Junior A Football vs St Brigids
Sun, 2nd February 2003
Result: 1-07 to 2-08 – Friendly

Castleknock 1-7 St Brigids 2-8

Castleknock played their second game of the year on Saturday afternoon against the auld enemy, St Brigids. Although the match was in doubt during the week, the game itself was played in cold but quite benign conditions.

Castleknock lost some key players due to the game being switched from Sunday to the Saturday afternoon. By all accounts TG 4 were worried that a second big match on the Sunday would reduce their viewing figures and so Castleknock duly obliged with a change!!!

A near 20 players appeared again this weekend, a great number for so early in the season. Obviously no place for any “fair weather” players then!! For the second game in a row, all the players were given a run, with Fionán experimenting with some positional changes once more.

Castleknock played the first half with the advantage of a slight wind. After a scrappy opening, the team began to a grab a foothold on the game, with Gerry Kelly catching the eye and the lively Niall Tutty ably supporting. With the work rate of the midfielders, Declan Reilly and Stephen Lynch, Castleknock entered the break with the advantage, 0-5 to 0-3. A 2 point lead was scant reward really, as Brigids’ only real threat of the opening period came from place balls.

St Brigids opened the second half with a high tempo, and before long, Castleknock found themselves behind. A strong defence was needed at this stage, and so the “Castleknock 6” rose to the challenge, with St Brigids again having to rely heavily on their free taking half forward.

But the ‘Knock wrestled back the initiative midway through the second half with a timely goal from Brian “Cool Hand” Kelly. The goal was the catalyst for the team to take control but a few wides in this period were to prove costly and St Brigids soon grabbed a goal themselves. With the game level entering the final few minutes, Brigids grabbed a late 1-1 to seize the victory. A 4 pt loss was harsh on the Castleknock men, but the performance improved from last week (even without some “big” names!!!), emphasising the benefit of even 1 match previously played.

Thought of the Day: Cool Hand Kelly is one for the future

Scorers: Brian Kelly 1-0, Declan Reilly 0-2, Gerry Kelly 0-2, Conal McBrearty 0-1, Stephen Lynch 0-1, Niall Tutty 0-1.

Team: Tony Nulty, Paddy Gaffney, Shane Reilly, Colin McGuckian, Eoin Maloney, Mick Geaney, Ambrose Galligan, Declan Reilly, Stephen Lynch, Gerry Kelly, Barry Monaghan, Conal McBrearty, Niall Tutty, Brian Kelly, Cathal McDaniels.