23 Aug 2020

Castleknock 0-15 Commercials 2-12

Castleknock held Commercials scoreless for the last 24 minutes of this Junior ‘B’ Hurling Championship Quarter Final but the earlier concession of 1-6 in the vital, first 12 minutes of the second-half proved just too high a mountain for Castleknock to climb in Somerton this morning (Aug.23).

Playing into the strong wind in the first-half Castleknock found themselves in the comfortable position of being a point up, 0-7 1-3, after 28 minutes, Andy Lonergan scoring 4 points from placed balls while Ronan McCann, Luke McCann and Luke Gubbins after some great play by midfielder Jack Purcell all took good scores from play.

A lapse in concentration just before the break gave Commercials the opportunity to land three fine long range points leaving the visitors ahead at the interval by 1-6 0-7 although Castleknock would have been punished much more severely in that first period but for some wayward Commercials shooting.

Unfortunately for Castleknock while a Shane Coffey point 12 seconds into the second-half suggested a home surge, the next 12 minutes, when the game was effectively won and lost, was almost completely dominated by Commercials and to make matters worse full-back Cian Kelly, who had been playing very well, was forced off due to a knee injury at that time as well.

During those 12 minutes Commercials scored 1-6 to give them a 10-point lead 2-12 0-8 and while Castleknock played extremely well for the rest of the game, the goal that would have made all the difference never looked like coming.

Andy Lonergan began the fightback with a pointed free before a terrific Ronan McCann point from play gave the home supporters some slight hope at 0-10 2-12.

Castleknock continued to chip away at Commercials lead. In a good 5-minute spell Andy Lonergan landed a 65’ and a free and Ronan McCann scored his third of morning to reduce the margin to a manageable 5 points, 0-13 2-12.

Brian Lawlor needed to get down well at his left post to prevent a Commercials goal and while the visitors were guilty of some poor shooting Castleknock kept plugging away. Ronan McCann scored a superb point from out on the left before Sean Andrews hit a massive free from inside his own half to make it a one score game.

But unfortunately in spite of the players best efforts that match saving goal never materialised. It was a sad end to what had been an encouraging campaign but with the likes of Aaron O’Gara and Brian Carter absent, today proved a bridge too far.

Castleknock: Brian Lawlor; Sean Andrews (0-1); Cian Kelly; Declan Tobin; David McInerney; Ed Forrest; Ben O’Neill; Oisín Murphy O’Kane; Jack Purcell; Luke McCann (0-1); Andy Lonergan (0-7); Ronan McCann (0-4); Tomás O’Ceallaigh; Shane Coffey (0-1); Luke Gubbins (0-1). Subs: Aaron Cunningham; Oran Dillon; Joe Murray

Manager: Kevin McCambridge
Report: Kevin Mallon