An Alan Daly goal four minutes into the second half proved to be the crucial score as underdogs Garrycastle secured an historic first ever Westmeath Senior Football Championship in Cusack Park, Mullingar, yesterday.

Bookies favourites Tyrrellspass never managed to get their noses in front and Garrycastle inspired by inter-county stars David O'Shaughnessy and Des Dolan deservedly claimed the title.

Honours were even at the interval with the sides locked together on 0-5 apiece. On the change of ends an opening point from Des Dolan was followed by a marvellous move which saw Alan Daly palming the ball past John Hyland in the Tyrrellspass goal.

Points from Flanagan and John Corcoran kept the tidy town in the hunt but with Garrycastle captain David O'Shaughnessy lording midfield there was plenty of possession for his forwards.

Dolan, Donal Ryan and Daly were proving more than a handful for the Tyrrellspass defence and although the loosers never stopped trying Garrycastle were that little bit sharper throughout the field.

GARRYCASTLE: C Mullin; J O'Shaughnessy, K Henson, D Harte; S O'Donoghue, J McAteer, E Mulvihill; J Duignan, D O'Shaughnessy; D Ryan (0-2), C Ryan, G Dolan (0-2); N Galvin, A Daly (1-0), D Dolan (0-5). Subs: P Dillon for Galvin, P Redmond for G Dolan, R M ulvihill for D Ryan.

TYRRELLSPASS: J Hyland; J O'Brien, D Murphy, B Murphy; A Rigney, S Arthur, D Gavin; A Corcoran, M Carley (0-1); K Connell, R Sheeran, D Glennon; J Corcoran (0-2), M Flanagan (0-4), M Staunton (0-4). Subs: T Newman for Rigney, R Dunbar for Carley.

Referee: Michael Gordon.