St Michael 0-16 Oldcastle 1-4

St. Michaels made their journey to Millbrook on the outskirts of Oldcastle a profitable one on Saturday night last when picking up two more valuable points to make it two wins from two outings and a great start to this years league campaign. It's early days yet but both of their games have been crackers from a St. Michaels point of view and they are beginning to play a nice brand of football having demonstrated that they have plenty of good footballers at their disposal and it will be up to Martin O'Connell and Co. to make them believe that they are well able to compete with the big boys.

Oldcastle were disappointing on the night, they enjoyed plenty of possession throughout the game but they either gave it away, took the wrong option or lost it through the tight marking St. Michaels players, they played defensively in the opening half, but when St. Michaels ran at them in packs in the second period they had no answers.

Oldcastle got the best of starts with a goal in the second minute but could only manage a further four points for the remainder of the game, all from frees. Paul McCormack could count himself a tad unlucky as he pulled off a brilliant save from the initial shot on goal in the second minute however his deflected save went back in play and ricocheted off an incoming Oldcastle player to the back of the net. Oran Meehan converted a free after he himself was fouled two minutes later, Ciaran Lynch sent over his opener from play on 8 minutes, the exchanges were tough and uncompromising throughout and referee Seamus O'Connor was vigilant and in alert mode as he handed out a fistful of yellow cards. The home side fired over their opening point from a free on 16 minutes, but another Meehan free and a great effort from play from J.B. O'Reilly levelled the match at 0-4 to 1-1 on 22 minutes. Two minutes later Peter O'Connell delivered to Ciaran Lynch who turned and sent over for the lead point. Oldcastle added their second point from a free on 29 minutes but there was still time for another Ciaran Lynch point and and excellent point from his brother David to leave it 0-7 to 1-2 in favour of St. Michaels at the break.

Right from the re-start St. Michaels showed intent, Ronan Lynch fired over in the opening minute, two excellent efforts on the run from Felim O'Reilly put 5 between the sides, Oldcastle pulled one back from a free but Ronan Lynch almost immediately cancelled it out from play. Oldcastle could not break down the excellent St. Michaels defense of which John Stafford, Jamie Reilly, Christopher Drew and Philip Rogers stood out and the next score came when the home side were on attack but were turned over on the St. Michaels 13 meter line and four moves later Meehan was sending it between the posts at the other end of the pitch. The O'Reilly brothers proved a handful for the home side in the middle of the field catching, breaking and distributing ball and Felim added his third point from play on 53 minutes after Oldcastle registered their final point of the match a minute earlier. Ronan and Kevin Cassidy covered a lot of ground putting in a great hours work and it was the latter's pass to Peter O'Connell which resulted in another well taken point. Two further points from Ronan Cassidy and Meehan completed the winners tally. Others to play well were Mark Stafford, Ronan Lynch and substitutes Sam Briody and Matthew Halpin.

Team & scorers: Paul McCormack, John Stafford, Jamie Reilly, Mark Stafford, Chris Drew, Philip Rogers, Davy Lynch 0-1, J.B. O'Reilly 0-1, Felim O'Reilly 0-3, Ronan Cassidy 0-1, Peter O'Connell 0-1, Kevin Cassidy, Oran Meehan 0-4, Ciaran Lynch 0-3, Ronan Lynch 0-2.
Subs: Sam Briody for Ciaran Lynch ( injured) 38 minutes, Matthew Halpin for John Stafford 48 minutes. 

Referee: Seamus O'Connor.

Report: Pascal Reilly.

Oldcastle Report

Oldcastle 1-04
St. Michaels 0-16.

Oldcastle failed to claim two points on home ground on Saturday evening.

Oldcastle started well with a goal from Johnnie Shortt in the early minutes of the game. This proved to be a vital score for Oldcastle as it was much needed as the game advanced. The goal came after a foul on an Oldcastle player, seeing the St Michaels player receive the first of many yellow cards shown during this game. St. Michaels ensured the deficit did not widen any further hitting back with two points. Paddy Gilsenan kept Oldcastle ahead converting a free while the next two scores came from St. Michaels and saw the sides level for the first and only time of the game after 20 minutes. They continued there scoring ways with another two points before Oldcastle put over another point. That was the last score for Oldcastle before half time with St. Michaels hitting over one more to leave a gap of two at the break.

St. Michaels started the second half well adding another two points to the score sheet before Oldcastle earned a point from a free. St. Michaels did not let up and scored 7 points to Oldcastle's one in the last quarter to ensure they left Millbrook with the win.

Oldcastle Team: C.McHugh, S.Maxwell, M.Cadden, E.Feeney, M.Taggert, C.McPartland, E.Gilsenan, S.Tierney, R.McHugh, P.Gilsenan (0,4), R.Cadden, R.Maguire, J.Shortt (1,0), P.Monaghan, S.Rahill.

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