Heroic Castlerea fall just short after epic semi-final
Niall Connaughton and his Castlerea St. Kevin's team-mates couldn't have done anymore against Cill na Martra this afternoon.
Brave, heroic Castlerea.
While no one wants to entertain notions of moral victories, Dara Bruen’s side could have done no more as their best display of the season came up just short on an extraordinary afternoon at Laois Hire O’Moore Park.
The Roscommon and Connacht champions were pushing hard for the equaliser as they threw everything but the kitchen sink at their more fancied opponents from the Gaeltacht in West Cork, but the little bit of luck they needed wasn’t on offer, and their dream of an appearance in Croke Park next weekend died.
Shane Keenan was magnificent. Thomas Callaghan was heroic, while Adam and Darren McDermott upped the team’s scoring average.
And yet two goals killed them. They had only conceded one in the championship all season and then, like a bus, two came along at once.
Those quick-fire goals from Micheál Ó Deasuna and Daniel Ó Duinnín between the 40th and 41st minutes left Castlerea five points behind, but they refused to accept defeat. There was consternation, and panic, in the Cill na Martra goalmouth towards the end, and Darren McDermott’s attempt for parity drifted just wide. That’s how close it was.
The Cork and Munster champions dominated the early exchanges but some resolute Castlerea St. Kevin’s defending prevented the Cork and Munster champions from building up a decent lead.
The sides were tied at 0-3 apiece at the end of the first quarter. Maidchí Ó Duinnín, Daniel Ó Duinnín and Micheál Ó Deasúna (free) were on target for Cill Na Martra, while an Adam McDermott point from play was sandwiched between frees from the same player and Darren McDermott.
Castlerea St. Kevin’s suffered a blow when midfielder Michael Conroy was shown a black card, but they dealt well with their captain’s absence.
Colm MacLochlainn, Micheál Ó Deasúna (free) and Damien Ó hUrdail added to Cill na Martra’s tally but Dara Bruen’s men were on level terms at the break, 0-6 apiece, with points from Adam McDermott (free), Darren McDermott and the Shane Keenan.
Adam McDermott edged his side into the lead for the first time and when Cill na Martra lost midfielder Antóin Ó Cuana to a black card, the momentum appeared to shift towards Castlerea St. Kevin’s briefly.
But those goals from Ó’Deasúna and Ó Duinnín turned the game on its head, and, try as they might, Castlerea couldn’t retrieve the deficit, although they give it their best shot.
To Cill na Martra went the victory, to Castlerea St. Kevin’s went the plaudits.
Cill na Martra – P Ó Críodáin; C MacLochlainn, T Ó Corcora, F Ó Faoláin; D Ó Conaill, S Ó Fórréidh; A Ó Cuana, G Ó Goillidhe; D Ó Duinnín, C Ó Duinnín, D Ó hUrdail; M Ó Duinnín, M Ó Deasúna, F Ó Heálaithe. Subs: S Ó Duinnín for M Ó Duinnin (52), D MacLochlainn for C Ó Duinnín (55), C Ó Meachair for Ó Hurdail (60), G Ó Mocháin for Ó Deasúna (60).
Castlerea St. Kevin’s – D Farrell; E Creaton, J Keane, T Callaghan; P Joyce, S Joyce, D Quinn; J Hester, M Conroy; S Keenan, E O’Connell, D Brennan; D McDermott, Adam McDermott, P Farrell. Subs: M Kelly for Conroy (44), N Connaughton for Farrell (44), N Bligh for P Joyce (47), R Curran for Brennan (47), S Stenson for Hester (60).
Referee – B Cawley (Kildare).
