Intermediate Football Championship
12 May 2013
Castleknock 2-9 Naomh Barróg 0-8

A 9-point deficit at half time proved to be too much for Naomh Barróg to overhaul Castleknock, who were playing in the first ever Intermediate Championship match for the club. Playing with a strong breeze in the first half, the Castleknock men took advantage of this, building up a lead which put them firmly in the driving seat for the rest of the game.

Despite this, Naomh Barróg managed to get the first score, after a good move down the pitch was finished off by the full-forward. Castleknock were quick to respond, with team captain Matty Griffin converting a free. Two more scores were tagged on by Tommy Corcoran and Kevin Kindlon, before a Barróg man got the final touch on a low shot by Dessie Carlos to divert the ball into the net.

A few scores were then exchanged, the highlight of which was an excellent Ciarán Kilkenny point from near the sideline, to leave 6 between the sides. Another goal then came shortly before half time, when Tommy Corcoran reacted quickest to a deflected shot off the post, who then sent the ball low past the helpless Barróg keeper. This made the score at half-time 2-6 to 0-3.

The second half was a much tenser affair for Castleknock, who had to battle against a strong wind, sometimes struggling to string three hand passes together, such was the strength of the breeze. But Naomh Barróg then suffered a huge blow, when their wing forward was sent off, leaving them 8 points, and a man down, with 20 minutes remaining.

The wind then really started to pick up, and it became a struggle for Castleknock to even get out of their own half, and a wide became almost as valuable as a score, just to give the defence some respite. The Castleknock forwards still managed to tag on a couple more points through Shane Boland and Griffin, and despite one goal chance which flashed just over the bar for the Kilbarrack men, the Castleknock full back line held firm, led by Paul ‘Bull’ Mulvihill. The final score finished Castleknock 2-9 0-8 Naomh Barróg.

Castleknock Team: C.O’Hara, T.Quinn, P.Mulvihill, V.Turner, T.Shields, C.Prunty, D.Sweeney, C.Kilkenny, M.Brady, M.Griffin, S.Boland, K.Kindlon, D.Carlos, J.Tunney, T.Corcoran. Subs Used: S.Lynch, M.Galvin, R.Corcoran