With the Flanagan Cup already settled into the comfortable surrounds of Garrycastle, Tubberclair, and Caulry completed a memorable treble for south-side clubs by capturing the Westmeath intermediate and junior titles respectively last weekend. All three clubs border each-other, and to have the three main pieces of silverware on offer in the county wintering so closely together is a rare occurrence indeed.
Not to be outdone by their male counterparts, Garrycastle’s ladies captured the Westmeath senior title a few weeks back and last weekend secured a place in this year’s Leinster intermediate final.
Tubberclair 2-10
Ballinacarrigy 0-09
Tubberclair are back in the big-time again with senior football secured for 2010 thanks to a convincing seven point win over luckless Ballinacarrigy on Sunday last. For the second year running Bal’ fell short at the final hurdle, and while this is a bitter pill to swallow, no one could deny that the best team won on the day.
Inspired by a man of the match performance from Fergal Wilson, Tom Lennon’s men put in an impressive performance throughout that indicated they have plenty of reason to look forward to their return to senior ranks.
Two all-important goals, one in each half, helped the victors on their way. The lively Conor Elliot, who is included in Brendan Hackett’s new extended panel, bagged the first three pointer after nine minutes. Wilsons major, with ten minutes remaining, put matters beyond doubt with the score reading 2-8 to 0-7.
Tubberclair will relish the return to senior ranks after an absence of two years. The experienced heads of Connaughton, Wilson, and Cassels together with the youthful talents of Lawless, Walker, Coffey, Elliot and Spollen would indicate that, just like Maryland, Tubberclair are well equipped to make the step up to senior football.
Before that they will be hoping for a decent run in the provincial intermediate club championship. That gets underway with a home tie against the Wicklow champions on November 1.
Caulry 2-08
St Paul’s 0-02
The score-line says it all. This was more of a mismatch than a match. Caulry were never threatened by a disappointing Clonmellon side. While the men from Mount Temple were clear favourites going into the game, nobody would have foreseen the one-sided nature of the final. After all, both sides had shared the spoils when they met in the group stages.
Caulry, with six players who collected Leinster Colleges A medals with Athlone Community College two years ago in their ranks, will be hoping that they can build on this win.
Maintaining their intermediate status will be their main aim next year but, if this group of players stick together they could be pushing for further promotion in a few years. Time will tell.
In the meantime they have the Leinster junior championship to worry about, with an away tie against either the Wexford or Laois representatives on November 8.
Garrycastle ladies reach Leinster intermediate final
Garrycastle’s ladies are really putting it up to their male counterparts. First they won the Westmeath senior title for the second year running and now they have progressed to a place in the provincial intermediate decider.
The menfolk have managed to get their hands on the Flanagan Cup but have plenty of work to do yet before any talk of reaching a provincial decider.
A fortnight ago Ken Dolan’s women came from behind to edge out a strong Laois side. Last Sunday, and again with home advantage, they enjoyed a deserving win over Louth representatives Stabannon.
Sarah Dolan, daughter of manager Ken, was deadly accurate throughout and helped herself to eight points in total. Overall however it was an impressive team performance.
History beckons on October 25 when they will contest the Leinster final against St Brigid’s (Dublin ) in Athy. This talented group of ladies have being building a sizable following on their journey so far and will be hoping to reward all those who travel to Kildare to support them on October 25.
