Oldcastle 1-08, Dunderry 1-07

There was a general air of no-hope regarding Oldcastle’s chances against Dunderry in this evenings’ Junior C Championship meeting, with the opposition unbeaten and top of the table, and Oldcastle closer to the bottom than top.

Oldcastle took the first score of the match as a result of a nice period of play, an Aaron Getty ball on to Niall Mangan, to Ciaran Smith, back to Aaron and Ciaran again, to Josh Halpin next who got it in to weathered old war-horse Jimmy Smith. Jimmy got a lovely pass in to the waiting Joe Lynch who tipped it over the bar for the point. It was all Dunderry for the next 20 minutes however, they dominated all over and put six unanswered points on the board. A Sean Maxwell free got Oldcastle going again, it travelled upfield by way of Niall Mangan before finding Joe Lynch who was fouled in front of goal, the resultant free pointed by Johnny Shortt. Oldcastle also took the next three scores, nice points from Charlie Lynch, full-back Sean Maxwell who scored after a run from one end of the pitch to the other, and Niall Mangan. A controversial side-line ball decision against Oldcastle saw tempers flare, but Dunderry couldn’t capitalise on the situation and shot two wides before the half-time whistle blew on a score of Oldcastle 0-05, Dunderry 0-06.

Dunderry took the first point of the second-half with a free. Multiple attempts by both sides were closed down in the next few minutes, before Dunderry were awarded a penalty, which they duly scored to once again have a five point buffer. That was when the Oldcastle fightback began. Cillian Connell was working hard throughout and winning frees: it was his free which Kyle Kavanagh pointed to reduce the deficit. Soon after, a Jack Fox kick-out found Stephen Tierney, on to Cillian Connell, to Sean Maxwell, to Cillian Hanlon who was fouled, Ciaran Smith moving it on to Joe Lynch, back to Ciaran, then back to Cillian Connell who was again fouled, with Kyle converting the free.

With just the goal separating the teams now, Charlie Lynch knew what needed doing, and took a great goal to level the match. With the youngsters doing brilliant work all over the pitch and Joe Lynch in flying form, the older stalwarts were also essential, and it was a John Caffrey free, converted by Stephen Tierney, that proved the match winner, putting Oldcastle ahead by a point. A nervy seven or eight minutes went by before the end, with what seemed like a guaranteed equaliser from Dunderry, but super defensive play from Oldcastle kept them out, and when referee Martin Dawson blew the final whistle it was on a score of Oldcastle 1-08, Dunderry 1-07.

Oldcastle: Jack Fox, Aaron Getty, Sean Maxwell (0-01), Cillian Hanlon, Joe Lynch (0-01), Matthew Cadden, Cillian Connell, Conor Hetherton, Kyle Kavanagh (0-02), Ciaran Smith, Niall Mangan (0-01), Charlie Lynch (1-01), Johnny Shortt (0-01), Jimmy Smith, Josh Halpin. Subs: Ronan Taggart, Stephen Tierney (0-01), Lorcan Fox, John Caffrey. 

 

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