AFL1: Castletown fall short against Don/Ash
May 14, 2012Castletown 1-07
Although having to work all the way Donaghmore Ashbourne managed to see off a strong Castletown challenge to keep their good run of form going in the Division 1A All County league. The home side opened brightly but a good period from the vistors at the end of the first half brought them back into the game.
Donaghmore Ashbourne were quick out of the blocks and scored the first 5 unanswered points. John Broderick opened the account with a fisted effort within the opening minute. Kevin Lanigan doubled the score with a point from 15 meters on 4 minutes. Cathal Field finished off a good team score with a point on 7 minutes. Paul Gilligan pointed from a 20 meter free on 9 minutes with Field getting his second of the evening on 10 minutes.
Castletown's opening score came on 12 minutes but Gilligan replied with a good score a minute later. The sides traded scores early in the second quarter with the visitors raising the white flag on 16 minutes and Broderick replying a minute later at the other end. Two further points, a free from Mattie Devine on 21 minutes and a Kevin Lanigan point from an acute angle on 23 minutes had the home side in a very comfortable position heading for the interval. However Castletown hit a purple patch which started with a point on 25 minutes. A mistake in the home defence was punished with a goal on 27 minutes and Castletown reduced the deficit to a single point with two frees late in the half.
The second half saw both defences on top and both sides registered 4 wides a piece before Mattie Devine raised the white flag on 45 minutes with a free. Castletown also got their first score of the second half with a free on 48 minutes. With very little between the team Donaghmore Ashbourne did manage to pull away in the final quarter. Devine points from a 25 meter free on 51 minutes and Shane Melia pointed with the fist on 52 minutes. Lanigan also fisted a point on 56 minutes to give Donaghmore Ashbourne a bit of breathing space. Both sides traded points in injury time with Gilligan pointing from long range before Castletown had the final say with a point.
Overall it was a hard earned victory for Donaghmore Ashbourne as Castletown never stopped working throughout the game.
Donaghmore Ashbourne:- A. Colgan; J.P. Casserly, C. McGill, E. Riordan; C. Ellis, M. Lynch, P. Gilligan (0-3) (1f); R. O'Connor, D. Morgan; C. Field (0-2), I. O'Donnell, S. Melia (0-1); J. Broderick (0-2), K. Lanigan (0-3), M. Devine (0-3) (3f). Subs:- D. Murtagh for C. Field
Castletown - J. Ginnitty, J. Metry, N. Farrelly, J. Carry, S. Duffy, S. Farrelly (0-1), D. Finney, G. Farrelly, D. Ginnnitty (0-1), K. Smith, A. Smyth, T. Smith (0-3), B. Smith (1-0), D. Cribbin, J. Finnerty (0-1). Subs - S. Hoey (0-1) for K. Smith, K. Ross for D. Ginnitty, R. Hoey for D. Finney, B. Carry for B. Smith, F. Hoey for D. Cribbin, M. Carroll for S. Duffy Tweet
