Niall Dowdall blasted the crucial goal as Clonkill defeated Raharney in Sunday’s Westmeath SHC decider at Cusack Park.
Clonkill, who squandered a couple of gilt-edged goalscoring opportunities, shaded a tight opening period, eventually departing 0-7 to 0-5 ahead at the interval. After the restart Clonkill remained in the ascendancy, with Brendan Murtagh sharp from frees. A Killian Doyle goal in the 42nd minute edged battling Raharney in front, but Clonkill responded quickly, levelling courtesy of a point from inspirational captain Paddy Dowdall.
Niall Dowdall subsequently rattled the Raharney net following a sharp move which also featured Luke Folan and Anthony Price. That meant Raharney had to go scrambling in search of a late goal themselves, but Brian Connaughton’s effort from a free was repelled. With only three points separating the teams, Raharney were in contention, but Eoin Price decorated Clonkill’s success with a last-gasp insurance score. Clonkill will face Carlow outfit St Mullins in the Leinster Senior Hurling Club Championship on November 1.
Clonkill: G Healy; S Power, C Scally, J Fagan; L Folan, B Murtagh (0-4, 4fs ), 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 mins ), P Walsh for N Dowdall (60 mins ).
Raharney: A Doyle; T Doyle, D Giles, C Jordan; G Greville, P Greville (0-1, f ), A Sheils; N Flanagan, C Boyle (0-3 ); K Doyle (1-2 ), F Boyle, R Greville (0-4, 4fs ); 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 ).
