Castletown are capable of more than just survival
November 27, 2010
Castletown remain unwilling to surrender their intermediate championship status, but they again gave their supporters many anxious moments during the 2010 campaign before staving off the threat of a drop to the junior ranks. By Paul Clarke.
It has certainly been an eventful few years for Castletown who looked capable of making the move up to the senior grade in 2007 before they came face to face with a very polished Donaghmore/Ashbourne team in the intermediate final. Losing that game was a huge disappointment and followed a loss to neighbours Rathkenny at the semi-final hurdle the previous year.
From the highs of reaching the final followed a real struggle in the group stages in 2008, but a victory over Drumconrath in their last assignment meant Castletown were safe from the dreaded relegation mire. However, they slipped into deeper danger last year when they had little luck in the qualification phase.
Castletown drew two group matches and were beaten by only a point in the other two. They could so easily have qualified for the knockout stages, but instead found themselves at the bottom of the table and facing the prospect of elimination from the grade two years after contesting the final.
Their difficulties worsened when they lost the first relegation play-off to Clann na nGael, but when they really needed a win Castletown got it as Colm Ratty's team defeated Drumconrath by three points in the relegation decider at Pairc Tailteann to secure their safety.
Ratty, the former Navan O'Mahonys' player, was again at the helm this year, with Paul Kelly and Johnny Duffy acting as selectors, but the coach stepped aside during the relegation round robin series. Castletown were drawn in group B of the intermediate championship along with Syddan, last year's junior champions Longwood, Na Fianna and St Michael's.
Dunderry provided the setting for their championship opener against Na Fianna and this thrilling game was one they should have won as they surrendered a five-point advantage in the last six minutes against a team managed by Graham Geraghty.
It was all to play for at the change of ends when Castletown held a minimum margin (0-8 to 0-7) lead after Shane Farrelly (three), Tommy Smith (two), Barry Smith, Kenny Smith and Matthew Carroll had been on target with their points.
With Mick Hickey in inspirational form at midfield Castletown appeared to have established a key platform for victory in the second half when they pushed clear. But they failed to kill off the game and left themselves vulnerable to a Na Fianna surge in the closing stages.
Daniel Queeney knows how to take a score and he gave Geraghty's team hope when he found the net. Castletown had gone from a comfortable position to one where they were trying to cling onto their advantage, but they were caught at the end when substitute Harrison Silke, the former Meath minor player, notched two points to tie up the scores (1-9 to 0-12).
Another close encounter looked to be on the cards when Castletown were level with Longwood (0-6 each) at the interval of their second round meeting at Pairc Tailteann, but last year's junior kingpins scored points with great regularity in the second period to win comfortably by 0-16 to 1-7.
Castletown had a bye in the third round and that meant a very lengthy gap to their next championship game against one of the more fancied teams for outright success, St Michael's. That game was played at Rathkenny where the Carlanstown/Kilbeg combination won by 2-14 to 1-11 and with only one point garnered from their three group outings Castletown were clearly in trouble.
Syddan were also going through tough times and had failed to pick up any points by the time they faced Castletown in the last round of group matches at Drumconrath. This was a huge game in terms of survival and it was Syddan who made sure of their place in the intermediate ranks courtesy of a 2-13 to 2-9 victory.
Castletown's one point which they took from that first round meeting with Na Fianna when they really should have won wasn't enough and Syddan finished above them on two. It meant Ratty's team were in the relegation round robin struggle along with the teams which finished at the base of the other two sections, Kilmainhamwood and Clann na nGael.
It was a surprise to see Kilmainhamwood in this position less than a year after they contested the intermediate championship final where they lost to Oldcastle. They provided the opposition to Castletown in the first round robin game at Nobber and when they won by 3-10 to 1-12 they were favourites to stay up.
