Last-gasp equaliser bags Oldcastle a draw
Dunshaughlin 0-16 Oldcastle 3-07
A big crowd turned out in Dunshaughlin last night (13 Feb.2019) for the Rd.3 match of the AFL. Many drawn to see if Oldcastle could repeat their form from their great victory over Dunboyne. Playing with the aid of the wind, Oldcastle started the brightest, but it was Dunshaughlin who opened the scoring with a pointed free. Oldcastle replied with points from Robbie Farrelly and Jason Scully before Paddy Gilsenan danced through the Dunshaughlin defence to fire to the net, leaving the score Dunshaughlin 0-1 Oldcastle 1-2.
Dunshaughlin then scored four points in a row before a Robbie Farrelly free put Oldcastle back in the lead. Oldcastle were hit a blow mid-way through the first half as Paddy Gilsenan left the field with an injury and was replaced by Dylan Garrigan. The sides swapped scores as the half wound down, but a super Jason Scully shot to the back of the net gave the visitors the advantage at half time: Dunshaughlin 0-09 Oldcastle 2-05.
Neither team were giving an inch, but with the breeze at their backs it was the home team who took the first four points. Oldcastle were working hard as a team and got their reward when awarded a penalty mid-way through the half. After a long stoppage C.J.Healy stepped up but his shot was saved by the keeper. C.J. was on his toes however and raced in to fire the rebound into the corner of the net beyond the reach of the unfortunate keeper, who experienced elation and dejection within seconds. The referee was busy right through the game with plenty of yellows for both teams, and Dunshaughlin the recipients of three black cards, a measure of the intensity of the battle.
Heading into the closing stages Dunshaughlin looked to have done enough to hold on, but Oldcastle were awarded an indirect free kick 40 meters from goal. Forced to go short, Jason Scully tried to pick out Colin Hawdon, but a Dunshaughlin defender got his hand on the ball before Hawdon could control it. The ball broke loose, but Colin Hawdon was quickest to react and after some good work he managed to lay the ball onto Robbie Farrelly who fisted it over the bar to secure a draw with the last play of the game.
A well-earned Div. 1 point in the bag before heading back down the M3 was a fair result after an exciting game of football.
The next match is a home fixture against Sumerhill in on Sunday 24th at 3pm in Millbrook. Let’s have a huge Oldcastle crowd there to cheer on the lads!
Oldcastle: Conor McHugh, Sean Maxwell, Cian McPartland, Oran O’Reilly, Darren Hawdon, Ger Reidy, C.J. Healy (1-00), Ross Cadden, Ronan Maguire, Robbie Farrelly (0-05), Paddy Rahill, Keith Connell, Jason Scully (1-01), Paddy Gilsenan (1-01), Colin Hawdon.
Subs: Dylan Garrigan for P. Gilsenan, Steven Lawless for P. Rahill, Stephen Tierney for K. Connell, Lee Healy for R. Cadden.