WESTMEATH/SF Final: Reigning champions, Garrycastle were never troubled by challengers Castledaly as they retained their Westmeath SFC title with a comprehensive victory in Cusack Park Mullingar yesterday.
Tthe Athlone-based side turned on the style in the second-half after enjoying a three-point interval lead. Inter county ace Des Dolan was on song and his three first half points added to points from Alan Daly, Ciaran Ryan and Donal Ryan put Garycastle in the driving seat.
Castledaly weathered that early Garycastle storm and were still much in the contest when trailing by 0-6 to 0-3 at the interval. Their scores came from Niall Kelly (2) and J P Casey.
However, it all went wrong for the challengers on the change of ends and when Gary Dolan blasted home a first minute penalty the writing was on the wall.
Two goals in three minutes from the very effective Donal Ryan and a second from Gary Dolan after an electrifying move settled the issue.
GARYCASTLE: C Mullin; P Rattigan, K Henson, J O'Shaughnessy; D Harte, S O'Donoghue, E Mulvihill; D O'Shaughnessy, C Ryan (0-1); J McAteer, J Duignan, D Ryan (1-4); A Daly (0-2), G Dolan (2-0), D Dolan (0-4). Subs: P Cosgrave (1-0) for A Daly. S O'Reilly for C Ryan, N Galvin for Duignan. T McHugh for McAteer, E Nugent for Harte.
CASTLEDALY: W GLynn, B Fitzgerald, J Galvin; C Henson, D Heavin, K Larkin; E Kelly, R Casey, G Duffy; A Fitzgerald, N Duffy, T Daly; D Doyle (0-2), J P Casey (0-4), N Kelly (0-2). Subs: M J McLoughlin (0-1) for B Fitzgerald, J Casey for Daly. S Connell for Doyle, A Duffy for N Kelly.
Referee: M Adden (St Loman's, Mullingar)
Garrycastle ... 4-11
Castledaly ... 0-9
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