Castleisland win through on penalties

KB United (Desmond) 1 Castleisland 1 (AET, Castleisland won 4-3 on pensalties)

CASTLEISLAND make a habit of winning or rescuing games with late goals and they done it again in West Limerick on Sunday with a 90th minute goal taking this game to extra time and they won in dramatic fashion in a penalty shoot out where their goalie Stephen Bartlett became the hero Brilliantly saving the final penalty in the shoot out.

Castleisland adopted their usual trademark game plan defending tightly at the back, applying pressure with their route one play and using their aerial strength to good effect from all dead ball situations.

They were well on top in the first half creating a whole host of scoring opportunities but they could not unhinge a solid KB United defence. They forced 10 corner kicks over the 45 minutes, but just could not get the breakthrough they were seeking.

They had a strong claim for a penalty kick after just three minutes when Jonathan Downey nicked the ball beyond the KB United keeper and appeared to be tripped by a trailing hand in the box but referee John Roche waved play on.

Then Tommy Feehan got on to the end of a Pierce Brosnan corner kick and it was tipped over the bar by the KB goalie. Mike Cahill then tried one from distance, but it went over the top.

The home sides first good chance came in the 11th minute when Paul Brouder set up Sean O’Connor but he was denied by a fine save by Stephen Bartlett. Then Aidan O’Callaghan got on to the end of a Pierce Brosnan corner, but his header was taken off the line.

Jonathan Downey then got in behind the defence, but he was denied by a great save by the KB goalie Sean Lynch. They then forced three successive corner kicksm but could not engineer a score.

In another attack Mike Cahill put Jonathan Downey through on goals and he appeared to be taken down in the box but despite claims for a penalty play continued. Then against the run of play the home side went ahead in the 41st minute.

They forced a corner kick which was floated into the goalmouth by Paudie O’Connell and when the ball broke loose in front of goals Cathal Cummane blasted it to the net.

Castleisland had a great chance to equalise just before the break but Jonathan Downey was denied by a fine save by the KB keeper. Going in at half-time Castleisland must have been wondering why they had not established a healthy lead given all the chances they created.

KB began to get a foothold in the game in the second half and began to ask questions of the Castleisland rearguard. They went close to doubling their lead, but Dara Noonan’s headed effort on goal was just inches wide.

As the half moved on the Castleisland managerial duo of Edmond Hartnett and Mike McCarthy threw caution to the wind going for a three man defence moving Aidan O’Callaghan up to an attacking role and moved Pierce Brosnan back to fill his position at centre-back.

They also brought on fresh legs in Eamon Nolan and Adam O’Donoghue and they began to create chances again. The introduction of Mike McCarthy also was a wise move as he won two great tackles at midfield with the second leading to the equaliser.

Castleisland produced a few decent efforts on goal after this, but shots from Eamon Nolan Tommy Feehan and Jonathan Downey yielded nothing. It was almost last chance saloon for Castleisland as the game ticked into the 90th minute when they got a free kick at midfield.

It was whipped into the goalmouth by Stephen Bartlett and when the ball spilled out of the KB keepers hands under pressure Castleisland players were lining up to finish it off and Mike Hannifin reacted quickest prodding the ball to the back of the net from five yards.

The full time whistle came shortly afterwards and the home side were dejected conceding such a late goal while Castlisland were on a real high knowing they got out of jail with the late goal.

The game then progressed to extra time and two tired sides done their best to try and manufacture a winner. The first period of extra time produced very little scoring opportunities, but KB had two good chances in the second period with Martin McSweeney denied by a super save by Stephen Bartlett while sub Johnny O’Sullivan put a great chance over the top.

With the game deadlocked after extra time it progressed to penalties in a tension charged atmosphere. Jonathan Downey and Mike Hannifin put away the first two penalties for Castleisland while Paul Brouder and Cathal Cummane scored for KB.

Then Michael Thornton put his penalty wide for KB while Adam O’Donoghue scored for Castleisland leaving it 3-2. Diarmuid Noonan scored for KB and Lee O’Connor scored for Castleisland and now KB had to score their next penalty to stay in the game.

Their goalie Sean Lynch went for the bottom corner of the net but Stephen Bartlett dived full length to his right and brought off a fabulous save turning the shot around the post.

It was a hard earned win for Castleisland, but they won’t mind as they are through to the last 64 open draw and will be keeping their fingers crossed for a home game.

The team showed great spirit and commitment in this game to etch out a win and they will be full of confidence ahead of the next round.

While they were very deserving winners on the day they will have to brush up on their finishing if they are to progress further in the national competition

KB UNITED: Sean Lynch, Aidan Ryan, Paudie O’Connell, Cathal Cummane, Christy McSweeney, Michael Thornton, Martin McSweeney (Johnny O’Sullivan, 75 min), Diarmuid Noonan (Jim Liston, 62 min), Paul Brouder, Dara Noonan, Sean O’Connor

CASTLEISLAND: Stephen Bartlett, Mike Hannifin, Colin McCarthy (Eamon Nolan 66 min), Mike Cahill (Kevin O’Mahony, 66 min), Michael Walsh, Aidan O’Callaghan, Ray Huggard (Lee O’Connor, 69 min), Mike Hannifin, Pierce Brosnan, Stan Divane (Adam O’Donoghue, 69 min), Tommy Feehan (Mike McCarthy, 86 min)