Castletown-Geoghegan 3-15 Lough Lene Gaels 2-09
Castletown-Geoghegan retained the Westmeath senior hurling title for the first time since completing a historic three-in-a-row in 1958 with a fully deserved nine-point win against Lough Lene Gaels in a hard-hitting final replay in Mullingar.
For the losing side, they garnered an unwanted hat-trick after suffering losses in both the 2023 and 2024 deciders as well.
Conditions were very difficult, with a slippery surface and ongoing heavy drizzle, albeit there was no discernible wind favouring either team.
Exchanges were tough but fair throughout, and the winners coped better with the conditions, pulling away in the second half
The holders got off to a dream start when a great move ended with Shane Clavin finding the net with exactly one minute elapsed.
David Williams opened Lough Lene Gaels' account from play, but he went on to atypically miss a brace of scorable frees.
Castletown-Geoghegan, managed by Alan Mangan, one of Westmeath’s stars in their one and only Delaney Cup win in 2004, led by 1-03 to 1-01 when the underdogs goaled from a ninth-minute penalty, Williams’ stroke squirming past Ciaran O’Brien after Tommy Doyle had been fouled.
The goalkeeper’s brother Niall spurned a glorious goal chance from open play in the 12th minute, but Castletown-Geoghegan still kept their noses in front.
Daragh Qamar scored a fabulous point from long range in the 21st minute to leave the Collinstown men trailing by the bare minimum at 1-05 to 1-04, but the reigning champions proceeded to outscore their opponents by three points - Liam Varley and a brace of Niall O’Brien frees - to one - a quality score from Doyle - to lead by 1-08 to 1-05 at the break.
Both sides missed scorable frees early in the second half before O’Brien pointed a placed ball, and Varley netted in the 38th minute when teed up by David O’Reilly.
There was very little doubt about the outcome from the moment that O’Reilly goaled when picked out by influential sub Jack Gallagher to put them ahead by 3-11 to 1-06.
David Williams responded with a great three-pointer for Joey Williams’ troops, but there was no way back for the underdogs at this stage despite no shortage of effort or heart.
Team captain Aonghus Clarke wrapped up a comfortable win with a converted free with time almost up, regular free-taker O’Brien having been replaced to great applause moments earlier.
Castletown-Geoghegan, who famously hammered Kilkenny kingpins Thomastown in last year’s Leinster Championship, now face Laois champions Clough Ballacolla in a quarter-final clash in Portlaoise on 9 November.
Castletown-Geoghegan: Ciaran O’Brien; Aaron Glennon, Naoise McKenna, David Maloney; Morgan Gavigan, Jack Murphy, Johnny Birmingham; Shane Clavin (1-00), Peter Murphy; Aonghus Clarke (0-02, 0-01f), Peter Clarke (0-03), Liam Varley (1-01); David O’Reilly (1-00), Niall O’Brien (0-07, 0-07fs), Conor Murphy.
Subs: Jack Gallagher (0-02) for C Murphy (47), Dean Slevin for Varley (59), Mick Heeney for Clavin (60), Odhran Gavigan for N O’Brien (63).
Lough Lene Gaels: Noel Conaty; Daire Daly, Dan Higgins, Philip Reilly; Micheál Daly, Daragh Qamar (0-01), John Egan; Brendan Doyle, Shane Williams (0-01); Thomas Kennedy, David Williams (2-06, 1-00 pen, 0-04 fs), Tommy Doyle (0-01); Jason Malone, Marcus Kennedy, Eoin Daly.
Subs: Derek McNicholas for T Kennedy (26), Aaron Kennedy for Egan (47), Jordan Williams for M Kennedy (55).
Referee: Barry Nea (Clonkill).
Watch Old Leighlin v Portarlington in the Leinster Senior Football Championship on Saturday from 6pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
