Exit Championship on score difference

It was a mad final round to the IFC group stages tonight in Carlanstown (03/09/2026), with all sorts of permutations, and even a three point loss could have seen us through. But for Duleek-Bellewstown, buoyed up by the return of their talisman from Oz, and with that Semi-Final place up for grabs if they won, it was also all to play for, and they looked like they meant business from the get go, in a wet Carlanstown. A goal shot in the opening minute went just wide, but they scored the ’45, adding another point straight away. A Pat Crawley point settled the nerves somewhat; a long play by D/B soon after was handled well by Oldcastle, good defence pressure ultimately rendering it harmless. But when they did get the ball next, it was Armstrong with a fine catch, turn and score, followed soon after by another free to leave them three ahead. Wides from both sides followed, before a super catch from Paul Hennessey, on to Colin Hawdon, back to Paul and over the bar for Oldcastle’s second point. It was Duleek/Bellewstown with the next point, and they were in control again but interrupted by a nice Shane Boylan intercept, on via Paul Hennessey, to Jason Scully at speed, and in to Pat Crawley for the score. A Thomas Sheridan free at one end led to the next score at the other; the ball getting up to Pearse Sheridan and over the bar, to leave a gap of only a point. That was to be the closest it got for the night though, Duleek/Bellewstown pushing on again with three unanswered points to finish the first half Oldcastle 0-04, Duleek/Bellewstown 0-08.

The second half got underway with an Oldcastle score, a James Cooke clearance upfield via Cian McPartland, finding Colin Hawdon who was fouled; Pat converted. But short balls in and D/B dominance at midfield were killing Oldcastle. It was Duleek/Bellewstown with the next point, despite great work from the Oldcastle defence, good pressure making them miss the next. Another point from Pat, but the opposition added another, it was now 0-06 to 0-10, the crucial three point gap was gone. An Oldcastle free went wide, and instead it was D/B who raced down the far end and scored, a five-point gap now, time and hope ticking away. Another free converted by Pat, the gap back to four, everyone on their feet, a melee or free for all, anyone’s ball, we still had a chance, a few minutes left, an Oldcastle free, still a chance, but short again, the keeper getting a hold of it and straight back out to his Duleek/Bellewstownlads, they were sensing victory now, ploughing down the field and sending her over again. Five points again, and time running out, but a goal, a goal would do it, so the lads regrouped and waited again, the do or die kickout, but it was the other lads who secured it, and got it to Armstrong, he sailed her over for the insurance point and ref Ciaran Flynn blew the whistle on Oldcastle’s Intermediate hopes for yet another year.

Oldcastle: Michael Galligan, Cian McPartland, Thomas Sheridan, Oran O’Reilly, Rory Crawley, James Cooke, Steven Lawless, Oran Mulvanny, Paul Hennessey (0-01), Shane Boylan, Colin Hawdon, Pearse Sheridan (0-01), Ryan Halpin, Pat Crawley (0-05), Jason Scully. Subs: Dylan Garrigan, Ronan Maguire, Robbie Farrelly, Paddy Rahill.