Fagan and McCabe goals help Castlepollard to victory

Castlepollard CC 3-17, Coláiste Clavin, Longwood 3-6

A superior Castlepollard Community side claimed victory over Coláiste Clavin, Longwood, in the North Leinster Senior Hurling ‘D’ competition on Wednesday at a wintry Castlepollard CC venue.

In what was a robust encounter at times, Castlepollard CC led by 2-7 to 0-3 at half-time and responded well when the visitors produced a resurgent second half effort. Castlepollard’s lead was reduced to just two points on different occasions after the break before they scored an unanswered 1-6 to take complete control of the contest.

It was a bitterly cold morning for this early start and the heavy sod made for challenging conditions. Goalkeeper Elton O’Leary came to Castlepollard’s rescue early on as Eoin Carroll was denied a goal, and after three minutes, a long delivery from a Cailem Byrne free ended with Adam Fagan finding the net for the home side. Coláiste Clavin replied with a pointed free from Carroll; Jack McCormack just missed a goal at the other end.

Castlepollard CC pressed further ahead as midfielder William Cassidy scored a good point and impressive wing-forward Sean Murray converted a free. Coláiste Clavin centre-back James Cully shot over a neat point, but the next period of the game was dominated by Castlepollard. Sean Murray’s pointed free was added to by Cassidy’s second from play (after corner-forward Jamie O’Neill’s pass). A Carroll point from play was quickly negated as Fagan got his second major when wing-forward Jamie O’Neill sent a high ball into the danger area. Murray added a free for the Castlepollard side and centre-forward Cian Kennedy did likewise; Murray was next on the scoresheet with another placed ball to make it 2-7 to 0-3 after 28 minutes.

The Longwood side had a goal chance before the break when Dara Carney shot low, but O’Leary made a good save to ensure Castlepollard CC held a 10-point advantage at half-time.

Coláiste Clavin were rejuvenated after the interval. A pointed free by centre-back James Cully kick-started a spirited revival; he soon converted another placed ball from 60 metres.

Longwood pounced for a goal after eight minutes when Cully (from a free) sent a high ball into the square and Carney booted home the loose ball. Moments later, wing-forward Rowan Sutton got Coláiste Clavin’s second goal and the gap was just two points.

Murray’s converted free steadied the Castlepollard ship, but they were still in choppy waters and O’Leary had to produce a good save to deny full-forward Rian Duffy a goal. Cully remained prominent and set up Duffy for a point, making it 2-8 to 2-6 after 41 minutes. Game on.

Then came a 12-minute surge from the home side that put the issue beyond any doubt. Murray slotted over a free; centre-back Cailem Byrne shot over a free from 65 metres, and midfielder William Cassidy hit a nice score from play. Murray kept the scoreboard ticking along as he converted another placed ball.

After 50 minutes, Castlepollard CC got their third major: Jamie O’Neill (wing-forward) sent a high ball inside and substitute Ross McCabe swooped to score a goal. O’Neill then added a point from distance and at 3-14 to 2-6, Castlepollard CC looked pretty certain to take the honours.

Three minutes from the end, Longwood got their third goal when Carroll pounced after a long delivery into the danger area. That left eight points between the teams, but it was the visitors’ final act.

Three late scores put the seal on a fine win for Castlepollard CC. Wing-back Oisin Egan landed a point from a free; midfielder Cassidy fired over from play, and McCabe added to his earlier major with the final point of the game.

Scorers - Castlepollard CC: S Murray 0-7 (frees), A Fagan 2-0, R McCabe 1-1, W Cassidy 0-4, C Byrne (free), O Egan (free), C Kennedy (free), J O’Neill and C McGrath 0-1 each.

Coláiste Clavin: E Carroll 1-2, D Carney and R Sutton 1-0 each, J Cully 0-3 (2f), R Duffy 0-1.

Castlepollard CC: Elton O’Leary; Dylan Murtagh, Micheál McArdle, Jack Moran; Oisin Egan, Cailem Byrne, Kody Reilly; Jamie Williams, William Cassidy; Sean Murray, Cian Kennedy, Jamie O’Neill; Jamie O’Neill, Jack McCormack, Adam Fagan. Subs used: Conor McGrath, Ross McCabe, Ben Delaney, Jayden Kennedy, Conor Halpin, Adam Hill.

Coláiste Clavin: Owen Byrne; Sean Kelly, Ali Uyanik, Dean Murphy; Simon Pyke, Joe Cully, Eoin O’Connor; Kyle Kavanagh, Dara Carney; Rowan Sutton, Eoin Carroll, Cian Smyth; Andrew McElhinney, Rian Duffy, Fionn Gorry. Subs used: Kit Cosgrave, Kyle Dickson, Charlie Holton.

Referee: Jimmy Weldon (Lough Lene Gaels).