Westmeath Féile Clonkill

 Westmeath Féile na Gael

What a day it was for Clonkill who after a ropy start on Saturday morning finished the Feile by bringing home a plate  trophy on Saturday evening.

Manager Sean Loughlin spoke after most games explain that “ even after the opening performances he still has faith that his boys would come home victorious.”

Clonkill 0-3

Birr 5-4

Halfway House Bunclody 

The Westmeath side found it difficult to get the better of there neighbours from Offaly Saturday morning .

After Birr hit the first score Clonkill responded with a minor score from captain Martin Joseph Long. Birr then complete control firing in two goals and a point before Ben Loughlin narrowed the gap for the Westmeath side. With the half time whistle looming Birr finished the scoring with another two goals and finished off the scoring with a point before half time.

After the break the Offaly side found it very difficult to break down which was a much more resolute Clonkill defence. Birr only managed another goal and point in. The final score of the game was a score from Loughlin from a free to narrow the gap slightly before full time.

Clonkill 1-4

Kevin Lynch’s 3-4

In there second game of the tournament Clonkill produced a much better display but their northern opponents got the better of them by two goals.

After a tough opening game this didn’t seem to affect the young Westmeath men as they battled hard in this tie. They didn’t start well as they went four points down inside the opening few minutes. They battled back with two points from Odhran McColgan and sharpshooter Loughlin. There opponents extended the game with another goal and a point before the half time whistle.

After the interval Clonkill battled back firing in a goal from Conor Cleary either side of a third goal and point from the opponents. It was Clonkill who finished stronger with two fine efforts through Aaron Connaire . They couldn’t manage to get those two goals back before the fulltime whistle. 

 Plate Semi Final 

Clonkill 0-10

Bunclody 1-3

In the plate  semi final Clonkill showed they were here to play beating the home side team on Saturday afternoon.

After an early coin toss due to a jersey clash. It was the home club that rattled the back of the net in the opening phases of play. With a couple of positional changes Clonkill battled back into this semifinal. It was captain MJ Long  who narrowed the gap with two frees in between what ended up being Bunclody final score of the half. As half time grew closer Clonkill drove ahead with Long  landing scored and Loughlin adding another to go a point up at the break.

When play resumed it was much the same as Long and Loughlin added another each to there tally. As the full time whistle loomed Ciaran McGrath, Long and Colm Clinton added the insurance scores to make sure there side would be playing in the shield final.

Final 

Clonkill 5-10

Burren Rangers Carlow 1-2

Davidstown 

 

Clonkill managed to finish this tournament in style winning the plate final on Saturday evening with a scintillating performance 

From the outset in this final it was clear that the Westmeath boys had the better of their Carlow opponents. In a carbon copy of the semi final the majority of the scored came from MJ Long and his teammate Loughlin . Long’s performance in the first half was one for the ages as he netted a first half hat trick of goals before adding a point to his tally. Not to be outdone Loughlin doubled his tally in the opening half. There last two scored of the half were minor’s slotted over by Killian Raleigh and Michael. All their opponents could muster in return was a solitary goal before half time.

Once the whistle went for the second half Loughlin decided to take control of the tie for his side. The Clonkill corner forward slotted in two goals and two points to extend the gap for his side . In a game of plenty of scores MJ Long was finding his range as he finished the scoring for him in the Féile with two more white flags. The opponents responded with two consolation scored to slightly narrow the gap. The final score of the game came off the stick of Colm Clinton .

This ensured victory for his side.

After the final we get the thoughts of Loughlin who explains that the “team had a great time traveling and seeing the countryside of Wexford and meeting new people.”

Finally he praises his team who after two tough group games still manged to hurl and bring a trophy back to Clonkill. “ We produced our best game of the tournament in the final and we are delighted to be coming back home with silverware.”

Management: Sean Loughlin,

Steven Cleary 

Joe Daly

Squad:

James Nea,

Peter Raleigh,

Adam Slevin Keirnan,

Jack Raeside,

Killian Raleigh

MJ Long (C)

Ciaran McGrath

Aaron Connaire

Conor Cleary

Colm Clinton

Michael Brennan 

Eoghan Daly

Ben Loughlin

Eli Greene

Séan Maleady

James McHugh

Adam Hughes

Oisin Kenna

Matthew O’Brien

Odhran McColgan

Ben Kelleghan Flynn

Aidan Tuite 

Conor Raleigh.