Éire Óg hold off Castlehaven fightback as Chris Kelly makes key penalty save
Oisin O'Shea, Éire Óg, closes in on Jack Cahalane, Castlehaven at Ovens. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Éire Óg and Castlehaven ultimately had to be content with a share of the spoils following this competitive McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League clash in Ovens.
Despite the difficult conditions, this made for a compelling spectacle on Sunday morning. Castlehaven trailed by five points at half-time. But they charged back into proceedings in the second half.
However, an Éire Óg goal from Daniel Healy and a fine penalty save at the other end from Chris Kelly proved ultimately decisive for the home side.
Overall, this performance should give new Éire Óg manager Eoin Fehily a number of reasons for encouragement for the year ahead.
The Haven, who won the Premier SFC in 2023 and 2024, will be looking to use the league to generate momentum and launch another strong championship challenge later in the year.
It was the visitors who opened the scoring in this contest, as Jack Cahalane put the finishing touches to a fine collective move.
Éire Óg are strongly anticipated to be one of the leading championship contenders for the Senior A Football championship title in 2026.
The home side were determined to make early progress and they opened their scoring account courtesy of a lovely curling effort from Brian Thompson.
All-Ireland winning Kerry footballer Mark Griffin then landed a fine two-pointer to extend the Éire Óg advantage.
Former Cork footballer Mark Collins then converted a fine free for Castlehaven, before Daniel Healy fisted over a close-range score for Éire Óg, as the home side led 0-4 to 0-2 with 15 minutes played on the clock.
Éire Óg then worked another well-executed move which resulted in Griffin scoring another two-pointer, before Thompson split the posts with another fine effort on 24 minutes.
Dylan Foley almost found the back of the net for Éire Óg on the stroke of half-time, but he was to be denied by a fine save from Castlehaven goalkeeper Darragh Cahalane. After what was an overall very productive collective effort, it was Éire Óg that held the advantage at 0-7 to 0-2.
In the second half, Seanie Cahalane’s side came out like men on a mission, as Cathal Maguire slotted over a lovely two-pointer in response to another Éire Óg point from Healy.
Castlehaven followed that up with further points by Maguire, Kevin O’Donovan and Jack O’Neill.
A Jamie O’Driscoll point then got The Haven on level terms at 0-8 apiece on 43 minutes.
Castlehaven were awarded a penalty on 45 minutes. Mark Collins stepped up, but his driving effort to the corner was saved impressively by Chris Kelly in the Éire Óg goal.
Then moments later at the other end, a long-range point attempt by Daniel Healy ended up in the back of the net.
Heading into the final 10 minutes, Castlehaven ended the game strongly, with Mark Collins scoring in the closing stages of normal time to get the teams back on level terms.
Overall, a draw was a fair result and both sides will look to build momentum in the league as the championship edges ever closer.
Both of these sides are next in league action in two weeks. Éire Óg will travel to take on the county champions St Finbarr’s on March 12. A few days later, Castlehaven will make the trip to face Knocknagree on March 15.
D Healy 1-2, M Griffin 0-4 (2 2pt), B Thompson 0-2.
C Maguire 0-3 (1 2pt), M Collins (0-1 f), D O’Donovan 0-2 each, J Cahalane, J O’Neill, K O’Donovan, J O’Driscoll 0-1 each.
C Kelly; C Murphy, M Corkery, D McCarthy; B Thompson, M Griffin, C McGoldrick; O O’Shea, M Kelleher; D Kelly, M Murphy, J Kelleher; D Foley, D Healy, E O’Shea.
B Hurley for E O’Shea (HT), C Kirwan for M Murphy, D Dineen for Kelleher (40), D Kirwan for Kelly, H Murphy for J Kelleher (both 48).
D Cahalane; S Walsh, J Bohane, D O’Callaghan; S O’Connell, J Walsh, J O’Driscoll; J O’Neill, C Maguire; R Minihane, M Collins, S Browne; J Cahalane, K O’Donovan, D O’Donovan.
M Hurley for Browne (38).
James Regan (Lough Rovers).
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