Aonghus Clarke contributed a dozen points as Castletown Geoghegan defeated Raharney in Sunday’s Westmeath Senior Hurling Championship final by 1-18 to 1-16 at TEG Cusack Park.
Cormac Deegan’s first half goal ensured Castletown Geoghegan led by 1-11 to 0-5 at the break. Raharney improved in the second period, with a late Joey Boyle goal giving them hope, but Castletown Geoghegan prevailed.
Victorious captain, Liam Varley, was thrilled Castletown Geoghegan claimed silverware; “We are a proud hurling club, we have been underachieving for the last few years,” Varley said in an interview with Midlands Sport 103.
“Thankfully for everyone in the village and the group of players that we have we are bringing the cup back home to Castletown. Right from the get go everyone got stuck in, Aonghus did most of the scoring, Niall did too in the second half, but overall it was a very good collective effort from the whole lot of us, from one to 15 and the boys we brought on. It was an all round collective effort.”
Varley wasn’t surprised by Raharney’s attempted comeback mission in the closing stages.
“They are a staying team,” he said. “The wind didn’t help either, the wind was very strong. It was gale force in the second half. We just held out in the end. We were so focused, everyone was tuned in, you could just feel it when we were warming up. Everyone was tuned in and we had a good feeling. We tore into it at the start and got a goal at a crucial time.”
Castletown Geoghegan manager, Eamonn Gallagher, enjoyed the success, praising the manner in which his panel have worked throughout the campaign.
“They are a great bunch of men, absolutely,” Gallagher remarked. “It is great to see a bunch of lads deliver what you know they have. Probably some of them didn’t realise they are as good as they actually are, but you can see what they are capable of.
“They hunted in packs, the passion and skill level. From that point of view you would have to be very happy.”