Castletown gave away three goals in the first half to Ray Magee (two) and Stephen Kiernan, but despite that disastrous looking statistic they were only two points behind at the break (1-7 to 3-3). It was still all to play for at that stage, but a poor return of just five points in the second period meant they were four adrift when the final whistle sounded.
It meant the pressure was really on when they faced Clann na nGael in the second fixture of the round robin series at Moynalty in the second week of September, but they responded in great fashion to record a 4-6 to 0-10 win which effectively left them safe from the threat of the drop. Alan Smyth, Kenny Smith and Darren Finney were among the goal scorers.
When Clann na nGael, in turn, bounced back emphatically by defeating Kilmainhamwood by seven points in the final game in the series it meant all three relegation-threatened sides had won a game each and because the 'Wood had an inferior score difference they were demoted.
"It was a big relief to stay up," said Castletown player Alan Smyth. "We had a few injuries this year which was a bit of a problem, but our biggest problem is that we don't finish games well. We tend not to play in the second half of games.
"The draw against Na Fianna in the first round was a bad start. We were five points up with six minutes to go, but they came back and drew it. I think we were lacking a bit of fitness when we played Longwood. Their tails were up at that stage. We were level with them at half-time, but we didn't push on.
"We just didn't turn up for the St Michael's game; it was as simple as that. They beat us by six points. The Syddan match was a disaster for us. We lost by four points. We had no game plan and we weren't using our bench enough. We have about 20 lads and we should be able to use some of them."
With three defeats and a draw from four outings in the group stages of the championship it was time for Castletown to up the tempo when they faced into the round robin series which was used to sort out the relegation scrap this year. But instead of starting the process on a positive note they opened up with a defeat at the hands of Kilmainhamwood.
"We actually didn't play badly against Kilmainhamwood," Alan added. "It was simply a case that they took their goal chances and we didn't. They got three in the first half. We missed too many chances and I hit the post in the last minute. It was a big disappointment and that defeat left us in big trouble."
But just when they needed to produce a big performance which would help to stave off the ever growing threat of relegation Castletown found it in their second relegation play-off against Clann na nGael when the goals came with regularity and they won by eight points.
By that stage coach Ratty had stepped aside and the selectors took over the running of the team. One of their players, Jimmy Finnerty, looked after the training responsibilities ahead of the big test against Clann na nGael.
"We had a game plan for the match against Clann na nGael," Alan said. "Our first line of defence was our full-forward line. We packed our defence and played from there up. We were moving well that day and won comfortably. Both teams scored 10 times, but we got four goals and they were crucial.
"After that win we had a much improved score difference and were 99.9 per cent sure of surviving. Clann na nGael beat Kilmainhamwood by seven points in the last relegation match and they were safe.
"It was a big relief to survive, but this relegation struggle didn't just happen to us this year. That's the third year in a row that we found ourselves fighting for survival in the intermediate championship. We really need to do something or we could go down. But I believe that with the right attitude we can improve."
For a club that had realistic dreams of climbing up to the senior ranks a few short years ago the last few campaigns in the intermediate grade have been difficult for Castletown when their thoughts have been on survival. Looking ahead their priority will be to steer clear of such situations and to aim for positions nearer the top than the bottom of the group.
U14 title for Castletown and
U15 success for Killary Emmetts
Castletown under 14's came out on top by the narrowest of margins, Castletown 3-15 Ballinlough 5-8, in this exciting Division 7 final played in Pairc Tailteann. Castletown had the advantage at half time when they led by two points, 2-6 to 2-4, with scores from Jamie McMahon 1-3, Aaron Sheerin with 1-1 and two points from Brian Carroll. The second half was score for score with some lovely football played by both sides, however Castletown took the title with scores from Jamie Mc Mahon with four more points, three more points from Aaron Sheerin, 1-1 from JJ O'Dea and another point from Brian Carroll to leave the final score Castletown 3-15 Ballinlough 5-8 in an excellent match. All 13 Castletown players played very well.
