-03), C Doyle (0-01), E Ahearn.
Subs: D Hill for Cunneen (h-t), B McGrath (1-00) for R Keyes (h-t).
Lough Lene Gaels: N Conaty; P Reilly, D Higgins, D Reilly; J Egan, D Qamar, S Williams (0-01); B Doyle, M Daly (0-01); T Doyle (0-04), D Williams (1-05, 1-00 pen, 0-03 frees), E Daly (0-04); D McNicholas (1-01), J Malone, M Kennedy.
Subs: A Kennedy (0-01) for Malone (41), T Kennedy for Reilly (inj., 54).
Referee: M Murtagh (Clonkill).
