Castleconnor 2-16 Enniscrone/Kilglass 3-10

Castleconnor secured their Intermediate status with a deserved three-point win over neighbours Enniscrone/Kilglass in a high-scoring local derby at Tourlestrane last Sunday afternoon.

The winners displayed commendable character to withstand an early onslaught from the Seasiders, who netted two goals inside the opening three minutes.

However, the Enniscrone/Kilglass lead was wiped out by half-time, with Sean Carrabine’s goal shortly before the break helping Castleconnor take a 2-7 to 3-3 interval advantage.

With both sides guilty of defensive lapses, it was Enniscrone/Kilglass who started much brighter and they won a penalty in the second minute, when Brian Coleman was fouled. Up stepped Brian Duffy to send the ball to the net, moments after Ciaran O’Dowd opened the scoring with a point.

This was soon followed by a second major - with Brian Duffy again on target - to give Enniscrone/Kilglass a dream start, with a 2-1 to 0-0 advantage after three minutes.

To Castleconnor’s credit, they worked their way into the game and got a major lifeline in the tenth minute when Stephen Rogan took full advantage of a loose ball in the penalty area to rattle the net, and cut arrears to 2-2 to 1-2.

Both sides would net a goal apiece again before half-time. Gavin Duffy was fouled in the Castleconnor penalty area in the 19th minute, with his brother Brian again netting from the spot to send Enniscrone/Kilglass into a 3-3 to 1-4 lead. This conversion completed Duffy’s hat-trick.

Castleconnor reeled off the next three points - including a good score from centre back Eoin Kent - and got a major boost with a Carrabine goal as the game entered first half added time, with the county star seizing on a defensive lapse to finish beyond Bradley Nealon.

A point in front at half-time, 2-7 to 3-3, Castleconnor maintained their momentum after half-time. Carrabine, Oisin Flynn, Kent and Ciaran Kilcullen helped Nigel Reape’s side extend their advantage to six, 2-13 to 3-4, by the midway point of the second period.

Enniscrone/Kilglass were struggling but managed to close the gap to two again as the game entered the closing stages with Gavin Duffy, Coleman and Adam Mullaney among those on target.

Castleconnor, however, regained the upper hand and a late score from Colm Rutledge secured a valuable win for the the men in red and white, who finish third in Group Two. Enniscrone/Kilglass head for the relegation play-offs, where they’ll meet Ballymote this weekend.

Castleconnor: L Donegan, R Wilson, K Earlis, R Keane; P Cooney, E Kent (0-2), F Boland; C Kilcullen (0-1), P Flynn; C Flynn, O Flynn (0-3, 3fs), S Rogan (1-1); D Flynn (0-1), S Carrabine (1-6, 3fs), C Ruttledge (0-2). Subs used: T Langan

Enniscrone/Kilglass: B Nealon; C Mulrooney, E Bourke, D Rouse; A Mullaney (0-1), J Ellis, B Fitzgerald; C Mullaney, N Hannon; R Jacob (0-1), C O’Dowd (0-1), M Moyles; B Duffy (3-0, 2pen), B Coleman (0-1), G Duffy (0-6, 5fs, 1 mark). Subs used: A Duffy, E Hallinan

Referee: John Griffin