Division 1 FL: Goals key as Castlehaven defeat Douglas to progress to final

Castlehaven coach Gavin Gallagher says his side’s progress to the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 Football League final is a reward for consistency after Sunday morning’s 3-11 to 1-10 win over Douglas in Union Hall.

They will face Knocknagree in the decider.

The victory, achieved against a Douglas team fighting for their lives and who are now relegated, continued a league campaign in which Castlehaven have quietly put together results while bedding in younger players.

Gallagher states that reaching the final was never a stated ambition, but that the group’s steady approach has brought them there naturally.

“For us in Castlehaven, knowing how disjointed the league campaign can be, our priority is safety first really,” he said.

“We take it game by game. We knew with the likes of Jack Cahalane not being in with the hurlers or footballers this year that we had a few extra players of very high quality who could contribute. So we did think a good league campaign was in us.” 

Castlehaven’s form has been built on resilience. Gallagher pointed to the narrow escape against Nemo Rangers as an example of how staying in games has allowed their forwards to finish strongly.

“The big thing for us was consistency. I don’t think we were too worried about results provided we stayed up. But the lads were consistent.

“Our performances were up and down — we were lucky to be in certain games — but that consistency allowed them to stay in the game until the last 10 minutes, and thankfully when the game started to stretch our forwards could do the damage.” 

Sunday’s win over Douglas followed a similar pattern. Douglas, buoyed by recent results, started the brighter and physically imposed themselves early. Gallagher admitted his side were second best for long spells of the opening quarter.

“They were a much better team in the first half, especially the first 15 minutes,” he says.

“Our efficiency was way down and Douglas are a big physical team, so they definitely tested us. 

"I think we got goals at the right moments and that was probably the difference. It wasn’t a perfect performance by any means, but we’re just thankful to get over the line. It’s nice to be in the league final for a change.” 

Asked what had changed this year after a run of mid-table league campaigns, Gallagher pointed to the depth coming through the club rather than any tactical change.

“There has been fantastic work done at underage level,” he said.

“You can see the calibre of players we're producing year on year. The minors in training with us — great young players like Niall O’Callaghan and Eoin Maguire — they’re really bringing an extra level to us. 

"That competitiveness has helped us. We haven’t always had the numbers at this time of year, but the numbers and the competition have helped.

“The players are hungry. We were disappointed after last year. The players are keen to have another rattle off the county.” 

The league final against Knocknagree in two weeks’ time will double as a preview of their meeting in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC group stages, but Gallagher is keeping the focus on the here and now.

“We play Knocknagree in the last championship group game. There won’t be much to hide at that stage. Two good footballing teams — I’m sure we’ll go at it in the league final.

“The priority is consistency. Ballincollig is going to be a big game for us in a month’s time. Getting another competitive game between now and then is massive for us and can only help towards that first round of the championship.”