Garrycastle 3-9 Mullingar Shamrocks 3-9: DESPITE TRAILING by nine points within 30 seconds of the start of the second half, Mullingar Shamrocks came very close to dethroning the champions for the past three years, Garrycastle, in an absorbing Westmeath final in Mullingar yesterday.

The holders led by 2-7 to 1-4 at the break, their goals coming from James Dolan in the 25th minute (having been teed up by his otherwise ineffective cousin, Dessie Dolan) and Conor Cosgrove four minutes later. Sandwiched between these, the very impressive Lorcan Smyth found the net for Mullingar Shamrocks.

A very soft second goal from Cosgrove shortly after the resumption of play looked like it had sealed a four in-a-row for Garrycastle. However, two minutes later, a great finish from Smyth gave the challengers real hope.

Garrycastle still led by six points (3-9 to 2-6) after 43 minutes but they failed to add to their tally thereafter.

With 13 minutes remaining, a fine goal from Mullingar wing back Micheál Curley lifted his colleagues and the sides were deadlocked when Smyth kicked a terrific point in the 57th minute.

GARRYCASTLE: S Brennan; G McCallon, M McCallon, J Gaffey; R Fox, E Mulvihill (0-1), D Harte; J Barrett, A Browne; P Dillon (0-1), P Mulvihill, J Duignan; C Cosgrove (2-4, 0-3f, 0-1‘45’), J Dolan (1-3), D Dolan. Subs: A Fox for R Fox (h-t), E Monaghan for D Dolan (38 mins), M Guiheen for Duignan (42 mins), S O’Donoghue for Dillon (49 mins), D O’Shaughnessy for Barrett (58 mins).

MULLINGAR SHAMROCKS: R Tyrrell; E Moore, K Gavin, A Purcell; K Daly (0-1), D Gavin, M Curley (1-0); D Corroon, D O’Donoghue (0-1); P Joyce, S Daly, C Twomey; J Ganley (0-1), C Curley (0-1), L Smyth (2-5, 0-1 free). Subs: A Clinton for O’Donoghue (36 mins), S Quinn for D Gavin (39 mins), A Smyth for K Daly (41 mins), D Daly for Ganley (42 mins), D Miller for Purcell (52 mins).

Referee: S Carroll (The Downs).