O'Brien leads Castletown-Geoghegan to Westmeath title

Castletown-Geoghegan 1-27 Lough Lene Gaels 2-17

Castletown-Geoghegan won their 15th Westmeath senior hurling title with a deserved win over Lough Lene Gaels in Mullingar.

Six days after the game had been abandoned after a mere 13 minutes, the pitch was in remarkably good condition and fitting a game of its stature.

Castletown-Geoghegan, who had trailed by 0-02 to 0-00 when the game was abandoned last Sunday, got off to a great start with David O'Reilly scoring a fine goal in the third minute at the end of a probing delivery by Niall O’Brien.

However, Lough Lene Gaels rallied well and were on level terms (1-02 to 0-05) at the end of the opening quarter, two of their points coming from superb sideline cuts – from both sides of the pitch – by David Williams, while Eoin Daly also scored a brace from open play.

A quickfire brace from Conor Murphy and a delightful score from O’Reilly put the 2022 champion s three clear, but this was wiped out in the 19th minute when Aaron Kennedy found the net after the referee had allowed an advantage following a foul on Daly.

A 21st-minute point from longstanding Westmeath full back Tommy Doyle (in an unaccustomed attacking role) put the Gaels ahead for the first time (1-07 to 1-06), but Castletown finished the first half the stronger and an O’Brien hat-trick (including his first from play) had them ahead by 1-11 to 1-09 at the interval.

O’Brien pointed just five seconds after play resumed, but the gap was still just two points (1-14 to 1-12) after 39 minutes. However, Castletown-Geoghegan looked the better side for most of the time remaining with all of their forwards making the scoresheet.

It could have been worse for Lough Lene Gaels had Westmeath 'keeper Noel Conaty not pulled off a few great