Gutsy display in win over Castletown

When the Meade Farm Intermediate Championship fixtures first came out and we knew we were facing Castletown in the first round, it was like an uphill battle to be optimistic, meeting the favourites from the start. But the lads put the heads down and worked towards the challenge, everything coming to a head with the throw-in a 4pm today in Grangegodden!

Oldcastle’s first twenty minutes were fairly muted, with Castletown building up a five point lead at one stage, but scores from Shane Boylan, Paul Hennessey and Jason Scully keeping Oldcastle in the game. Then nearing the end of the half, Michael Galligan’s kickout found Ryan Halpin, a great high catch from the tall Fennor man, the ball fed on to Pat Crawley, not in the right position but he fed her on to Colin Hawdon coming at speed, a great shot from Colin but it was saved by the Castletown goalie, but back off him and into the arms of the waiting Pat Crawley, in the right position now, and GOAL!

That put Oldcastle a point ahead, and in the lead for the first time, and from there they pushed on; Steven Lawless catching the goal kickout, getting her upfield via Jason Scully and in to Pat again for a point. Another super score from Captain Pearse Sheridan and another point from Pat; Castletown seemed completely out of the game now. As the referee was looking at his watch Rory Crawley had a hold of the ball, on via Oran Mulvanny to Ryan Halpin, from him to Jason Scully and a lovely pass to the flying Steven Lawless who buried her in the back of the net, to leave it Oldcastle 3-07, Castletown 1-06 at the break.

The second half got underway with a great catch from Oran Mulvanny, eventually finding Colin Hawdon and resulting in a fine point, but Castletown rallied, and sent over a super two-pointer, followed by two points, and looked to be heading for another, only to send her wide. The resultant kickout was taken down by Steven Lawless and fed on to Rory Crawley at speed, and buried in the back of the net for Oldcastle’s fourth goal, and a bit of breathing space, a seven point gap now between the teams.

Great to see Robbie Farrelly back from injury, and he was next on the scoreboard for Oldcastle.

Castletown were upping the ante though, punishing every mistake and building pressure from all angles, and they slotted over two fine two-pointers in a row, four points in it now. Jason Scully added on a point for ourselves, but into the final eight minutes, and Castletown put over another two-pointer, and followed it with a point! They were closing down every Oldcastle man now, and got possession and scored once more, the bare minimum between the teams, just the point!

It was do or die now: Oran Mulvanny took down the kickout, on via James Cooke, to Pat Crawley, to Colin Hawdon, on to Robbie and back to Colin closing in on goal, he fisted her over the bar to extend the lead by one. Castletown were awarded a free but sent it short; into Michael Galligan’s waiting arms. But they kept coming and were soon awarded another free, this one went over to leave it back at the one point gap. With four minutes now left it was a game of nerves and tension, Oldcastle trying to keep possession but then a breakaway and a scoring chance from a Steven Lawless pass to Robbie Farrelly, but Robbie was floored and a free awarded: Pat Crawley, having a brilliant match, stepped up and sent her over the bar just as the final whistle blew, to leave it Oldcastle 4-12, Castletown 1-19!

A collective sigh of relief from all the Oldcastle supporters, who were there in numbers today! A tough match to start with, but the lads stepped up and kept the momentum going. Bodies will be sore tomorrow but that’s the first hurdle over with!

Oldcastle: Michael Galligan, Thomas Sheridan, Dylan Garrigan, Oran O’Reilly, Rory Crawley (1-00), James Cooke, Steven Lawless (1-00), Oran Mulvanny, Paul Hennessey (0-02 (2P), Ryan Halpin, Colin Hawdon (0-02), Pearse Sheridan (0-01), Shane Boylan (0-02 (2P), Pat Crawley (1-03), Jason Scully (1-01). Subs: Robbie Farrelly (0-01), Cian McPartland.