Hotshot Stevie in control

Hotshot Stevie in control

25 January 2017

CASTLEWELLAN laid their title credentials bare at Bann Road on Saturday and reinforced their challenge with a disciplined display against table-topping Shamrock FC.

It wasn’t pretty to watch as the two big hitters went for broke, but Castlewellan’s greater 

attacking potency saw them lift all three points.

Victory means the Town remain in third place in the league table. They are three points behind second-placed Donaghadee, but have three games in hand on them and seven behind leaders Shamrock FC, but have five games in hand over the Oldpark outfit.

Shamrock were held up on their way to Castlewellan after running into two separate road traffic accidents, but they started confidently with only 10 men and with six minutes gone Terry Cleary headed a Declan Capsie cross over the top when well placed. 

Two minutes later Castlewellan ‘keeper Rory Burns produced a stunning save to turn a stinging daisy cutter from Adrian Stewart round the post for a corner.

However, it was Castlewellan who made the breakthrough after 10 minutes when Karol Jarosinski switched wings and fired over a perfect cross for Colm Flanagan. His initial volley was saved by John Murphy, but he could only manage to parry the ball back into Flanagan’s path and he made no mistake at the second attempt.

Shamrock upped the volume and energy levels and were unlucky not to draw level three minutes later when Kevin Stewart crashed an effort against the woodwork. Castlewellan had no such bother in front of goal and with 20 minutes gone Donagh Steele flashed the ball home after a Flangan long thow caused mayhem in the box.

Five minutes later Flanagan shot straight at the Shamrock ‘keeper after a sweeping move before Stevie Trainor also had a shot on target.

Conor Stratton had a headed effort cleared off the line before Tiernan McKeating netted in the 35th minute to make it 2-1 with a spectacular effort from the edge of the box after he latched onto a long ball from Cleary.

Shamrock started the second half on top and Burns saved well to deny McKeating after Steven Black played him in. Trainor had a header cleared off the line at the other end before the same player made it 3-1 from the penalty spot after a Shamrock defender was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.

A bit of a falling out occurred as tempers became frayed, but the dismissal of a player from each side seemed to take the heat out of things for a while.

Castlewellan were now content to sit and let Shamrock come at them with Trainor excelling in a deeper role after the dismissal of Steele.

He led by example with telling interceptions and tackles, especially when the going got tough and deserved his man of the match accolade as Castlewellan eased past the winning post without any real bother.

Castlewellan: R Burns, B Travers, D McKibben, C Stratton, S McCann, S Russell, D Steele, C Flanagan, E Moag, K Jarosinski, S Trainor. Subs: S Fitzsimons, D Gilmore, J Croskery.

Shamrock FC: J Murphy, A Stewart, D Capsie, E O’Halloran, T Cleary, O McCourt, G McConnell, C Beattie, L Prigent, T McKeating, K Stewart. Subs: R Davidson, S Black, G Gilmore. 

Castlewellan 3

Shamrock FC 1

AMATEUR LEAGUE DIVISION 2C