B’s unlucky to just end up with a share of the spoils

Oldcastle 1-9 Blackhall Gaels 1-9

Oldcastle were extremely unlucky not to come away with the win in this tight Division 2 Round 3 affair with Blackhall Gaels in Millbrook on Monday evening last (10 April 2017) .

The visitors started the brightest and swept into a 4 point lead until Oldcastle full-forward Mickey Morris struck over a 14 yard free after the ten minute mark to get the home side into gear. He then added a further 2 points alongside team mates Jimmy Smith and Ronan Farrelly to level the match half time at 0-5 a piece.

It was straight after the whistle was blown for the second half that Oldcastle grabbed a foothold of the game and into the lead for the first time when full back Deividas Slomskis carried on a run in support of teammates Niall Mangan and Brian Griffin and fired the ball home into the bottom corner of the Blackhall Gaels net to put them ahead by 3 points.

Blackhall however continued to put pressure on the Oldcastle defence and hit over a further 3 points after the home side also continued to keep the scoreboard moving thanks to two Niall Mangan frees and a further point from half back Stephen Lawless.

Oldcastle’s efforts and 3 point lead was reduced with a minute to go however when one last attack from the visiting side ended up in the Oldcastle net to silence the home team. The sides were level at 1-9 a piece and a share of the spoils is how it finished.

Oldcastle may have felt hard done by but a great determined display was evident from the North Meath side who have an away trip to Seneschalstown in the next round on 19th April.

Oldcastle: Karl Gibney, James Tuite, Deividas Slomskis (1-0), Eoin McCluskey, Stephen Lawless (0-1), Ignas Ramones, John Caffrey, Jimmy Smith (0-1), Colin Curran, Paddy Monaghan, Niall Mangan (0-2, 2f), Philip Reilly, Ronan Farrelly (0-1), Mickey Morris (0-3), Brian Griffin (0-1).

Subs Used: Stephen Milmoe for Slomskis 36′, Kyle Kavanagh for P. Reilly 37′, Johnny Shortt for P. Monaghan 45′, Lee Healy for M. Morris 55′, Shea Feeney for N. Mangan 59′