Garrycastle sent out a firm warning last weekend that they are serious contenders for Leinster club glory with an eye-catching 14 point win over a disappointing Longford Slashers side. While manager Anthony Cunningham will be happy that his side bagged an impressive 4-11, he would probably have preferred a sterner test for his charges. Slashers looked like a side which had regressed since they collected their second Longford title in a row nine weeks ago and a long way off the side that ran Garrycastle to a point in the corresponding fixture last year.
The prevailing conditions meant that this was more like summertime football than early November fare. Garrycastle played against the breeze in the opening half yet entered the break with a comfortable 2-7 to 0-4 lead. James Dolan bagged the two goals, the first coming on 23 minutes and his second a minute into first-half stoppage time.
David O’Shaughnessy reeled in the years with a powerful mid-field display in which he managed to chip in with two points also. Nine Garrycastle players got on the scoreboard which will please the management team.
Slashers did pull a goal back 10 minutes into the second half but further majors from James Duignan and Alan Daly meant the Westmeath champions were already assured of their place in the semi-final long before referee Eddie Kinsella blew the long whistle.
They can now look forward to a semi-final showdown on December 4 against the winners of Kildare champions Athy or Carlow’s Old Leighlin. It will take a huge performance to advance to a Leinster club final but with confidence levels high and few if any injury concerns at present the green and reds have as good as chance a any of the teams remaining.
