Sun, 23rd April 2006

Result: 1-19 to 0-07

A point kicking tour de force from Castleknock ensured they ran out eventual winners against Portobello in the league last Sunday in Porterstown. Hard ground and blazing sunshine signaled the return of summer football and this Castleknock side revel in such conditions being a top of the ground side whatever the hell that means. However they did not have it all their own way and for the first 15 minutes Portobello began like a train and squared up to Castleknock toe to toe and posted some fine early scores to rattle the home side. However this Castleknock side is battle hardened and with Ger O’Brien and John Mac bursting forward from the half back line, overlaps were created and early points were scored by Gerry Kelly and Paddy Molloy.

An ankle injury to Davy Leydon put paid to any scoring exploits from An Laoch and he was replaced by Sam who got off to a perfect start when following up a shot off the post and burying it in the back of the net. Castleknock began to get a grip on the game and with Paddy Molloy operating in his roving role to great effect Castleknock began to squeeze out the game. Paddy O’Brien and Cathal Gallagher got in on the act with two fine scores following some great catches around the middle from Eoghan O’Callaghan and Stephen Lynch who were beginning to get the measure of their direct and slightly scary looking opponents.

Half Time: Castleknock 1-9 Portobello 0-5

In the second half Castleknock picked up where they left off and kicked some sublime points. Paddy Molloy led the way with Gerry Kelly and Paddy O’Brien ably assisting. The work rate never dropped and with the full back line of Steven, Denis and Alan snuffing out chances and making vital blocks Portobello became frustrated. A couple of runs up the line from wing back Damien Griffin meant Castleknock were attacking on all fronts and James came in as sub and kicked two beauties to close out the game for the home side. The only low point from the game was that we didn’t get to see any impossible looking points kicked from the boot of Niall Tutty, the angles master, but his time will come again.

So a decent win for the local side who hope to take the form with them into the cauldron that is the Bogeys against Finbarr’s on Wednesday night and put another two points on the league table.

PS Thanks to Harter from Peregrines who reffed the match and resisted the urge to shout ‘MALAHIDE!’ every time a ball went wide. Cheers Paul.

Castleknock: Eoin O’Baoill, Stephen McCabe, Denis Lally, Alan Raftery, Damien Griffin, John McMenamin, Ger O’Brien, Stephen Lynch, Eoghan O’Callaghan, Paddy O’Brien (0-4), Fergus Reilly (0-1), Cathal Gallagher (0-3), Paddy Molloy (0-6), Gerry Kelly (0-3), Davy Leydon,
Subs: James Limerick (0-2), Colm Byrne, Ambrose Galligan (1-0)