Castlerea gatecrash intermediate party
BROTHERS IN ARMS: Brothers Frank and Jonathan Hester celebrate Castlerea St. Kevin's intermediate football championship success on Sunday week last. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
Nobody saw this train coming down the track as Castlerea St. Kevin’s, who boarded on August 5th against Creggs, were hoping to be competitive and stay on track until the knockout stages.
Fellow passengers Elphin, Fuerty Éire Óg and St. Croan’s were in it for the long haul and expected to be among the final two when the train pulled into Roscommon Town on county final day.
Instead, they could only watch as Castlerea pulled the rug from under Éire Óg’s feet on Sunday week last.
Here are my six talking points over the course of another epic IFC journey…
At the beginning of the championship, Castlerea St. Kevin’s weren’t even on the invitation list. Yet, they were the last ones to leave the party.
They sneaked in past the bouncers at the quarter and semi-final stages. Once they got themselves inside the ballroom, they stole the crown jewels from under Éire Óg’s noses, thanks to a perfectly-executed ambush.
Dara Bruen’s side were never flustered as they remained calm when the hard questions were asked. They grew in confidence and only conceded one goal in six championship games — that defensive resilience proved to be the solid foundation they built on to land championship honours.
If Éire Óg phoned a friend over the past week, it would have been the men of Boyle as both teams are sharing the same hurt and pain of losing two successive county finals.
The hardest part for Éire Óg to accept is that they were in control of their own destiny and contrived to lose. By not scoring a goal when they were on top kept Castlerea in the hunt. Then, in the final quarter as the game was edging away from Pat Doory’s side, they hadn’t the answers to stem the tide as Castlerea sucked them into their web.
After hitting 0-14 during a solid first 40 minutes, they could only manage one further score until the final bell sounded 25 minutes later. During the same period, Castlerea scored 0-6, which derailed their neighbours’ hopes.
What is it about intermediate football finals — they are the gift that keep on giving. Since 2015, not even the greatest Halloween party has seen more tricks or treats after some extraordinary deciders.
Here’s some solace for Éire Óg players and supporters. Over the past nine years, every team that have contested an intermediate championship final have been successful eventually. Some grasped the nettle at their first attempt, while others needed “take two”. As for Oran and St. Dominic’s, after using up all their lifelines, they managed the great escape at the third time of asking.
Éire Óg must not throw in the towel. The intermediate championship requires patience, resolve and durability — it is a marathon, not a sprint.
Of the last nine finals, five finished level first day out, two required extra time after a replay, one went to penalties, two were won by a point and the other two were won by two points.
Those stats illustrate that Roscommon IFC finals are top of the pops on the football fields.
With Strokestown coming down from senior and St. Michael’s graduation from junior, the scene is set for plenty of potential intermediate championship derbies next season.
Stretches of North Roscommon land will rise in value in the hinterlands of St. Michael’s, Shannon Gaels and Kilmore if their paths cross.
The prospect of Strokestown and Elphin doing battle whets the appetite. With Éire Óg, Fuerty and St. Croan’s still in the pot, the intermediate championship will be as competitive as ever to win.
What a season it was for 2022 Junior A winners, Pádraig Pearses.
They led eventual winners Castlerea St. Kevin’s by four points heading into injury time in their semi-final, only to falter in the dying moments. To Pearses’ credit, they kept so many of last year’s squad, which was mixed together with emerging young talent. In the end, they found themselves in the last four on merit.
They did not look out of place and took the window of opportunity that opened up in front of them, which gave valuable exposure to an emerging team.
If Pádraig Pearses can remain competitive at intermediate level over the next few years, it will bring huge benefits to their senior squad by keeping lots of the club’s footballers operating at a high level.
They both scored 0-8 in the county final but Conor Cox would gladly have swapped places with Castlerea St. Kevin’s forward Adam McDermott at the final whistle. The Éire Óg poacher finished top scorer in the championship, hitting 2-43.
The Castlerea sharpshooter went home with the winner’s medal, blasting 3-28 during his six championship games to finish second in the scoring charts.
It was terrific scoring by both men and showed how crucial their scoring ability was to their respective team’s journey to the final.
They also finished first and second top scorer in the overall standings in both the senior and intermediate football championships.
Ben O’Carroll from St. Brigid’s, who finished top of the senior championship scoring charts with 6-16, finished third when one combines both championships.
Can you name the last father and son who each scored a goal in an All-Ireland SFC final?
It was the Rock family from Dublin, with father Barney scoring against Galway in 1983 and son Dean against Mayo in the 2020 All-Ireland SFC final.
QPR, Frenchpark, was first to raise a green flag. Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Paddy Duignan, Castlerea; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Pat, Sligo; John Croghan, Bundoran; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; Bernard Duffy, Longford/Loughglynn; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; John O’Shaughnessy, Galway; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Toolan, Heston, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also found the target.
This week’s Teaser: Can you name the former Irish international rugby player who won an All-Ireland senior football medal in 2023?
Answers by e-mail willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser comes from Athlone.
Star pupil: Gary Sice who won his 13th Galway SFC club title with Corofin as they dethroned Moycullen on Sunday.
Crucial win for: Waterford FC who defeated Cobh Ramblers 2-1 in the League of Ireland First Division play-off to set up a date with destiny against Cork City on Friday night.
Much do better: Still seeking his first win as Birmingham City manager, Wayne Rooney saw his side toss away a two-goal advantage in the closing ten minutes against Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Spot of bother: It’s unfortunate that both St. Brigid’s and St. Michael’s provincial club football championship games are clashing next Sunday.
Weekend highlight: A cracking second-half comeback by Connacht as they came from 17 points down to defeat Ulster, 22-20, in their URC contest at the Sportsground.
What a cracker: Great rivals St. Pat’s and Bohemians meet in the FAI Cup final at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday. It’s a repeat of the 2021 decider, which was won by St. Pat’s 4-3 on penalties after it finished 1-1 after extra-time.
“Don’t forget that when life gets hard and you feel like giving up, there’s a future that you haven’t seen yet. Stay strong, believe in yourself and never stop moving forward.”
Glen of Derry became the first club since Meath club Dunshaughlin (2000-2002) to win three club senior football championships in a row following their maiden win.
I was at Goodison Park last Wednesday night for a very touching and emotional tribute by Everton FC in honour of its late Chairman, Bill Kenwright.
The Toffees rounded of a wonderful night in front of a full-house with a 3-0 win against Burnley in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.
With a home quarter-final on Christmas week against Fulham, Evertonians are getting giddy at the possibility of a cup semi-final in early January 2024.
