Castleknock 1-12 St. Judes 0-14

Castleknock held St. Jude’s scoreless for the last 28 minutes of their final group game to win by a late Joe Murray point in this Junior ‘B’ Hurling Championship in Somerton this morning (Aug.9).

The result sees Castleknock top the group and qualify for the Quarter-Finals as a result of wins over Kilmacud Crokes, St. Finian’s, Swords and now St. Jude’s but today’s win wasn’t all plain sailing.

After an encouraging opening 5 minutes when Luke McCann and Aaron Cunningham landed fine points St. Jude’s forced their way into the game. The visitors rattled off three straight points and while Ronan McCann after some really hard work levelled matters, Jude’s retook the lead almost immediately.

Fifteen minutes into the first-half it did seem as if Castleknock had made a significant breakthrough when Tomás O’Ceallaigh pulled on a loose ball and drove it low to the St. Jude’s net. However between then and half-time it was the visitors who again took control scoring three from frees and three from play, with points from Andy Lonergan and Luke McCann representing Castleknock’s late response to leave it 1-5 0-10 at the interval.

Castleknock hit the ground running on the restart. Within three minutes another Andy Lonergan pointed free and one from play from Tomás O’Ceallaigh levelled it up before St. Jude’s hit back with four points in-a-row to push them into a healthy lead 1-7 0-14 after nine minutes of the second-half.

From then until the end Castleknock had the slight edge, the difference between the sides being that while St. Jude’s were hitting a whole series of costly wides Castleknock landed some vital scores.

Andy Lonergan pointed three frees and one from play after good work by Luke McCann to tie the score up at 1-11 0-14 with 6 minutes left.

The game was then finely balanced and could have gone either way until substitute Joe Murray hit a high and mighty winning score with two minutes of normal playing time left.

In the almost eight minutes of time-added-on the entire Castleknock defence stood firm, without fouling, under enormous pressure and Castleknock can be thankful to the full and half back lines for holding on in those final nervy minutes for the victory that wins this Group.

On now to the Quarter Finals, the Open Draw for which is being held this Tuesday (Aug.11).  

Castleknock: Brian Lawlor; Sean Andrews; Cian Kelly; David McInerney; Ciaran Fay; Ed Forrest; Brian Carter; Jack Purcell; Ben O’Neill; Andy Lonergan (0-6); Shane Coffey; Luke McCann (0-2); Aaron Cunningham (0-1); Ronan McCann (0-1); Tomás O’Ceallaigh (1-1). Subs: Pater Balfe; Mick McCloskey; Joe Murray (0-1).

Manager: Kevin McCambridge
Match reports: Kevin Mallon