Rockchapel knock out Castletownbere in PIFC

Rockchapel 0-10 Castletownbere 0-10 

Rockchapel qualified for the McCarthy Insurance Premier IFC knockout stages at the expense of Castletownbere following a thrilling draw in Cill na Martra on Saturday evening.

A game that took a long time to come to the boil saw the Duhallow club hold off a second-half comeback to reach the knockout stages.

Castletownbere took to the field for the first time since the passing of club stalwart Dave Fenton (RIP). A win for either would cement progression to the PIFC knockout phase but Rockchapel could afford a draw.

Wet and slippery conditions greeted the teams and it was 11 minutes before the game’s first score arrived. Jack Curtin split the posts to edge Rockchapel ahead of a Castletownbere team that kicked five consecutive wides.

Kevin Collins doubled his side’s advantage just before the quarter hour. Ciarán Curtin and Nicholas Lenihan made it a four-point lead prior to Jack Curtin (free) heaping further misery on their opponents.

James Harrington ended the Beara club’s 23-minute wait for a point before Rockchapel goalkeeper Conor Casey bravely prevented a goal.

Both teams continued to struggle but a Lee Kelly mark was a welcome Castletownbere score.

Ciarán Curtin brilliantly restored the Duhallow club’s four-point lead just before the interval. Nicholas Lenihan’s excellent score began the second period but Gary Murphy responded within a minute.

Rockchapel continued to press as Lenihan and Ciaran Curtin efforts increased their lead, 0-9 to 0-3. Fintan Fenner’s free was a desperately needed Castletownbere point prior to goal chances being squandered at either end.

Yet, for all Castletownbere’s erratic approach work, consecutive Gary Murphy and Fenner frees left a goal in it with 10 minutes remaining.

Amid fading light, Fenner landed his third free to set up a grandstand finale. Jack Curtin responded before another converted Murphy free gave the Beara side hope.

Fenner made it a one-point game and then, amid much excitement, levelled matters deep into injury-time from another free.

Rockchapel held on and a draw was enough to secure a place in the PIFC quarter-finals.

Scorers for Rockchapel: C Curtin, N Lenihan, J Curtin (0-1 f) 0-3 each, K Collins, 0-1.

Castletownbere: F Fenner 0-5 f, G Murphy (0-2 f) 0-3, J Harrington 0-1, L Kelly (m) each.

ROCKCHAPEL: C Casey; D Carroll, E O’Callaghan, B Carroll; P Curtin, M O’Keefe, K Collins; S Hickey, C Kepple; E Murphy, J Curtin (jc), J Walsh; N Lenihan, C Curtin, C Curtin.

Subs: L Collins for C Casey (h-t), E Collins for C Curtin (47).

CASTLETOWNBERE: D Hegarty (c); J O’Neill, D Dunne, J Rosales Harrington; O Murphy, T Collins, S McCarthy; A O’Sullivan, O Byrne; F Fenner, T Murphy, J Hanley; G Murphy, J Harrington, L Kelly.

Subs: E Collins for J Curtin (bs 5-10), B Murphy for J Hanley (35), M Orpen for O Murphy (39).

Referee: Michael Collins (Clonakilty).