Carey wonder goal helps Kilbeggan conquer Castledaly

Kilbeggan Shamrocks 1-13, Castledaly 0-9

A contender for goal of the season from Niall Carey with four minutes of normal time remaining propelled Kilbeggan Shamrocks to a surprise Westmeath Intermediate Football Championship Section B Round 2 victory over Castledaly in Tang last Saturday evening.

With Castledaly just after regaining parity at 0-9 apiece through points from substitute Mick Lynch and a Dan Heavin free, the Kilbeggan midfielder took things into his own hands by magnificently fielding Conor Mullins’ kickout and taking off on a 60-metre solo run through the heart of the opposing defence before finishing smartly past Cathal Dolan.

It was a goal worthy of any occasion and which shattered Castledaly’s resistance as Kilbeggan tagged on four late points to finish with a flourish and record their first win after a first round setback against last year’s junior champions Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall.

The win moves the Shamrocks onto two points alongside Castledaly, who beat Ballymore in the opening round. But Castledaly could have no complaints with the outcome here after Nigel Adamson’s charges dominated the second half and also racked up 13 wides compared to the losers’ eight.

Castledaly looked to be in the box seat when they went into the break level on 0-5 each after playing against the stiff breeze and up the hill. But when Kilbeggan, for whom Nigel Scally, Niall Carey, teenager Cillian Rochford and newcomer Ray Kennedy impressed, upped the ante after the restart, they struggled to stay with them and were eventually overpowered.

The St Kieran’s Park outfit badly missed the presence of former county player Alan Stone at the heart of their defence after he was ruled out with a hand injury. Surprisingly, their main scoring threat, Lorcan Dolan, started at centre back and rotated between there and the full forward line for the rest of the game without making much of an impact.

In an error-strewn first half, Castledaly hit the ground running with an Aaron Nugent point after just 50 seconds and a second from Adam Turley in the seventh minute. Padraig Carton opened the winners’ account two minutes later before Turley restored the green and golds’ two-point advantage. But picking up where he left off against C-F/C/W, Nigel Scally drew Kilbeggan level with his first two-point free in the 17th minute.

Kevin Stone edged Conor Foley’s men back in front, 0-4 to 0-3, before Paul Fennell landed Kilbeggan’s second two-pointer to give them the lead for the first time after 19 minutes. The Brosnasiders then lost wing back Joey O’Neill to a head injury, with the fit-again Conor Carroll replacing him.

Castledaly got back level just before half-time when Kevin Stone converted a ’45 which Lorcan Dolan did very well to win after forcing Conor Mullins over his own endline.

Aaron Sheerin scored straight from the throw-in to restore Castledaly’s lead, only for Carton to level once again. Dan Heavin pointed from a contentious free in the 35th minute, but the green and golds wouldn’t lead again as Kilbeggan gradually asserted their authority.

Darragh Coffey missed a goal chance before Scally’s second two-point free nudged the winners back in front, 0-8 to 0-7, after 41 minutes. Kevin Stone hit the upright from a close-in free at the other end before the increasingly influential Scally slotted over another free in the 46th minute.

Castledaly got back level through points from Mick Lynch and Heavin (free) either side of full back Liam Fitzpatrick firing narrowly wide of Conor Mullins’ goal from an acute angle.

But with the game in the melting pot, Carey conjured up his wonder goal to turn the tide firmly in Kilbeggan’s favour.

The busy Cillian Rochford added two quick points before Scally put Kilbeggan out with sight with two more in stoppage-time, the last from a free.

Scorers – Kilbeggan Shamrocks: N Scally 0-7 (2 tpf, 2 frees); N Carey 1-0; P Carton, C Rochford and P Fennell (tp) 0-2 each. Castledaly: A Turley, K Stone (1 ’45) and D Heavin (2f) 0-2 each; A Nugent, A Sheerin and M Lynch 0-1 each.

Kilbeggan Shamrocks - Conor Mullins; Martin Ward, James Fox, Mel Kiernan; Micheál Coffey, Colin Draper, Joey O’Neill; Niall Carey, Darragh Coffey; Paul Fennell, Cillian Rochford, Ray Kennedy; Padraig Carton, Nigel Scally, Dean Fitzgerald. Subs: Conor Carroll for O’Neill (injured, 21 min), James Finnegan for Fennell (57).

Castledaly - Cathal Dolan; Shane Dolan, Liam Fitzpatrick, Shane Fitzpatrick; Damien Stone, Lorcan Dolan, John Warburton; Aaron Nugent, Dan Heavin; Jamie Anders, Kevin Stone, Paul Costello; Adam Turley, Emmett Heavin, Aaron Sheerin. Subs: Shaun Kerrigan for E Heavin (half-time), Mick Lynch for Costello (37 min), MJ Kelly for D Stone (49).

Referee – Pat Fox (Rosemount).