Castlewellan forced to go to wire after late Saval goals pose threat

Castlewellan forced to go to wire after late Saval goals pose threat

11 June 2025

CASTLEWELLAN had to weather a late Saval charge to secure their fourth win of the season and move two points clear of the relegation places.

For the most part, the first half was evenly contested, but the hosts managed to keep their noses in front before Tiernan Dornan’s goal gave them a boost five minutes before the break.

The second period kept spectators on the edge of their seats and while Castlewellan honed in on victory with a Matthew McCabe major, they were forced to batten down the hatches when Saval dragged themselves to within two points with a minute left to play.

Despite claiming possession from throw-in, Castlewellan’s early attempts to put their opponents on the back foot were snuffed out by stout defending. 

Using their defensive capabilities as a springboard for attack, Saval immediately began to ask questions of the hosts and opened the scoring with a Dean Rice point.

However, that only awakened a beast in Castlewellan, who hit three points without reply through Sean O’Neill, Eoin Lundy and Rory Burns.

Saval quickly found themselves bogged down in a series of wides and short attempts, but they eventually levelled the scoring thanks to a two-point free from Daniel McCarthy.

Again, Castlewellan seemed to take their counterparts’ scoring personally, building a four-point lead courtesy of Rhys Flanagan, O’Neill and a Lundy two-pointer.

The visitors almost conjured up the perfect response, as Dean Rice’s goal attempt rattled the post after Brendan Tumelty pulled a point back.

Castlewellan knew they were lucky to retain their lead, but that gave them the nudge they needed to expand their advantage, as Flanagan split the defence with a scintillating ball and Dornan slotted home.

Curtis Sands and Ryan Rice cut the deficit down to four, with the interval fast approaching, before McCabe hit the final score of the half for the home side.

Saval’s opening attack of the second half was halted by over-carrying, and Castlewellan punished them in major fashion.

A long ball from Conall Crilly caught the visiting defence sleeping and found McCabe, who kept composure to bring it under his control and ripple the back of the net.

McCabe added to his tally with a well-taken free and although Darragh Saul and Tumelty hit points in reply, Crilly kept the hosts ticking over. 

Victory looked to be a formality for Castlewellan from there, however, Saval were intent on pushing them all the way and before long, they increased the stakes.

Tumelty displayed a deft touch, set off on a carving run and enabling Dean Rice to fist across the face of goal towards Niall Devlin.

The ball slipped from the Saval forward’s grasp, but referee Gavin Finnegan judged that he had been impeded by a defender and awarded a penalty.

Dean Rice stepped up to the spot and made no mistake with the finish, reducing the gap to five points and setting up an interesting climax.

Crilly met a long ball, shrugged off his man and took his point to calm the Castlewellan nerves, but the away side were not quite finished.

Devlin battled through three challenges and picked out Tumelty. His powerful shot took a massive deflection in front of goal and fell kindly to Sands, who poked home at the back post.

What had earlier appeared to be a comfortable outing was now threatening to turn into a major collapse — a possibility that was supported by Tumelty firing Saval to within two points in the 59th minute.

Backs-to-the-wall defending ensued for Castlewellan and after they managed to keep hold of the ball, their fears were quelled by the final whistle.