GAA - Castledaly VS Tubberclair

Wilson-inspired Tubberclair caught on the line by late Castledaly strike

CASTLEDALY 0-14

TUBBERCLAIR 1-11

Tubberclair were unable to take advantage of a six-point lead as Castledaly fought back to salvage a draw in this hugely entertaining Westmeath SFC clash at Hogan Park, Moate, last Sunday.

Inspired by an outstanding display by Fergal Wilson (who scored a total of 1-7), Tubberclair looked well on their way to victory when they led by 1-10 to 0-7 midway through the second half. However, a valiant Castledaly comeback yielded a whirlwind of points, which left the sides deadlocked as the game entered the last five minutes. And although the irrepressible Wilson put Tubberclair back in front, influential substitute Alan Fitzgerald earned Castledaly a share of the spoils with a 59th-minute equalising point.

In terms of the battle for places in the knockout stages, Tubberclair`s need for victory was greater than Castledaly`s and Danny Sammon`s charges were probably wondering afterwards how they failed to garner the two points on offer.

One incident in the closing stages stands out as being costly from Tubberclair`s point of view. With the scoreboard reading 1-10 to 0-10, James Martin`s point attempt dropped short and Castledaly `keeper Willie Glynn fielded the ball under pressure from Francis Spollen. The ball was quickly swept downfield and JP Casey scored his fourth point from play. A potential four-point lead for Tubberclair had been whittled down to two points.

The result leaves Castledaly in second place in Group 2 on five points, with Tubberclair on three points along with Athlone. Castledaly are in a decent position but are not yet assured of a place in the knockout stages, while Tubberclair will need to beat Bunbrosna to advance. Indeed, a defeat to Bunbrosna would leave Tubberclair in relegation trouble.

On a fine but slightly cool evening, conditions for football were good at the Moate venue. Castledaly were firmly in control early on and they led by 0-4 to 0-1 inside the opening 14 minutes. JP Casey (2), Brendan Kelly and Paul Kelly supplied that quartet of Castledaly points, with a pointed free by Fergal Wilson the only reply at the other end.

However, last year`s county finalists failed to score for the remainder of the half. Benefiting from the delivery of quick ball, the Castledaly attack was causing the Tubberclair defence a host of problems in the early stages. But over-elaboration and some sloppy mistakes entered Castledaly`s play and Tubberclair grew in confidence as the first half wore on.

An expertly taken 16th-minute free by Fergal Wilson was the first of six unanswered points Tubberclair posted in the second quarter. Tubberclair`s first point from play didn`t arrive until the 20th minute, an excellent individual effort by Francis Spollen. The impressive James Martin then pointed a free from the ground. Martin failed to connect as well with his next free, but his low trajectory kick broke to midfield partner Jeffrey Farrell for a gilt-edged goal chance. Farrell`s close-range effort went over rather than under the bar.

The Castledaly defence, which had previously looked tight and tenacious, was now coming under pressure as the Tubberclair forwards began to profit from their side`s midfield supremacy. In the 27th minute, Fergal Wilson hand passed the ball over the bar even though a goal looked a possibility. A couple of minutes later, the same player`s progress was halted by a high challenge from Gordon Duffy. Wilson dusted himself down to steer over another point from the free. Just before half-time, a laboured attack which ended with Tommy Warburton kicking the ball well wide summed up how Castledaly had lost their way. Tubberclair led 0-7 to 0-4 at the interval.

The Castledaly team was reconfigured for the start of the second half. Alan Fitzgerald was introduced at wing-forward, Derek Heavin was moved from centre-forward to centre-back, with MJ McLoughlin now operating on the `forty`. After Francis Spollen was unlucky to see his shot come off the upright, Niall Duffy lifted Castledaly with a fine point from distance. That score resulted from a dubious decision to award a `hop ball` after Castledaly`s Brendan Kelly had appeared to pick the ball off the ground.

Duffy`s point was quickly followed by another from Tommy Warburton and now just the minimum separated the sides. A foul by Ciaran Henson on Tubberclair teenager Ian Coffey led to another pointed free for Wilson, before Paul Kelly sent over a very good point, following good work by Stephen Kavanagh and Alan Fitzgerald.

On 38 minutes, Michael `Junior` Hopkins and Francis Spollen were involved in a move which led to Wilson scoring his second punched point. Better was to come from the Westmeath star who scored an absolutely brilliant individual goal in the 41st minute. The wing-forward latched onto the ball about 50 metres from goal and embarked on a mazy solo run, before hitting a well-placed low shot which gave Willie Glynn no chance. Wilson`s work-rate was matching his skill and, moments later, he showed determination to dispossess a Castledaly player. Ian Coffey - who was showing some nice touches but was finding it hard to escape the shackles of Ciaran Henson - then combined with centre-forward John Reid to set up James Martin, who put Tubberclair six points up.

Stephen Fagan had settled down after a nervy start, but JP Casey`s craft and scoring ability was still proving too much for the young Tubberclair corner-back. And Casey`s 46th-minute point was the signal for Castledaly`s renaissance. In the 49th minute, a foul which earned Tubberclair`s roving No 15 David Cassells a yellow card gave Castledaly full-forward Michael Duffy the chance to point a free. Moments later, Stephen Fagan got away with a clean pick off the ground, but it was merely temporary respite as Michael Duffy quickly sent over his second point. On 53 minutes, Casey rounded Fagan and raised his fourth white flag, before two rapid-fire points by Paul Kelly - who was on fire in the second half - drew the sides level.

Kelly`s latter point came after Gary Connaughton attempted to find Niall Walker, one of the smallest men on the field, with a short kick-out. It didn`t pay off and the fact that Connaughton opted to go short was indicative of Castledaly`s dominance at midfield, where Niall and Gordon Duffy had upped their performances considerably. All the momentum was with Castledaly now and Tubberclair couldn`t get the ball out of their own half, but `Ginger` Stewart`s side just couldn`t get ahead on the scoreboard.

A majestic point under pressure from Fergal Wilson, his high kick just about creeping inside Willie Glynn`s right upright, saw Tubberclair hit the front in the 58th minute. But Alan Fitzgerald had the final say, the substitute capping a sterling contribution with a similarly high kick which sailed over the Tubberclair crossbar.

Scorers - Tubberclair: F. Wilson 1-7 (0-4f). J. Martin 0-2 (1f). F. Spollen, J. Farrell 0-1 each. Castledaly: JP Casey, P. Kelly 0-4 each; M. Duffy 0-2 (1f); B. Kelly, N. Duffy, T. Warburton and A. Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

Tubberclair: Gary Connaughton; Rory Walsh, Enda Dooley, Stephen Fagan; Enda McGee, Bernard `Beano` Cassells (capt.), Niall Walker; James Martin, Jeffrey Farrell; Fergal Wilson, John Reid, Michael `Junior` Hopkins; Ian Coffey, Francis Spollen, David Cassells.

Castledaly: Willie Glynn; Niall O`Neill (capt.), Ken Larkin, Ciaran Henson; Stephen Kavanagh, Tommy Warburton, Colin Harrington; Niall Duffy, Gordon Duffy; MJ McLoughlin, Derek Heavin, Brendan Kelly; JP Casey, Michael Duffy, Paul Kelly. Subs: Alan Fitzgerald for C. Harrington (h-t); Russell Casey for B. Kelly (49 mins).

Referee: Michael Gordon (Shandonagh).