All too easy for Black and Ambers in Minor contest

Castletown Geoghegan 3-21St. Brigid's 0-5Sometimes the scoreline tells its own tale and despite a brave show of defiance from an obviously outclassed St. Brigids team, Castletown-Geoghegan will now look to make amends for having last year’s Minor title taken from them when they line up in this year’s final.This was as one sided as the scoreline suggests and the winners could even afford to take off their entire starting full forward line for the second half such was their dominance, a forward line that had scored 2-14 in the opening half alone. In fairness to Brigids they never resorted to over physical tactics and kept plugging away manfully but this was mere target practice at times for Castletown and they took virtually all their opportunities. Even the subs got in on the act with Luke Cassidy getting a goal in the second half.Ironically it was St. Brigids who got the opening score of the game when lively corner forward Ciaran Daly pointed a long range free after a foul on Jamie Gonoud. It was to be their only score for the next ten minutes as Castletown moved up a gear and began to find their feet. Niall O’Brien levelled with a converted free from the half way line and the same player was on hand to put his side in front with a masterful point off his left. It took nine minutes though for the major breakthrough and after a great save by Daniel Galvin from an Aonghus Clarke piledriver, Ciaran Glennon was on hand to whip the ball to the net for the opening goal and it seemed to settle Castletown.They now began to play with fluency and flair and with John Heslin and Darren Ruane dominating the midfield sector it became incumbent on the forwards to lead the way. Aonghus Clarke got the ball rolling with a lovely point on 10 minutes and almost from the puck out Heslin found Ciaran Glennon and he tapped the ball over. Ciaran Daly got one back for the Saints but it was mere respite as Neal Kirby hit three marvellous points in a row - two off the left and one off the right - and all three worth the admission money. Daly stemmed the tide again with Brigids third and best score from long range but from there to the break it was all Black and Amber.Glennon scythed through the Saints defence and passed on to Clarke who rattled in another goal, quickly followed by a superb individual point from Paul Fennell. Niall O’Brien converted another free before Glennon scored a wonderful point under serious pressure. O’Brien added his fourth point from long range and then made it five after some poor defensive play by Brigids. The half finished with Paul Fennell finding Clarke and the ace marksman made no mistake in firing the ball over the bar and at the break it was Castletown-Geoghegan 2-14 St. Brigids 0-3Castletown made a raft of substitutions at half time with Clarke, Kirby and Paul Fennell making way but even that did little to disrupt the flow and superiority of the Black and Ambers. Glennon pointed another free and after some poor defence by Brigids the same man was on hand again to increase the lead even further. Ciaran Daly again pulled one back from a free for the Saffron’s but Neal Kirby nullified that moments later with a lovely score from long range. Daly pulled another back with a converted 21 yard free but as if the game was not already over, sub Luke Cassidy finished any lingering doubts when Glennon found him on the edge of the square and he made no mistake in rifling the ball to the net for a third goal. Cassidy then became provider for Kirby to add another excellent point and then another Glennon point extended the lead even further and showed the gulf in class.The game was petering out to an inevitable conclusion with Castletown going through the motions and Brigids long giving up the ghost. Darren Ruane got his rewards for a fine game when he profited from some good play by Jordy Cassidy and the same player finished the scoring when found by Luke Kelly to reiterate an emphatic display victory.Scorers: Castletown-Geoghegan: Ciaran Glennon 1-5, 2 frees, Niall O’Brien (2 frees) and Neal Kirby 0-5 each, Aonghus Clarke 1-2, Luke Cassidy 1-0, Darren Ruane 0-2, Paul Fennell and Luke Kelly 0-1 each. St. Brigids: Ciaran Daly 0-5, 4 frees.Castletown-Geoghegan: Niall Kelly, Ciaran McDonald, Diarmuid Garvin, Liam Varley, David Fennell, Dean McDermott, David Lynch, John Heslin, Darren Ruane, Paul Fennell, Luke Kelly, Ciaran Glennon, Aonghus Clarke, Niall O’Brien, Neal Kirby. Subs: Luke Cassidy for Clarke, Jordy Cassidy for O’Brien, Michael Dever for Paul Fennell, Eoin Quinn for McDermott, Alan Geraghty for Kirby.St. Brigids: Daniel Galvin, Stephen Keegan, Ciaran Gill, Niall Cully, Cathal Coyle, Lee Wallace, Sean Judge, Jamie Gonoud, Sean Deegan, Dermot Judge, Edward Alford, Joe Guiden, Conor Slevin, Ben Gavin, Ciaran Daly. Sub: Jack Glennon for Guiden 52 mins.Referee: Feichin Brennan, Crookedwood.