Three goals enough to sink Castlehaven as Newcestown win comfortably in Division 1 FL
Newcestown's Tadhg Twomey shoots from Castlehaven's Sean Walsh during the McCarthy Insurance Group SFL Division 1 game at Newcestown. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
The winning margin was just four at the end – but Newcestown’s win never really looked in doubt. They were far better in every metric against the reigning Cork PSFC champions, who were down a host of key players for this McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League clash.
Newcestown looked like a side who came to win, particularly in the first half against the wind. Castlehaven looked like they turned up for a two-point shooting rehearsal, not a west Cork showdown.
Newcestown were faster and stronger. They had three goals inside 22 minutes. That could easily have been four or five.
Castlehaven were kept scoreless until the 18th minute, when Fiachra Collins did fire over, it was 1-4 to 0-1 for the hosts. Newcestown responded with their second goal.
Colm Dinneen pressed the Haven into overcarrying, and not for the first time. The free was taken quickly, Niall Kelly passed it to Ed Kenneally and he slotted it home with ease.
The visitors answered with their only made two-pointer from four first half attempts as Jack O’Neill split the posts, but the Newcestown response was a third green flag. Niall Kelly with a brilliant finish across goal to take their lead to 10, 3-4 to 0-3.
By the end of the half the three goals were the difference. The only positives from a Haven perspective were Andrew Whelton and Sean Browne.
Their shooting was poor and the application simply wasn’t there.
The Haven resumed play with a quick point from Jamie O’Driscoll. Their only goal arrived through Jack O’Neill – a beautiful effort from distance that flew into the top corner. Seán O’Donovan’s phenomenal two point kick in between left Newcestown seven clear at the 38 minute mark. It could have spelled trouble for the hosts.
But the Haven couldn’t raise a flag again until the 50th minute, a free from Michael Hurley. By then they had lost O’Neill to a black card and the experienced Tadhg Twomey had added another point for Newcestown.
The result was only ever going to go one way – even as the visitors improved at the end.
The Haven could not dent Newcestown’s two goal lead until it was too late. No matter what they tried, the hosts would fire back with a punch.
A trio of white flags in the final four minutes of play finally brought the margin from seven to four. But the result had been long decided.
Newcestown were outstanding in the opening quarter. Slick play allowed Paul Kelly to tee up Niall Kelly for the opening point.
Richard O’Sullivan narrowly missed a goal chance a minute later. Sixty more seconds hadn’t elapsed when they went for goal again, but Darragh Cahalane saved from Niall Kelly.
Newcestown did get their first major in the sixth minute. It had been coming. O’Sullivan teeing up Twomey for a brilliant one-on-one finish.
Hurley went up the other end for the Haven and did well to win a penalty – but Christopher White guessed correctly and made a commanding stop.
Points from Olan Walsh and Kelly followed for Newcestown. That left it 1-3 to no score after the opening 15. It was always going to be a monumental ask for the visitors.
N Kelly 1-3 (0-1 f), T Twomey, E Kenneally 1-1 each, R O’Sullivan 0-2 (1 f), S O’Donovan 0-2 (1 tp) J Meade, O Walsh 0-1 each.
J O’Neill 1-3 (0-1 f, 1 tp), A Whelton 0-4 (1 tp), M Hurley (2 fs), J O’Driscoll 0-2 each, R Minihane, F Collins 0-1 each.
C White; P Kelly, J Kelleher, N Murray; C O’Donovan (c), M McSweeney, C Dinneen; S O’Donovan, E Collins; O Walsh, T Twomey, J Meade; N Kelly, R O’Sullivan, E Kenneally.
J Kenneally for Twomey (48), F Keane for Dineen, C O’Sullivan for O Walsh (both 52), J Burrows for Kelly (57).
D Cahalane; T Collins, T O’Mahony, J O’Regan; J O’Neill, J Walsh, J O’Driscoll; A Whelton, D Whelton; S O’Connell, S Browne, F Collins; K O’Donovan, R Minihane, M Hurley (c).
S Walsh for J Walsh (13 inj), O Daly for O’Connell, M Crowley for Collins (both 23), C French for O’Mahony, S Bohane for O’Donovan (both 51).
Liam O’Shea (Carbery Rangers)
App?
