Castletown deliver big second-half performance

CASTLETOWN delivered a dominant second-half performance to emerge with a fully merited eleven-point victory over a disappointing Dunbrody Gaels outfit in this Grenstar Under-20 football championship semi-final re-fixture at Horeswood on Saturday evening last.

The sides were level at the end of the opening quarter with Castletown edging in front by the break, but the game took on a whole new look on the resumption as the North Wexford side took total control of proceedings, delivering a fine display of attacking football, and had their finishing matched their approach play the winning margin could have been greater such was their dominance.

Having enjoyed the benefit of a Jamie Myler opening point after just two minutes, Dunbrody Gaels were unable to build on this as Castletown responded with a Jamie Doyle fifth minute point to level the sides. It was Castletown who pushed on through the following eight minutes as Frankie Kavanagh got on the end end of a sweeping move to find the net from an acute angle. With Darragh Brooks kicking over two fine points they went on to lead 1-3 to 0-1 after just eleven minutes.

Dunbrody Gaels managed to step up the intensity of their game with a Myler point, while the same player goaled a fifteenth minute penalty after been fouled, which was followed by a Sean Nolan point to leave the sides level, 1-3 each, after just seventeen minutes.

But that was as good as it got for the homeside for it was Castletown who went on to take the initiative led by a dominant Liam Coleman in midfield. After twenty minute they regained a lead they were never subsequently to relinquish when Jamie Doyle lobbed keeper Aaron Mythen to leave the ball nestling in the opposite corner of the net, a score that was to help his side to an eventual 2-6 to 1-5 interval lead.

Dunbrody Gaels completely faded from the game on the resumption as Castletown increased their dominance on proceedings. After a Shane Halpin point had extended his sides lead, the result was put beyond doubt in the forty-second minute when Jamie Doyle repeated his first half feat with yet another superb lob across the keeper into the opposite corner of the net, a goal that left his side leading 3-7 to 1-5.

All the intensity was coming from Castletown who totally dominate the second half, and while their finishing may not have matched their approach football, they still looked a hugely impressive outfit.

Such was their second half dominance they restricted their opponents to one second half point a Sean Nolan effort one minute from the end. CASTLETOWN: Sean Harte; Nicky Fenlon, Killian Pierce, Eoin Cullen; Oisin Condren, Martin Doyle, Cian Bealin; Nicky Heffernan, Liam Coleman (0-1); Frank Roche (0-1), Robbie Brooks, Jamie Doyle (2-1); Darragh Brooks (0-5, 0-3 frees), Frankie Kavanagh (1-1), Shane Halpin (0-2). Subs: Sean O’Loughlin for Robbie Brooks; Chris Callinan for Cullen; Alex Murphy for Doyle.

DUNBRODY GAELS: Aaron Mythen; David Murphy, Eamonn Sullivan, Dean Roberts; Cathal Mernagh, Darragh

Lyons, Barry Walsh-Howlin; Jack Kehoe, Danny Byrne; Sean Hunt, Tommy Walsh (0-1), Sean Nolan (0-3, 0-2 frees); James Fitzgerald, Jamie Myler (1-2, 1-0 penalty), James Walsh. Sub: Conor Dalton for Hunt.

REFEREE: Jack Stafford (Clongeen).