Sunday's club championship round-up
by Oli Skehan , 13 October 2008
It was a bumper weekend of club action around the country with no fewer than seven county titles down for decision - five in football and two in hurling.
In football, Castledaly secured their first ever Westmeath senior football title on Sunday when they got the better of Garrycastle at Mullingar.
The club from just outside Moate had tasted defeat in the 2002, '04 and '06 deciders but yesterday's two-point win more than makes up for those heartbreaking losses.
In neigbouring Meath, Navan O'Mahony's, for so long the great underachievers in the Royal County finally landed the Keegan Cup in their third successive final appearance.
Navan O'Mahony's went into the game against Summerhill as red-hot favourites and easily justified these odds by winning on a 2-12 to 0-7 scoreline and in the process secured their 17th Meath SFC crown.
Just up the road in Monaghan, Latton were crowned champions for the first time since 2005 having four points to spare over Carrickmacross in an entertaining final at Clones.
Over in the west Padraig Pearses and Castlerea St Kevin's must do it all again in the Roscommon decider after they finished all-square in a pulsating senior football final.
Padraig Pearses looked like taking their first ever title but Nigel Dineen's injury-time equaliser handed Castlerea another chance.
In the Wicklow senior football replay, Kiltegan ended a 22-year wait for a senior crown when they beat St Patrick's by a solitary point at Aughrim.
In hurling, Birr maintained their stranglehold on the club scene in Offaly by beating a brave Kinnitty side at Tullamore on a 1-15 to 0-15 scoreline.
Meanwhile, in Laois, a dramatic last-gasp free from Alan Delaney denied Portlaoise the hurling honours and ensured Rathdowney-Errill won their second title since the club was formed in 2005.
In Ulster, Ballygalget will play Cushendall in the senior hurling championship final after they beat Keady 4-13 to 0-12 at Casement Park on Sunday.
The other semi-final saw Cushendall advance after they beat Kevin Lynch's 3-11 to 2-8 at the same venue.
Elsewhere, Ballyhale Shamrocks and James Stephens will contest the Kilkenny senior hurling final after they overcame Carrickshock and O'Loughlin Gaels respectively at Nowlan Park on Sunday.
In Tipperary, Thurles Sarsfields advanced to their first senior hurling final since 2005 with a dramatic extra-time win over a dogged Clonoulty-Rossmore at Semple Stadium - Toomevara await the Blues in the final.
Finally, All-Ireland hurling champions Portumna had too much power for Liam Mellows in the Galway senior hurling semi-final running out comfortable 12-point winners - Loughrea and Gort meet next Sunday in the other semi-final.