Milltown / Castlemaine see off Cromane

MID KERRY LEAGUE Miltown/Castlemaine 2-13 Cromane 0-12

THE Milltown/Castlemaine senior men were at home last Sunday afternoon to Cromane in a back game of the senior league.

Both sides were guilty of errors in the opening minutes, but Cromane was first to register a score with a point from Damien Houlihan. It was a further six minutes before the next score with a lovely point from Donnchadh Walsh.

Miltown / Castlemaine eventually got on the score board in the 15th minute with a point from Gavin Horan which was cancelled out with a Darren Houlihan free, points were swapped leaving two between the sides after 20 minutes of play.

The home side introduced Brian O’Sullivan to replace Cormac Leane in goals. Shane Murphy passed a lovely ball into Jeremiah Hayes whose shot hit the back of Cromane’s net to give them the narrowest of leads.

The home side seemed to play well for the remainder of the first half adding four more points by way of a pointed free from Jack McCarthy, one point from Kieran Griffin and two from their midfielder Pa Wrenn. Half time score Miltown/Castlemaine 1-6 Cromane 0-6. The second half saw a treble substitution for Miltown / Castlemaine with Seamus Dowd, Jerome Flynn and Kieran Griffin making way for Derek Twiss, John Blennerhassett and Thady O’Sullivan.

Home side began the second half with a pointed free from substitute Derek Twiss in the third minute. Craig Counihan pointed another quickly afterwards. Cromane were awarded a free which was duly pointed. A foul on the Milltown substitute Thady O’Sullivan resulted in a free which was popped over by Jack McCarthy in the sixth minute.

There was a lot of errant shooting by both sides, but Milltown’s minor Tadgh McCarthy kicked over a delightful point to give them an eight point lead. Cromane were unfortunate to have their wing-forward black carded in the ninth minute. Following this, the home side introduced a further sub with Jeremiah Hayes making space for Michael Dennehy.

The 11th minute of the second half saw Milltown / Castlemaine’s Gavin Horan receiving a black card. Milltown had used their all of their subs and so played the remainder of the game with 14 players.

Cromane benefited from this and added five unanswered points. They were unfortunate not to add a goal during this period of play. In the 19th minute, Jack McCarthy set up Derek Twiss for the second goal of the game which gave the hosts a lead of six points, Cromane added a pointed free which was cancelled out with a Jack McCarthy point.

Both sides went through another period of errant passing and shooting. The last few minutes saw Derek Twiss add two more points for Milltown / Castlemaine (one from a free) whilst Cromane added a consolation point before the final whistle to give the home side a comfortable win.

Well done to both teams for a very sporting game and to the referee who acquitted himself very well.

Photo by Eamonn Dr Crokes manager Pat O’Shea with injured players Johnny Buckley and Kieran O’Leary at their Club Championship game with Austin Stacks