Castletown - Aaron Mc Quillan, Eoin Reid, Andrew Kenny, Kenneth Quale, Stephen Hoey, William Bellew, Alan Clarke, Jamie Mc Mahon 1-7, Richie Clarke, JJ O'Dea 1-1, Adrian Sheridan, Brian Carroll 0-3, Aaron Sheerin 1-4. Subs not used - Thomas McManus, Shane Price, Mark Kelly and Liam Sheridan.
After the match the Castletown captain Andrew Kenny was presented with the cup by Paul Mooney Chairman of Meath Juvenile Board.
History was made on Saturday evening the 2nd October in a rain soaked Kells when Killary Emmetts U15's - the Castletown and Syddan combination - won their first title since their amalgamation in 2008 on a 2-19 to 1-10 scoreline against Wolfe Tones. This title made up in some way for Killary Emmetts for an under 16 final and a Minor final defeats earlier in the year. Jamie McMahon opened the scoring for Killary with a point then two points from Ross Blaney, one from Ronan Mooney and 1-4 for Darragh Roe gave them a slender 1-8 to 1-7 lead at the break. However Killary took control in the second period with the opening point from Jamie McMahon then a goal from Andrew Kenny which really turned the game in their favour. With six more points for Darragh Roe to take his match total to a wonderful 1-10, one more for Ronan Mooney and one each for Kevin Traynor, substitute Sean Clare and James Duff gave them a deserved win.
Best for the winners on a terrible evening for football were Mark Fedigan, Ross Blaney, Ronan Mooney, Andrew Kenny and Darragh Roe.
Killary Emmetts scorers were Daragh Roe 1-10, Jamie Mc Mahon 2pts, Ross Blaney 2pts, Ronan Mooney 2pts and 1 point each for Kevin Traynor , Sean Clare and James Duff.
Killary Emmetts - Conor Weldon, James Duff, Mark Fedigan, Diurmuid Roe, Kevin Traynor, Andrew Kenny, Ross Blaney, Ronan Mooney, Jamie McMahon, Darragh Roe, Kevin Carry, Matthew Deans, Brian Carroll. Subs - Alan Clarke for Carry, Sean Clare for McMahon, Stephen Hoey for Carroll, Ben Corcoran for Weldon. Subs not used - Aaron McQuillan, JJ Meade, William Bellew, Aaron Sheerin, Michael Fedigan.
U15 final: Killary take Div. 4 honours
History was made in a rain soaked Kells when Killary Emmetts, the Castletown and Syddan combination, won their first title since their amalgamation in 2008 as they defeated Wolfe Tones by 2-19 to 1-10.
Jamie McMahon opened the scoring for Killary with a point then two points from Ross Blaney, one from Ronan Mooney and 1-4 for Darragh Roe gave them a slender 1-8 to 1-7 lead at the break.
However Killary took control in the second period with the opening point from Jamie McMahon and then a goal from Andrew Kenny which really turned the game in their favour. With six more points for Darragh Roe to take his match total to 1-10, and points from Ronan Mooney, Kevin Traynor, substitute Sean Clare and James Duff, Killarey were comfortable winners.
Best for the victors on a terrible evening for football were Mark Fedigan, Ross Blaney, Ronan Mooney, Andrew Kenny and Darragh Roe.
Killarey Emmetts - Conor Weldon, James Duff 0-1, Mark Fedigan, Diarmuid Roe, Kevin Traynor 0-1, Andrew Kenny 1-0, Ross Blaney 0-2, Ronan Mooney 0-2, Jamie McMahon 0-2, Darragh Roe 1-10, Kevin Carry, Matthew Deans, Brian Carroll. Subs - Alan Clarke for Carry, Sean Clare 0-1 for McMahon, Stephen Hoey for Carroll, Ben Corcoran for Weldon. Subs not used - Aaron McQuillan, JJ Meade, William Bellew, Aaron Sheerin, Michael Fedigan.
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