Black and Ambers Through

Castletown-Geoghegan caused a major upset in this year's Senior championship when they disposed of a much fancied Castlepollard team after a thrilling game of hurling in Cusack Park on Sunday evening last. The large attendance was treated to one of the best games of the Championship to date and when the final whistle blew it was the men in Black and Amber who had done enough to secure a semi-final place to face Lough Lene Gaels. 'Pollard will wonder how they let this one slip after making a miraculous comeback in the third quarter but they simply ran out of steam as Castletown picked off some lovely late scores to ease home.Pick of the Castletown points had to be three first half Derek Gallagher sideline cuts that were worth the admission money alone and then three excellent second half 'Pollard goals made this a fine spectacle but 'Pollard could not sustain that comeback and then lost Barry Kennedy to a second yellow card for a late pull and the 14 men could not keep the Castletown attack at bay. In the end they faded badly and went out rather tamely after an exhilarating hour of hurling that held the attendance spellbound throughout and enlivened what to this point has been a disappointing championship.It was Castlepollard that came out of the traps flying and they had three points on the board in the space of 6 minutes from an Alan Devine free, a superb Stephen Bardon strike and a monster free from his own '45 by Darren McCormack. It was all blue and gold at this stage but they were also guilty of some bad wides that would come back to haunt them. Derek Gallagher got Castletown off the mark with a fine score on 8 minutes and they then had the ball in the net from Joe Clarke but it was called back for a foul by full forward John Brennan in the build up. A Robbie Jackson free brought it back to one but Stephen Boylan profited from some poor Castletown defending to increase the Pollard lead. Gallagher then hit a 40 yard side line cut over the bar for a superb point that had the crowd gasping but Alan Devine kept the 'Pollard score ticking over after dispossessing Ronan Whelan superbly. John Brennan should then have goaled when on his own after a defensive lapse by Pollard but his shot went over rather than under the bar but Gallagher levelled matters with another wondrous sideline cut , this time from the stand side of the field and from at least 40 yards again. A Jackson free put Castletown in front and then Gallagher went back to the terrace side and slotted over another 40 yard sideline cut for an amazing trio of scores. Kennedy then finished the scoring when he pointed for Pollard on the stroke of half time and at the break it was 0-7 to 0-6 in Castletowns favour.The first half was exciting and filled with all the skills of the game but the second was a belter completely and the play swung from end to end like a Wimbledon tennis match. Alan Devine levelled for Pollard after dispossessing Ronan Corcoran and Kevin Brazil almost had a goal when his long range shot came back off the cross bar but Ronan Whelan claimed the Castletown nerves with a well converted 65and then persistence by James Durkan led to Joe Clarke getting his first score for the Black and Ambers. Durkan then got his own point after some poor misses by Castletown and when Jackson pointed a 50 yard free there were 4 between the sides and looked good but 'Pollard don't lie down and after Devine had missed a simple chance he more than made up for it when he pounced on a loose ball after Kennedy had been blocked and whipped the ball to the net for a super goal. Whelan pointed a free for Castletown to put them two in front again but then sub Brendan Murphy burst through the Castletown defence and scored a fabulous goal that put his side in front for the first time in almost 40 minutes. Whelan levelled matters with a monster free from his own 65 yard line and then Durkan got the score of the game when he ran from the 40 all the way in and unleashed an unstoppable shot to the back of the net for a brilliant goal.But again 'Pollard hit back and after a mishit by Alfie Devine, Brazil was in just the right spot and he pulled on the ball and it flew into the back of the Castletown net to level matters once again in what was at this stage an epic. But that was as good as it got for Pollard and Castletown finished the stronger with first points from Whelan from his own half and then Gallagher from equally as far out and in the process of tackling Gallagher Barry Kennedy go his marching orders for a second yellow and the white flag could almost be seen waving. Jackson should have had a goal but settled for a point and then sub Sean Whelan scores from distance to put 4 between the sides and Pollard were wilting. Jackson converted another free and then Durkan sealed the win with a superb score from distance that signalled the end for Pollard who's only reply was a late, late Alfie Devine free that just narrowed the winning margin and when Referee Barry Kelly blew the final whistle it was to the delight of the large Castletown faithful who played possibly their best hurling of the year.It would be hard to pick Man of the Match but Gallagher gets it simply for his three wonder strike from the sideline but Durkan ran him damn close as did Ian Corrigan at wing back and Ronan Whelan for Castletown. Gorry, Eamonn Óg Clarke and Jackson were others to impress while David Langan had a solid hour at full back in the absence of Emmet Brennan but it was an all round team effort that won the day. For Pollard Jody Murray and Darren McCormack were excellent in defence while Alan Devine and Kennedy were constant threats but they did struggle at the middle of the field and missed far too many scoring chances on the night. Castletown now face Lough Lene Gaels in the semi and they are improving with every game and it would be foolhardy to rule them out of contention at this stage and they are gaining momentum game on game.Scorers: Castletown-Geoghegan - Derek Gallagher and Robbie Jackson (4 frees) 0-5 each, James Durkan 1-2, Ronan Whelan 0-4, 2 frees, 1 65, Joe Clarke, John Brennan and Sean Whelan 0-1 each. Castlepollard - Alan Devine 1-3 1 free, Kevin Brazil and Brendan Murphy 1-0 each, Darren McCormack (free), Stephen Bardon, Stephen Boylan, Barry Kennedy and Alfie Devine (free) 0-1 each.Castletown-Geoghegan: Gary Jackson, John Gallagher, David Langan, Ronan Corcoran, Ian Corrigan, Ronan Whelan, Eamonn Óg Clarke, Derek Gallagher, Keith Gorry, Robbie Jackson, Joe Clarke, James Durkan, Paddy Maloney, John Brennan, Alan Mangan. Subs: Pat Clarke for Maloney 39 mins, Sean Whelan for Mangan 47 mins.Castlepollard: Noel Boylan, Jody Murray, Johnny Murray, Jamie Ward, Ollie Devine, Darren McCormack, Glen Flynn, Donal Devine, Stephen Bardon, Stephen Boylan, Kevin Brazil, Martin Egan, Alan Devine, Barry Kennedy, Andrew Dermody. Subs: Brendan Murphy for Dermody 40 mins, Alfie Devine for Egan 40 mins, Sean McLoughlin for Boylan 48 mins, Shane Egan for Ollie Devine 51 mins, Paul Dermody for Flynn 62 mins.Referee: Barry Kelly, St. Oliver Plunketts.