Garrycastle 1-8
Ballyboden
St Endas 0-6
Having easily disposed of St Loman’s in a one-sided county final Garrycastle made clear their intentions to have a right good crack at Leinster. True to their word Anthony Cunningham’s men trained hard in the weeks following the final. A tricky away win over Longford champions Clonguish paved the way for last Sunday’s big bite semi-final meeting with Dublin champions Ballyboden St Enda’s.
With a full compliment of players to pick from and the welcome addition of home advantage, the green and reds were always going to be a hard team to beat. Yet Ballyboden, having already accounted for reigning all-Ireland title holders Kilmacud Crokes en route to collecting the Dublin title, were understandably favourites.
Garrycastle received a massive boost shortly before the throw-in with news that Ballyboden’s ace forward Conal Keaney would not be starting due to flu. His absence along with that of midfielder and captain Declan O’Mahony and full forward Kenny Naughton swung the pendulum of hope a lot more firmly in Garrycastle’s favour.
Having enjoyed the benefit of the significant swirling breeze at their backs in the opening period, Garrycastle led 0-5 to 0-2 at the break. When ‘Boden reduced the deficit to two points early in the second half, I’m sure I wasn’t alone in fearing for the home side.
Yet when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Conditions couldn’t have been much tougher but the men from Garrycastle made little of them to put in what must go down as the most impressive 33 minutes football by a Westmeath club in recent history.
John Gaffey, Mark McCallan, David O’Shaughnessy, Seanie O’Donoghoe, and James and Dessie Dolan were immense in a memorable team performance. Gaffey played much of the game further out the field than normal but never put a foot wrong. McCallan played like a seasoned campaigner, turning defence into attack time and time again. He also popped up to score the all important goal which holed the Ballyboden ship beneath the waterline.
Shocco and O’Donoghoe won the vital midfield battle. O’Donoghoe pulled off two vital opening half blocks as well as winning plenty of primary ball. He is sure to be given his chance in a maroon and white jersey early in the new year.
James Dolan covered serious ground tearing up and down the wing in the second half. Not for the first time his cousin Dessie pulled many of the strings up front and chipped in with three valuable points, one of which will be talked about for many a year to come by all who saw it.
Garrycastle will now meet either Portlaoise or Clara in an intriguing Leinster final clash. Portlaoise will be favourites but Clara were leading by a point when their semi-final was called off early in the second half last Sunday. Either side would pose a significant hurdle for Garrycastle but with the right men at the helm and confidence riding high, the Westmeath representatives have every reason to look forward to the decider with confidence.
