Oldcastle 2-13, Walterstown 1-16

Oldcastle and Walterstown battled it out for a place in the Intermediate Football Championship Quarter Finals this afternoon in Kilmainham, and a right battle it turned out to be. Both teams had two wins apiece in the group, so today would decide the Quarter-Final place. Oldcastle were dominant for the opening period, going four points up thanks to Robbie Farrelly, CJ Healy and Garrett O’Reilly, with Conor McHugh unlucky not to have a goal on the tally also. Walterstown came back into it with six unanswered points, to go ahead. Oldcastle fought back, a Ronan Maguire free converted by Robbie and a fine point from play from Ronan Maguire left it on a scoreline of Oldcastle 0-07, Walterstown 0-09 at the break. The bad news for Oldcastle was a red card for Cian McPartland just before the interval for a mystery incident, leaving them facing into the remainder with just 14 men. 

The second half got underway with a nice Conor Delaney point to reduce the deficit to one, but Walterstown responded with a goal. A CJ free brought it back to three, but Walterstown then added on another four points to extend their lead to seven. Seven points down and reduced to 14 men: now where have we been in a similar situation recently? It wasn’t looking good, but the Oldcastle lads seem to relish this kind of pressure and pushed on again. Ronan Maguire fired over a lovely point, soon followed by a goal from the boot of Conor Delaney. Garrett O’Reilly added another point soon after. The chase was on, three points adrift but Walterstown fired over one of their own, so back to four points when the super Jason Scully battled his way through multiple tackles to land the ball in the back of the net, to much Oldcastle jubilation. Only one point in it now, and Jason emerged from the next melee with the ball once again, only to be mauled to the floor. Walterstown now had a red card of their own, with the teams once again fairly matched. Oldcastle had the upper hand now, having played most of the second half down a good man, and CJ converted Jason’s free to level it all up again. Walterstown were in pursuit of the win and added on yet another point, but as the seconds ticked away, once again the cool CJ Healy stepped up to put over a fine free for Oldcastle and level the scores for the final time at Oldcastle 2-13, Walterstown 1-16. 

Oldcastle knew that score difference left a draw as good as a win today, so when the final whistle blew on the drawn score it was jubilation with the Quarter-Final spot now in the bag! Battered and bruised all over, the lads gave it everything today against all the odds, and the Intermediate dream remains alive! 

Oldcastle: Packie Kevin, Steven Lawless, Cian McPartland, Oran O’Reilly, James Cooke, Paddy Rahill, Darren Hawdon, Conor McHugh, Conor Delaney (1-01), Ronan Maguire (0-02), CJ Healy (0-04), Garrett O’Reilly (0-02), Colin Hawdon (0-01), Jason Scully (0-01), Robbie Farrelly (0-03). Subs: Barry Curran, Pearse Sheridan, Oran Mulvanny, Keith Connell. 

 

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