‘Town are too hot for ‘Islanders

6 September 2017

CASTLEWELLAN produced a competent display to get the better of a resilient Loughinisland in Downpatrick.

There was never a lot between the sides as Loughinisland showed that they can compete with the best, but they seemed to lack the conviction that they could actually win the game and Castlewellan made them pay.

Daniel Morgan and Dean McLaughlin exchanged early points as did Morgan and Rory Mason, Stefan Mason and Morgan and Donal McKibben and Rory Mason as the tit-for-tat nature of the game continued.

Loughinisland then stole a march on the Town and points from Rory Mason and an effortless score from Dan Gordon gave Brendan Mason’s side a 0-6 to 0-4 lead by the 15th minute.

Castlewellan were having none of it and unanswered points from Colm Flanagan, Liam McKibben and Morgan put them in the driving seat, despite playing against a strengthening wind.

John McCarthy levelled matters before Loughinisland shot themselves in the foot.

A ruck of defenders failed to claim the ball when a Rory Burns effort rebounded off an upright and came back into play. Two Loughinisland players challenged for the ping ball with Sean Dornan, but neither was able to claim it and Cahal Crilly pounced to steer it into an empty net.

Stefan Mason lessened the damage with a converted free in added time as Castlewellan went in at the break with a 1-7 to 0-8 lead.

Morgan and Kevin Duffin extended Castlewellan’s lead at the start of the second half before Stefan Mason and Liam McKibben swapped points. The sides continued to trade points with Morgan (0-2) on target for the Town and Stefan Mason and McLaughlin replying for Loughinisland with Castlewellan holding a 1-12 to 0-12 lead going into the last 10 minutes.

A Rory Mason point was cancelled out immediately by the relentless Morgan before Castlewellan’s star player received his marching orders for what appeared to be an off the ball incident.

Loughinisland were unable to take advantage of their numerical superiority and Castlewellan’s Gareth McKibben took the last score of the game.

Castlewellan: M Cunningham, B Travers, R McArdle, A Brogan, D Morgan (0-8), K Duffin (0-1), C Flanagan (0-1), R Burns, S Dornan, S Hardy, C Crilly (1-0), Caolan Corrigan, D McKibben (0-1), L McKibben (0-2), D McGrady. Subs: G McKibben (0-1) for Hardy, Conall Corrigan for Brogan, F McGreevy for McGrady.

Loughinisland: C Turley, S Cochrane, P Megoran, P Digney, D McLaughlin (0-2), C O’Toole, J Flynn, D Gordon (0-1), A McClements, R Mason (0-4), J McCarthy (0-1), M Cochrane, R Deegan, C Megoran, S Mason (0-5). Subs: J O’Reilly for Deegan, R Stranney for McClements, D McClements for McCarthy, P Cochrane for Stefan Mason, Cormac O’Toole for Flynn.

Castlewellan 1-14

Loughinisland 0-13

MORGAN FUELS SFC

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