St. Michaels 2-14, Castletown 1-17           
                     
Shane McCormack landed a point from an injury-time free to secure a share of the spoils for St. Michaels in an entertaining and tense contest in sunny Castletown on Saturday evening last.

The saints took the lead early on through a point from Shane McDonnell which was soon cancelled out by the home side from a free. St. Michaels were back in front following points from Ray Reilly, Davy Lynch and McDonnell but Castletown pulled two back to reduce the deficit to just one after 12 minutes. The opening goal of the match came a minute later from McCormack, however his side was caught ball watching as Castletown went straight back down the field from the kick-out and netted at the other end to leave just a point between the sides at the end of the first quarter.

The home side levelled matters but McCormack linked up with Oran Meehan to split the posts for the lead once more. Peter O'Connell put two between the sides after he took a short '45 to McDonnell who returned to O'Connell who made no mistake from 20 meters out. A McCormack free put St. Michaels 1-7 to 1-5 in front with seven minutes of the half still remaining but it was the home side who finished the half the strongest taking a 1-9 to 1-7 lead into the break.

After the restart the hosts were quickest out of the blocks and extended their lead to three points. However St. Michaels moved up a few gears and enjoyed a purple patch with points from McDonnell, Meehan and O'Connell before substitute Cian Sheridan blasted to the net from close range having been set up by Meehan. Castletown kept plugging away and kept their noses in front until an Oran Meehan point put the sides on level terms on 50 minutes. Meehan put his side back in front but a converted free from the home side levelled matters once more on 53 minutes. In a tense last few minutes both sides exchanged a point apiece before Castletown edged back in front in the 59th minute however they conceded a free as the game entered the first minute of injury time and McCormack made no mistake from in front of the posts for a deserved share of the points.    

St. Michaels: Darren O'Connell; Alan Reilly, Jamie Reilly, Harry Dunne; Christopher Drew, Mark Stafford, Sam Briody; Matthew Halpin, Peter O'Connell (0-2);  Shane McCormack (1-3), Shane McDonnell (0-4), David Lynch (0-1); Oran Meehan (0-3), Patrick Tobin, Ray Reilly (0-1). Subs: Patrick Clarke for Stafford 28 minutes, Cian Sheridan (1-0) for Tobin half time.

Referee: Martin Griffin.

Report and photo Pascal Reilly PRO.               

Tweet

Most Read Stories