Flying Fintan hits the Blues hard

Flying Fintan hits the Blues hard

13 June 2012

CASTLEWELLAN enhanced their growing reputation with a businesslike win over Loughinisland in the Senior Football Championship at St. Patrick’s Park, Newcastle, on Saturday evening.

Neither side played anywhere near their best or to their full potential, but Castlewellan had too much fire power in the final third of the pitch and eventually ran out comfortable winners.

Aidy Burns opened the scoring for Castlewellan after just 15 seconds when he split the posts from play, but Loughinisland responded with an equalising score from Rory Mason when he converted a 21m free.

Kevin Duffin, who was operating at centre half back, effortlessly converted a 45 in the 10th minute and the imperious Fintan McGreevy lofted over from play and then a free to give Castlewellan a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 15 minutes.

Davy Gilmore then wasted a glorious goal chance in the 16th minute when he shot wide after a searing pass from Sean Russell, but Castlewellan were not to be denied and Russell sent one over from 40m out to extend his side’s lead to four points after 20 minutes.

Castlewellan lost the services of the dangerous Liam McKibben to injury and Loughinisland were also dealt a big blow when Ben O’Reilly limped out of the action after picking up a hamstring injury.

Aiden Nixon gave Loughinisland some respite when he converted a 21m free in the 28th minute, but McGreevy sent Castlewellan into the break with a 0-6 to 0-2 lead when he sent over another free.

Loughinisland came out for the second half with all guns blazing and Mason converted a 14m free in the first minute, but this was to be their last score of the game as Castlewellan closed up shop at the back.

McGreevy then cancelled Mason’s score out with a free of his own in the 38th minute and five minutes later Donal McKibben notched up the score of the game when he pointed from way out on the left flank to give his side a 0-8 to 0-3 lead.

Gilmore tagged on another Castlewellan point before McGreevy made it 0-10 to 0-3 in the 52nd minute with yet another free.

McGreevy, who looked a class act throughout the game along with the indomitable Barry Travers at full back, extended Castlewellan’s lead with a point from play and then from a free.

Luke Toner, who had a good game alongside McGreevy in the middle of the park, finished the scoring with a majestic point from play in the 55th minute.

Both sides made several changes in the dying minutes, but Castlewellan were already home and hosed by this stage as they ran out superb winners.

Castlewellan: M. Cunningham, L. Lennon, B. Travers, A. Brogan, P. Boyle, K. Duffin (0-1), D. McGrady, F. Og McGreevy (0-7), L. Toner (0-1), L. McKibben, Cahal Crilly, S. Russell (0-1), D. McKibben (0-1), A. Burns (0-1), D. Gilmore (0-1). Subs: M. Stratton for L. McKibben, R. Burns for Russell, D. Morgan for Crilly, E. Hardy for McGrady.

Loughinisland: C. Gordon, S. Cochrane, Conor O’Toole, R. Nixon, P. Digney, J. Flynn, Cormac O’Toole, J. O’Reilly, J. McCarthy, R. Mason (0-2), P. McKenny, S. O’Reilly, A. Nixon (0-1), B. O’Reilly, P. Cochrane. Subs: M. Doran for B. O’Reilly, R. Stranney for McKenny, Conor O’Reilly for Sean O’Reilly, B. Ward for Mason, D. Corrigan for Flynn.

Castlewellan 0-13 Loughinisland 0-3