Burn-out not a Martin’s issue
Second win in just 48 hours
ST. MARTIN’S 1-12
CASTLETOWN 0-9
ST. MARTIN’S made a mockery of the concept of player burn-out when dictating terms on the way to comfortably defeating a lack-lustre Castletown side by 1-12 to 0-9 in Friday’s Tom Doyle Supplies Senior football championship Group A third round clash at St. Patrick’s Park that was disappointing from a neutral’s perspective.
Less than 48 hours after a stiff test versus Faythe Harriers in the Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship, the Piercestown/Murrintown men inconceivably dominated the fitness stakes, particularly in the last ten minutes when a run of 1-3 saw them secure their third win on the bounce.
They had six different scorers from play, compared to just two for the losers, with the goal that sealed the victory illustrating the difference in attitude and stamina on display.
Adam Cantwell had been re-located to wing-back just before throw-in as Mikey Coleman cried off in the warm-up, and he soared above his more experienced opponent, Anthony Masterson, to claim a mark right on 60 minutes.
He then followed his subsequent pass into Jack O’Connor before accepting the return and burying high past Niall Hempenstall.
In fact, Castletown were indebted to the excellence of Hempenstall, who made two outstanding saves to spare them their blushes.
His first arrived right on half-time as he got out quick to deny Jack O’Connor a certain goal, but his save two minutes into the new half was even better as he dived low to
palm away Philip Dempsey’s drive.
Only one of the north county men’s four first-half points came from open play as Ross Bealin lofted over on ten minutes to tie proceedings at 0-2 apiece.
Otherwise, they relied on placed balls as they went in trailing by 0-6 to 0-4. St. Martin’s had actually squandered a goal chance straight from their first attack, but still looked sharper up front as Patrick and Barry O’Connor, Ciarán Lyng, Conor Firman and Ben Maddock all registered from play to build that half-time advantage.
The recent ACFL Division 1 champions, playing in the strip of their neighbours, Tara Rocks, did have two excellent scores from play through Brosnan early after the break to force parity one last time, but then coughed up too many scoreable frees which Barry O’Connor (three) and Lyng gleefully converted.
The victors actually didn’t score from play in the second-half until substitute Diarmuid Barry chipped over on 55 minutes, while the impressive Patrick O’Connor tagged on another point shortly
before Cantwell struck home that eye-catching goal.
While Castletown were shorn first-teamers Frank Roche, Liam Coleman and Donnacha Holmes, they will still have to find their form quickly in order to maintain their record of qualifying for the quarter-finals.
St. Martin’s: Luke White; Mark Maloney, Conor Firman (0-1), Philip Dempsey; Adam Cantwell (1-0), Aaron Maddock (capt.), Paudie Kelly; Daithí Waters (0-1), Ben Maddock (0-1); Barry O’Connor (0-4, 3 frees), Ciarán Lyng (0-3, 1 free, 1 ‘45), Patrick O’Connor (0-1); Kyle Firman, Jack O’Connor, Jack Devereux. Sub. - Diarmuid Barry (0-1) for Devereux (42).
Castletown: Niall Hempenstall; Peter Devine, Danny Gardiner, Killian Pierce; Pierce Maxwell, Colin Kennedy, Conor Carty; Stephen Moloney, Richard Farrell; Jody O’Shaughnessy (capt.), Jonathan Bealin (0-4 frees), Ben Brosnan (0-4, 2 frees); Brendan Halpin, Robbie Brooks, Ross Bealin (0-1). Subs. - James Holmes for Brooks (HT), Anthony Masterson for R. Bealin (43), George Sunderland for Halpin (55).
Referee: Fintan O’Reilly (Kilmore).