Castletown shatter Shels
CASTLETOWN SHELMALIERS 6-23 0-5
CASTLETOWN REACHED optimum levels as they sauntered into the last four of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship with a 6-23 to 0-5 drubbing of Shelmaliers in Saturday’s one-sided quarter-final in an overcast Blackwater.
In fact, such was the dominance displayed by the north county men that three of their starting 15 (Darragh Brooks, Marc Halpin and Gavin Stamp) scored more individually than Shelmaliers managed collectively, while just one of the Over The Water side’s points came from play - their opener from Chris Cowman.
That had cancelled out a 30-second point from Stamp, and he lofted over two more (one free), together with Shane Halpin and Joe Gardiner, before Darragh Brooks lobbed Aodhán Foley for their first goal on ten minutes.
Castletown’s second goal came in the next attack when Stamp capitalised on no cover on the line as he cleverly netted direct from a close-in free.
Two Cowman frees offered only marginal relief for the Shels, but a string of nice points from the Halpin brothers, Marc and Shane (two each), and two more from Stamp (one free), saw Castletown’s advantage gradually swell.
And they really copper-fastened their authority on 30 minutes when Brooks connected with the ball at the back post to punch to the net as they difference stood at 3-13 to 0-4 at the interval.
Substitute Noel Morris enjoyed a profitable cameo off the bench, helping himself to three points, while also playing a part in Marc Halpin rolling in their fourth goal on 34 minutes.
Brooks brought up his hat-trick when he converted a penalty at the end of the third quarter (5-18 to 0-4), while Cian Bealin completed the rout with a deflected goal eight minutes before the end of regulation time.
There is a clear motivation among Castletown’s players and management to go at least one step better than their narrow semi-final loss to eventual champions St. Martin’s last year.
Their style of football has the potential to blow their adversaries away, and Monageer-Boolavogue, Rathgarogue-Cushinstown and Oylegate-Glenbrien are forewarned of the danger they possess after this free-scoring performance.
Castletown: James Flood; David Deering (capt.), Conor Cleary, Risteárd Kinsella; Cian Bealin (1-1), Colm Morris, Danny Dixon; Joe Gardiner (0-2), Ross Cody; Aaron Condren, Darragh Brooks (3-1), Marc Halpin (1-6); Kevin Morris, Gavin Stamp (1-5, 1-2 frees), Shane Halpin (0-4). Subs. - Noel Morris (0-3) for K. Morris (HT), Eoin Cullen for Dixon (36), Stephen Rafferty (01) for S. Halpin (39), Chris Callanan for Kinsella (39), Frankie Kavanagh for Condren (41), Oisín Condren for Gardiner (47).
Shelmaliers: Aodhán Foley; Aaron Doyle, Paul McCleane, Joe Redmond; Ryan Donnelly, Robbie Staples, Conor Walsh (capt.); Kevin O’Leary, Mark Power; Chris Cowman (0-5, 4 frees), Aidan Murphy, Ryan Hanrahan; Kyle Roche, David Kehoe, Adam Kelly. Subs. - Brian O’Connor for Kelly (HT), Mark Flood for O’Leary (37), Bobby Delaney for Doyle (46).
Referee: Pádraig Byrne (Kilanerin).