LOUGH LENE GAELS collected their third Westmeath hurling title with this hard earned victory over a gallant Castletowngeoghegan team after a dramatic decider played at Cusack Park, Mullingar, yesterday.

Defences were very much on top in the first half with the winners holding a slender 0-4 to 0-3 interval lead. On the resumption, Patrick Clarke put Castletowngeohegan in front with a brace of points, but goals from Paul Williams and Pat Reilly in the 45th and 52nd minutes edged Lough Lene Gaels into a match winning lead.