IFC Rd2: Castleconnor 1-9 v St.Farnan's 0-12

Back 06/08/2019 @ 08:38 | mainnews | IFC Rd2: Castleconnor 1-9 v St.Farnan's 0-12

Castleconnor returned to Quigabar for the second week in a row where this week to face their neighbours St Farnans in this all west Derby game. There was a feeling of what might have been for both teams as the game finished a draw - Castleconnor failing to take advantage of a strong 2nd half wind and St Farnans unable to capitalise on having an extra man for 30 odd minutes following the dismissal of Castleconnor’s Kevin Langan(2x yellows).

It was Castleconnor who made a brighter start playing into that strong wind in the first half, a super run from the Paul Flynn, who laid off for Kevin Langan to fire over in the 1st minute. Another driving run from Eoin Kent resulted in a free that Eamonn Cawley converted and shortly after Kent curled over to put 3 between them. The driving runs from Carrabine, John McDonnell, Flynn and Kent were causing Farnans a lot of problems but they responded well in the 7th minute with a fine score from the very lively Ronan Molloy. An intercepted handpass was converted expertly by Andrew McMunn and Farnans were back in business. 

A strong run from John McDonnell resulted in another free which Eamonn Cawley converted to push the men in red two up. As the game entered the 2nd quarter Farnans had a period of dominance Oisin Connolly finished a good move, a fine score from Martin Mulligan following a lightning counter attack on 15 minutes, Molloy with another on 17 minutes and two frees from the influential Finnian Cawley on 18 and 22 minutes pushed Farnans ahead for the first time. Kevin Langan curled over a beauty off his left but Finnian Cawley got a spectacular score following a fast counter and at the short whistle Farnans went in 8 points to 5 ahead, but facing that wind in the 2nd half.

The first score of the 2nd half was a long range free from 50 meters from Kevin Langan but that was his last action as he picked up a 2nd yellow shortly after. Farnans knew that this numerical advantage could counter the wind advantage and proceeded with a pep in their step. Good pressure forced an over-carry in front of the Castleconnor posts and Finnian Cawley tapped over. Farnans owned the ball for the next 5 minutes but didn’t put it on the score board and they were made pay the price for that when a superb cross field ball from Castleconnor Michael Cahill found Paul Flynn at full speed, one on one with Keith Lang in the Farnans goal, he made no mistake to level things at 1-6 to 0-9 with 18 minutes to play. Both teams went flying into tackles from there on and scores became increasingly difficult to come by. A super Shane O Brein point into the teeth of the wind pushed Farnans ahead but Kevin McDonnell responded with a huge score off the outside of the right boot to level it again.

As the game entered the last 10 minutes the wind was joined by heavy rain as players scrambled to get their gloves slipping and sliding on the firm ground and spilling ball in the tackle. Eventually Castleconnor’s Eamonn Cawley scored a 45 meter free to edge them in front with 7 minutes to play but Andrew McMunn cancelled that one out with a brilliant finish from a tight angle.  Mark Devanney put Farnans ahead with 3 minutes to go but a minute later Castleconnor sub Matt Geraghty expertly converted an equaliser. It was scrappy last 5 minutes as nerves and desperate tackling meant that although both teams thought they could nick the win, it didn’t happen and with

2 minutes of injury time played referee Anthony McGowan blew it up and both points would have to be satisfied with a point each.

Castleconnor – Kenneth Healy, James Boland, David Carrabine, Ronan Keane, Michael Cahill, Jason Earlis, John McDonnell, Brian Howley, Eoin Kent, Paul Flynn, Kevin Langan, Alan Cawley, Ronan Wilson, Eamonn Cawley, Kevin McDonnell. Subs Colin Gordon, Keith Earlis, Liam Naughton, Fergal Boland, Luke Munnelly, James Tully, Odhran Quinn, Niall Judge, Stephen Kilgannon, Matt Geraghty, Daire Barrins, Colm Naughton, Alan Naughton, Benny Foody  

Scorers – Eamonn Cawley 0-3 (3F), Kevin Langan 0-3 (1f), Paul Flynn 1-0, Eoin Kent 0-1, Kevin McDonnell 0-1, Matt Geraghty 0-1

St Farnans – Keith Lang, Kevin McGee, John Quinn, David Hallinan, Finnian Cawley, Shane O Brien, Gavin Cawley, Mark Devaney, Andrew McMunn, Martin Mulligan, James Weir, Ciaran O Connor, Shane Feeney, Ronan Molloy. Subs Kieran Devaney, Matthew Lang, Ryan McCombe, Oisin Connolly, Greg Feeney, Eoin Coggins, Jason McGuinness, Darragh Gillen, Cahan Hallinan, Donall Hanley, Shane Neary

Scorers – Finnian Cawley 0-4 (3F), Ronan Molloy 0-2, Andrew McMunn 0-2, Shane O Brien 0-1, Martin Mulligan 0-1, Oisin Connolly 0-1, Mark Devanney 0-1