Castletown in command
THE TWO clubs with the longest unbroken involvement in the Senior football championship met in this Tom Doyle Supplies Group A dead rubber in Bellefield on Saturday, although the immediate targets for both are markedly different.
Castletown have featured in every top flight campaign since 1961 - a marvellous record - and, although they were already through to the quarter-final, they were hoping that a win might see them jump over St. Martin’s from third spot into second.
And while they did all they possibly could themselves with this commanding 20-point success, their Wexford District rivals won too which means that the side managed by former Dublin midfielder Paul Bealin will now take on holders Starlights in a tasty last eight clash.
Sarsfields have been Senior since 1980, and they knew before this game that a second successive relegation final awaited them regardless of the outcome, this time against Taghmon-Camross after they consigned Horeswood to the drop last year.
They opted to give some of their younger panel members a taste of the action as a result, but the writing was on the wall from as early as the fourth minute when a Jonathan Bealin handpass found Castletown captain Jody O’Shaughnessy whose finishing was spot-on as he beat Senior newcomer Jake Clancy with a fine strike.
To be fair, Sarsfields did re- spond quickly as Michael Hanrahan found full-forward Eoin Roche to the right of goal, and he made room for himself before driving the ball into the far side of the net.
Castletown only led by 1-3 to 1-1 at the end of the first quarter, but they were cruising by half-time after extending their advantage to 3-7 to 1-3. Rory Heffernan grabbed their second goal in fortuitous circumstances in the 24th minute when his speculative shot spilled out of Clancy’s hands, and their third arrived from a route one move just before the interval.
Conor Carty pumped a high line ball from the left towards the square where it was caught and buried by Anthony Masterson.
The second-half was a case of going through the motions for both teams, although Castletown were in no mood to be charitable as they added 2-6 in just six minutes near the end to leave that huge gap on the scoreboard.
It was interesting to note that they did so without being awarded even one free in any area of the field after the interval, although that’s not a criticism of referee Paddy Brady who was hardly noticed on his Senior debut.
Quite simply, Sarsfields struggled to even lay a glove on their vastly superior rivals, and Ben Brosnan really enjoyed himself as he finished with a seven-point haul from play, including a couple of fisted efforts.
The free-taking of John Bridges was largely responsible for ensuring the sides shared 14 points on the re-start before Castletown cut loose after Eoin Roche made it 3-14 to 1-11 in the 53rd minute.
By the time he added another consolation point in added time, the victors had pounced for that 2-6 haul, eagerly gobbling up the kick-outs of Sarsfields substitute Colm O’Dowda.
Three minutes after being re-introduced, Robbie Brooks embarked on a speedy solo run which he finished with a classy goal, while Jonathan Bealin palmed in the fifth from a James Holmes handpass just over 20 seconds later after the losers made a mess of the re-start.
After failing to negotiate the semi-final hurdle for four years on the trot, Castletown now face a very tough assignment in order to return to that stage as they have been pitted against titleholders Starlights.
It was impossible to assess their true worth on the basis of this display given that nothing was at stake, but their next clash should be a close-run affair.
Castletown: Niall Hempenstall; Killian Pierce, Danny Gardiner (0-1), Peter Devine; Rory Heffernan (1-1), Frank Roche, Conor Carty; Stephen Moloney, Richard Farrell; Ben Brosnan (0-7), Jonathan Bealin (1-6, 0-3 frees), Jody O’Shaughnessy (capt., 1-1); Brendan Halpin (0-2), Anthony Masterson (1-1), Robbie Brooks. Subs. - James Holmes for Moloney, inj. (14), George Sunderland for Pierce, black card (33), Ross Bealin for Brooks (39), Brooks (1-1) for O’Shaughnessy (52), O’Shaughnessy for Masterson (60+2).
Sarsfields: Jake Clancy; Fiach O Crualaoich, Cathal Kirwan, Con O Donnagáin; Dylan Furlong (0-2), Colm Browne, Cillian Gahan; Michael Hanrahan (capt., 0-1), David Mooney (0-1); Conall O Crualaoich, Ciarán Kirwan, Conall Clancy; Philip Cullen, Eoin Roche (1-2), John Bridges (0-6, 5 frees). Subs. - Conor Halligan for Cullen (HT), Shane Bergin for Browne, inj. (34), Colm O’Dowda for J. Clancy (41), Gary Carroll for C. O Crualaoich (43).
Referee: Paddy Brady (Réalt na Mara).