Castletown seconds make good start
CASTLETOWN’S SECOND string made an impressive start to their Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship campaign with a 1-16 to 2-4 victory over Blackwater in Sunday’s Group B encounter played at a showery Camolin.
Last year’s beaten semi-finalists could call upon three former Wexford footballers in the Morris brothers, Colm and Noel, and George Sunderland, but it was their strength in the tackle that was a particular asset as they stood firm against the seasiders.
Gavin Stamp was the undoubted star of the show, finishing with an impressive 0-11 to his name, with four of the seven points he kicked from play coming in a firsthalf which Castletown dictated by 1-6 to 0-2.
The goal came from a less likely source when captain David Deering ventured forward from his corner-back spot, linked up with a couple of team-mates on the way, and coolly dispatched to the net for a brilliant score on 28 minutes.
Blackwater pulled a goal back five minutes into the new half when Aaron Culleton knocked home after the ball pinged across the square, but the victors accounted for six of the next seven points to laugh off any suggestion of a comeback.
Castletown’s Niall Hempenstall had produced a couple of clever saves throughout, but he kept his best until last when he got down low to thwart Jake Nobbs from a penalty on 56 minutes.
However, substitute Shane Wright did manage to drill the rebound to the net for a consolation goal.
Meanwhile, Stamp put his hand up for selection on the first team when the championship recommences later in the year with two of Castletown’s last three scores, and Noel Morris added their final point at the death.
Castletown: Niall Hempenstall; David Deering (capt., 1-0), Conor Cleary, Risteárd Kinsella; Danny Dixon, George Sunderland, Cian Bealin (0-1); Oisín Condren, Rory Heffernan; Shane Halpin, Noel Morris (0-1), Aaron Condren; Darragh Brooks (0-1), Gavin Stamp (0-11, 4 frees), Colm Morris (0-1). Subs. - Colin Kennedy (0-1) for Heffernan, inj. (36), Ross Cody for A. Condren (44), Stephen Rafferty for Brooks (49), Liam Condren for Dixon (53).
Blackwater: Lar Leacy; Robert McGuinness, Anthony Roche, Kieran Roche; Jake Nobbs (0-2 frees), Paul O’Leary (capt.), Diarmuid Murphy; Denis Carroll (0-1), Dean Wright; Ben Redmond, Kevin O’Brien, Darren Byrne; Dean Whelan, Aaron Culleton (1-0), Michael Lillis. Subs. - Richard Blake (0-1) for Culleton (38), Kerill Sutton for Whelan (38), Shane Wright (1-0) for Redmond (49).
Referee: Paul Browne (Clonee).
FOOTNOTE: The Enniscorthy Farm Systems JFC Group A game in Monageer on Saturday evening resulted in a high-scoring 6-11 to 5-5 win for Shelmaliers against Shamrocks.