Charleville and Castletownroche share the spoils
with Harry Farrell, Tom O’Shea and Muiris Browne featuring strongly in the half backline. Dave Relihan and Derek O’Callaghan were heavily involved at midfield while in attack Mark O’Callaghan was most impressive at centre forward and a period of sustained pressure saw them race into a 0-10 to 0-4 by the 26th minute.
In the closing moments Charleville regrouped with Simon Gleeson and Ross Kelleher reeling off rapid points but it was Castletownroche that completed the first half scoring in injury time when a puckout by keeper Dave Butler found Mark O’Callaghan who scored a great point despite the best efforts of the Charleville defence as they held a 0-11 to 0-6 lead at the interval.
On the changeover despite John Batterberry having an early point for Castletownroche it was Charleville that dominated exchanges during the third quarter with Jack Doyle, Simon Gleeson, Jake O’Sullivan, Pat Aherne and Finbarr Cagney doing very well. Jack Doyle accounted for three frees in this period while Brian O’Connell and Fergus O’Callaghan were also on target as the lead was reduced to the narrowest of margins at the mid way stage 0-12 to 0-11.
In a thrilling half Castletownroche gradually weathered the Charleville fightback. In the 48th minute a free out of defence by Tom O’Shea set up Mark O’Callaghan for a well taken point with O’Shea setting up Dave Relihan for a long range point moments later as they moved into a three point lead 0-14 to 0-11.
Further pressure over the next couple of minutes yielded a goal and a point by Niall Hazelwood as Castletown moved into a 1-15 to 0-11 lead with less than six minutes of normal time remaining. Charleville refused to surrender and showed great battling qualities in the closing stages.
Jack Doyle added two pointed frees before a timely clearance out of the full backline by John Walsh eventually saw Fergus O’Callaghan get inside the Castletown rearguard and he billowed an unstoppable shot to the net 1-15 to 1-13.
With a considerably amount of injury time to be played Charleville continued to battle away. Jack Doyle pointed another free before Simon Gleeson soloed through to score their second goal and in the process edged them in front by the narrowest of margins. However it was only fitting that Castletownroche salvaged a share of the spoils when Mark O’Callaghan pointed a free deep in stoppage time.