Jack O'Neill strikes late to snatch a draw for Castlehaven against Newcestown
Jamie O’Driscoll of Castlehaven breaks away from Luke Meade of Newcestown at Union Hall. Picture by Noel Sweeney
Jack O’Neill’s injury-time goal earned Castlehaven a draw from the jaws of a defeat to Newcestown in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League in Union Hall.
It was after 9pm and darkness had already descended when Castlehaven launched one final attempt to maintain their undefeated league record. A lofted free towards the square saw Jack O’Neill find the net. The final whistle shrilled immediately after.
Newcestown, who had 11 different scorers, were crestfallen. The visitors were the better, more cohesive team amid terrible weather conditions. Yet, an inability to kill off their opponents proved fatal.
The concession of two goals in the closing four minutes earned a battling Castlehaven a share of the spoils.
Overcast conditions and persistent rain made life difficult from the first whistle.
Having previously been postponed, this rearranged Division 1 fixture began with the teams exchanging two points apiece. Joe Kenneally and Colm Dineen scored for the visitors, Mark Collins and Micheál Maguire for their opponents.
Gaining a foothold in the middle third, Newcestown embarked on a scoring spree. Four unanswered points via Eoghan Collins, Jack Meade (two) and Richard O’Sullivan (free) made it 0-6 to 0-2 on the quarter hour.
Cathal Maguire kicked Castlehaven’s first score in close to ten minutes only for Collins and Tadc Twomey to reply.
A fine Kevin O’Donovan score preceded the first half’s turning point. Mark Collins collected a Sean Bohane delivery and fired into the net to make it 0-8 to 1-4 after 21 minutes.
The remainder of the first period saw Colm Dineen wallop over Newcestown’s ninth point. It was the Haven who changed ends ahead however, courtesy of two Jamie O’Driscoll efforts and a Mark Collins free.
Colm O’Donovan, Luke Meade and Joe Kenneally scores preceded a Sean O’Donovan two-pointer as a rampant Newcestown pulled four clear early in the second half.
Micheál Maguire (two) and a Mark Collins free sandwiched a Colm Dineen two-pointer and black card for Newcestown’s Niall Murray after 43 minutes.
Down 0-16 to 1-10 but with an extra player for ten minutes, Castlehaven conceded a point, fisted over by Micheál McSweeney.
Then, Micheál Maguire’s speculative atttempt was spilled into the net before two late Eddie Kenneally efforts looked to have won it for Newcestown.
Not so, as the Haven’s Jack O’Neill injury-time green flag ensured a thriller finished level.
M Maguire 1-4, M Collins (0-2 f) 1-3, J O’Neill 1-0, C Maguire, K O’Donovan, J O’Driscoll 0-1 each.
C Dineen 0-4 (1 2pt), J Kenneally, E Collins, S O’Donovan (1 2pt), J Meade, E Kenneally (0-1 f) 0-2 each, R O’Sullivan (0-1 f), T Twomey, C O’Donovan, L Meade, M McSweeney 0-1 each.
D Cahalane; D O’Callaghan, J Bohane, G O’Driscoll; J O’Driscoll, J O’Neill, M Collins (c); R Minihane, A Whelton; S Bohane, C Maguire, J Walsh; K O’Donovan, M Maguire, C Nolan.
D O’Donovan for M Collins (54).
C White; J Kelleher, C O’Donovan, N Murray; R O’Sullivan, M McSweeney, C Dineen; E Collins, S O’Donovan; J Kenneally, T Twomey, L Meade (c); J Meade, C Keane, H Canty.
E Kenneally for C Keane (26, inj), J Burrows for R O’Sullivan (41), C O’Donovan for J Meade (41), P Collins to J Kenneally (56).
Alan Long (Argideen Rangers).
App?
