Bus parked for Castlewellan

Bus parked for Castlewellan

11 June 2014

CASTLEWELLAN were done up like a kipper when Ballyholland caused the first big upset of the Morgan Fuels Down Senior Football Championship.

Ballyholland arrived at Pairc Esler on Friday night with the intention of bottling Castlewellan up with a defensive strategy and Steven Poacher’s bus strategy worked a treat.

Castlewellan just couldn’t get going as Ballyholland defended in numbers and then struck on the break with deadly effect. Young Tiernan Rushe, one of the best prospects in the county, showed his electrifying pace as early as the third minute when he raced onto the ball and promptly fired it over the bar.

Two minutes later the county minor star forced Michael Cunningham into a great save as Ballyholland started in a hurry and with plenty of intent.

Ronan Murtagh picked up his first score of the night when he nipped in front of his marker, seized possession, turned and split the posts for a classy score from a classy player who really should still be in the county panel.

Danny Morgan got Castlewellan on the scoreboard in the 10th minute when he pointed form play after a patient series of hand passes in front of Ballyholland’s blanket defence.

While Castlewellan were content to probe for openings, Ballyholland went straight for the jugular when they had possession and it seemed as if their somewhat negative approach to the game was just what the doctor ordered as the Town were dragged all over the place.

Ballyholland certainly had their tails up and they hit a purple patch when just about everything went their way. Rush started the scoring spree when he converted a free in the 15th minute to give his side a 0-3 to 0-1 lead. This was the signal for a period of sustained scoring and further points from Joe Murphy, a super score, Rushe and two from, Murtagh, one an audacious score from distance and the other a perfect catch, turn and shot gave Ballyholland a 0-7 to 0-1 lead after 28 minutes.

Castlewellan seemed unfazed by Ballyholland’s supremacy in the scoring stakes and stuck rigidly to their patient passing game without ever really pushing too may players forward in an attempt to breach their opponents’ massed defensive ranks. Their second and last score of the half came via the trusted boot of Finty McGreevy when he converted a free.

John Treanor changed things round a bit for Castlewellan at the start of the second half. He pushed Liam and Donal McKibben much further forward with Matthew Stratton retreating into a deep half forward role. The pace and quick thinking of the McKibben brothers gave Castlewellan a foothold in the game and they suddenly started finding gaps in behind the Ballyholland sweeper.

Liam McKibben opened the scoring with a point from play and this was followed by scores from Davy Gilmore and Conal Crilly (3) as Castlewellan ruled supreme and drew level by the 40th minute. Ballyholland saw the danger signs and replaced Ciaran Murphy with Niall McKevitt and the game changed again.

McKevitt gave Ballyholland a fresh impetus in and around the middle of the field and with 41 minutes gone the imperious Murtagh pointed Ballyholland back in front and a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.  

Murtagh stretched Ballyholland’s lead to two points and Paul Quinn made it 0-10 to 0-7 in the 28th minute as Castlewellan’s challenge ran out of fuel. Tempers started to flare in the dying exchanges and Castlewellan’s Morgan and McArdle and Ballyholland’s Murtagh received red cards, but it was never a dirty or overly-physical game.

Every Ballyholland player had a big part in this marvellous win, but special mention must go to Murtagh, Rushe, Joe and Paul Murphy, Damian McCrink, Paddy McAnulty and Keelan Haughey. Castlewellan were best served by Barry Travers, Colm Flanagan, Cahal Crilly and Davy Gilmore.

Ballyholland: C. Keenan, N. McQuillan, A. Haughey, K. Dunne, D. McCrink, P. McAnulty, K. Haughey, J. Murphy (0-1), P. Murphy, P. McAteer, R. White, T. Rushe (0-3), D. Campbell, R. Murtagh (0-5), C. Murphy. Subs: N. McKevitt for C. Murphy, P. Quinn (0-1) for White, J. Patterson for McCrink (black card).

Castlewellan: M. Cunningham, B. Travers, R. McArdle, C. Corrigan, C. Brogan, K. Duffin, D. Morgan (0-1), F. McGreevy (0-1), C. Flanagan, Conal Crilly (0-3), Cahal Crilly, L. McKibben (0-1), D. McKibben, M. Stratton, D. Gilmore (0-1). Subs: S. Connolly for C. Brogan, A. Brogan for D. McKibben.   

Ballyholland 0-10

Castlewellan 0-7

DOWN SFC GROUP 5