Castletown turn on style
CASTLETOWN 2-16 DUFFRY ROVERS 1-13
CASTLETOWN’S JUNIOR team turned on the style to claim the All-County Football League Division 3 title with a 2-16 to 1-13 win over Duffry Rovers in Sunday’s final played at an overcast and windy Camolin.
Considering the Coolree-based side operate a full two championship grades above them, the result must be taken in a positive context, and they certainly posed a lot of problems for the Duffry in a lop-sided opening half.
Brendan Halpin gave an exhibition in creativity for the victors throughout, and benefited from a misplaced kick-out to lob the ball over Cathal Clince for their opening goal after a minute.
In fact, the north county men added seven points without reply to stake serious claims for the trophy, with a brace from Aaron Condren and Halpin (one free) doing the damage.
Wexford footballer Robert Frayne opened the Duffry’s account on 23 minutes with a point at the end of an adventurous run, but Castletown manufactured a brilliant goal two minutes later, as a mark from James Holmes set up Halpin to feed Ross Bealin, who tucked away from an acute angle.
The Duffry pulled a goal back before the break when Gavin Watchorn capitalised on a mistake from James Flood, but they had a lot of ground to make up as they trailed by 2-8 to 1-1 at the interval.
Niall Beggan displayed good accuracy for the losers with six points (five frees) after the break, but the only real goal opportunity they created saw substitute Niall Hempenstall make an outstretched save to deny Gavin Watchorn.
And Castletown continued to knock over points when the opportunity arose, with Marc Halpin joining his two brothers on the scoreboard with an excellent breakaway score to help copper-fasten a very impressive victory.
Castletown: James Flood; David Deering (capt.), Conor Cleary, Risteárd Kinsella; Marc Halpin (0-1), George Sunderland, Danny Dixon (0-1 ‘45); Ross Cody, Colin Kennedy; Aaron Condren (0-2), Brendan Halpin (1-6, 0-3 frees), Ross Bealin (1-4, 0-3 frees); Colm Morris, James Holmes, Shane Halpin (0-2). Subs. - Darragh Brooks for Cleary, inj. (30), Niall Hempenstall for Flood (HT), Colin Molloy for B. Halpin, inj. (50), Rory Heffernan for Kennedy (51), Stephen Rafferty for S. Halpin (52), Seán Roche for Bealin (57), also James Casey, Killian Breen, Eoin Cullen, Cian Bealin, Chris Callanan, Alan Molloy, Ryan Murphy.
Duffry Rovers: Cathal Clince; Joe Coleman, Conor Jordan, Feargal Kenny; John Dunne, Craig Casey, Aidan Byrne (capt., 0-2); Thomas Dunne, Eamonn Doyle; Stephen Watchorn (0-1 free), Robert Frayne (0-3), Gavin Rafter; Cian Fitzhenry, Gavin Watchorn (1-1, 0-1 free), Niall Beggan (0-6, 5 frees). Subs. - Liam Pender for T. Dunne (42), Glenn Rafter for J. Dunne (42), also Ben Nugent, Jamie Roban, Seamus Doyle, Johnny Flynn-O’Connor.
Referee: Paddy Brady (Réalt na Mara).