KINGS OF CASTLE
Gorey District lads go goals crazy
CASTLETOWN MAJORED their way to the New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 3 shield against an understrength Crossabeg-Ballymurn in St. Patrick’s Park on Thursday.
The Gorey District side lost their group game against same opposition, conceding exactly what they scored in this contest, all the way back in May.
However, they have clearly done plenty of work on the training field in the meantime and it showed as they went after their opponents from the first whistle.
On the other hand, Crossabeg-Ballymurn were left extremely short-handed by playing on the same day as the ploughing championship. It meant that they had just five players up to the age and were forced to compete with the bare 15, most of whom are still Under-12.
Given their contrasting fortunes, it was no surprise that Castletown took complete control in the firsthalf. Within eight minutes they blitzed 3-2 to nil ahead as Gearóid Condren, Saul McGirr and Gavin McNulty all hit the net.
When Crossabeg-Ballymurn got forward they looked dangerous but they managed just three points in the opening half, with Mark White, Eamon Moran and Conor Bernard all on target. Meanwhile, the game was getting out of hand at the other end.
Daniel Reeves drilled high to the net before a McGirr brace of majors ensured that the talented centre-forward had a first-half hat-trick.
When Daniel Roche fired low to the net in the last minute of the half, his side led by 7-4 to 0-3 at the change of ends.
The contest was completely different after the break. In fact, this hard-working Crossabeg-Ballymurn outfit outscored their opponents by a goal in the second period.
Shane Cullen’s sublime finish over Niall Condren was followed by Pierce Doyle netting a rebound after Mark White’s shot hit the post.
McGirr’s fourth green flag was quickly followed by Bernard’s goal at the other end as Crossabeg-Ballymurn kept battling.
Yet the victors finished on the front foot, with substitutes Cathal Byrne and Jamie Kavanagh pointing before Daniel Roche rounded out a fine shield success with a cool penalty.
Castletown: Niall Condren; James Barrett, Donnacha O’Connor, Gavin Kelly; Jack O’Gorman, Ross O’Loughlin (0-1), Evan Wolohan; John Kenny, Jack Higgins (0-1); Daniel Reeves (10), Saul McGirr (4-2, 0-1 free), Daniel Roche (2-1, 1-0 pen.); Gearóid Condren (1-0), Ross Arnold (0-1), Gavin McNulty (capt., 1-0). Subs. - Cathal Byrne (0-1 free) for Arnold (28), James Kavanagh for G. Condren (36), Eoin Dunne for O’Gorman (41), Jamie Kavanagh (0-1 free) for Barrett (41), also Con Kinsella, Seán Noctor.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Adam Murphy; Jack Purcell, Nick Scallan, Anthony O’Connor; David McCarthy, Shane Walker, Niall Cullen; Conor Bernard (capt., 1-3, 0-2 frees), Shane Cullen (1-0); Matthew Bishop, Mark White (0-1), Eamon Moran (0-3, 2 frees); Ross Walker, Pierce Doyle (1-0), William Murphy. Subs. (unavailable) - Adam O’Brien, Micheál O’Connor, Tadhg English, Nick Scallan, Luke Corrigan, Pádraic Redmond, Ben Redmond.
Referee: Martin Quigley (Rathnure).