Devine shines as Castlepollard reach decider

John Dermody

Castlepollard claimed their place in the Senior B Hurling final following a convincing, if sometimes laborious victory over a gallant St Brigid's team at Kinnegad on Sunday.

The foundation for victory was laid in the opening half and despite playing against a reasonably strong wind, Castlepollard took control of the game from the outset, leading by 10 points at the break. St Brigid's showed glimpses of quality to warrant them remaining at this level and will learn a lot from their first year back at Senior B level.

Castlepollard have the advantage of a couple of extra weeks break before the final and will watch with enormous interest the semi-final between St Oliver Plunketts and the in-form Brownstown.

The game struggled for an established pattern of play but Castlepollard registered the opening seven points. After Darragh Tierney opened the scoring in the third minute, Castlepollard added further points through Conor Gaffney, Allan Devine (two), Andrew Dermody and Tierney (two). St Brigid's struggled to create chances but Finbar Coyne finally got their opening score in the 17th minute. He gathered the sliotar and converted a chance from the left wing.

This was swiftly followed by an Alex Eighan score. He gathered an intelligent diagonal pass and accurately struck the ball over the bar. After Matthew O’Reilly and Mikie Mullen (free) exchanged points in the 19th and 20th minutes, a fine Stephen Quinn point for St Brigid's brought them back to within four points, 0-8 to 0-4. Allan Devine and Mikie Mullen traded frees to leave four in it by the 24th minute. In the 27th minute, Castlepollard wrestled back control of the game with a superbly taken goal by Allan Devine, following a direct ball into the square by Eoin English.

English then got in on the scoring act with a point to move Castlepollard eight points clear. Following another Mullen free in the final minute of the half, Allan Devine pounced again for a second goal for Castlepollard. This left the half-time scoreline: Castlepollard 2-10, St Brigid's 0-6.

Castlepollard registered the first three points of the second half through Tierney, Devine (free) and Andrew Dermody. However, poor shooting and disjointed play meant there was not another score until the 43rd minute. It was the turn of St Brigid's to score three consecutive points - Mullen (free) and Coyne on target, after a monster free by goalkeeper Paddy Carroll from his own 50 metre line. This left 10 points between the teams, Castlepollard 2-13 to 0-9 clear. Conor Gaffney and Coyne exchanged minors. Another pointed free by Devine in the 51st minute moved Castlepollard 11 points ahead and it looked like it was just a case of seeing this one out. St Brigid's battled to stay within touching distance. A further Mullen free in the 53rd minute cut the deficit. David Hanlon was fouled as he soloed in from the right wing, and Mullen buried the sliotar to the net from the resultant 20 metre free leave seven points between the sides.

This proved the last kick from St Brigid's as they failed to score for the remainder of the game.

Castlepollard added another four points, including two further points from placed balls by Devine, and two long range efforts from play by Darragh O’Reilly and Eoin English. It means they secured a place in the final, with the additional two weeks to prepare.

Their performance will have to improve significantly on this to have any chance of claiming the Senior B title and ensuring an immediate return to Senior A hurling.

Scorers - Castlepollard: A Devine 2-7 (0-6 frees), D Tierney 0-4 (0-1 ’65), A Dermody, C Gaffney and E English 0-2 each, D O’Reilly and M O’Reilly 0-1 each.

St Brigid's: M Mullen 1-5 (all frees); F Coyne 0-2, A Eighan, S Quinn, D Hanlon and P Carroll 0-1 each.

Castlepollard: Barry Dowdall, Ben Murphy, Darragh O’Reilly, Ciaran Fagan, Dylan O’Leary, Colm Dermody, Cody Ward, Darragh Tierney, Eoin English, Joe Rabbitt, Conor Gaffney, Matthew O’Reilly, Allan Devine, Paul Dermody, Andrew Dermody. Subs used: Sean Lancaster for Colm Dermody (38 min), Luke Roddy for Colm Dermody (42 min), Brian Gilchrist for Matthew O’Reilly (50 min), Oisin Gaffney for Ciaran Fagan (58 min) and Derek Murray for Andrew Dermody (60 min).

St Brigid's: Paddy Carroll; Finnian Carroll, Connall Dunne; Billy Arthur; Cormac Eighan; Joe Hyland; Sean Deegan, Christopher Daly; Kieran Geraghty, David Hanlon; Finbar Coyne; Stephen Quinn; Aonghus Cody; Mikie Mullen; Alex Eighan. Subs Used: Jason Gavin for Cormac Eighan (46 min), Seamus Faulkner and Ryan Judge for Aonghus Cody and Kieran Geraghty (50 min).

Referee: Jimbob Baker (Cullion).