Castlegar advance in high stakes derby

Thomas stars in win over relegation-threatened Oranmore-Maree

Castlegar 2-21

Oranmore-Maree 3-15

THIS game had more riding on it than most others in the Senior Hurling Championship last weekend and it was Castlegar who booked their place in a preliminary quarter-final at Oranmore-Maree’s expense on the back of a strong second half display.

Cashel were without their chief scorer and spiritual leader Ger Farragher because of a hamstring niggle, but Galway wing-forward Darragh Neary stepped into the breach and converted six of eight dead ball chances.

The sides were winless coming to Kenny Park, with Cashel having drawn with Sarsfields in round one. Level at the break, a goal four minutes into the new half from Oisín Connolly set the tone for Cashel to secure third place in the group and confine Oranmore-Maree to a relegation semi-final.

Neary’s smart finish in minute 51 provided his side with a 2-16 to 1-13 advantage and they looked to be moving to victory when leading by nine going into injury time.

Two goals in the space of a minute from Oranmore-Maree’s Diarmuid Hanniffy put the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons, only for a point from Greg Thomas to seal a Cashel win.

The loss of Rory Burke is a substantial one for Oranmore-Maree. They came out firing on Sunday on the back of defeats to St. Thomas’ and Sarsfields, and Ryan O’Donnell had the ball in the back of the Castlegar net less than a minute into the match after Niall Burke had dropped a shot short.

Three points from Niall Burke and the first of five from midfielder Colm Burke meant Oranmore-Maree led 1-4 to 0-2 at the conclusion of the opening quarter.

Castlegar built their way into the tie and were level at 0-9 to 1-6 coming up to half-time after Neary (free), Cian Corcoran, Connolly, Dylan Carroll, Jack Coyne (two) and Seán Moran pointed. The teams exchanged scores before the break via Colm Burke and a Niall Burke 65, with Neary responding on the double for Tomás Mannion’s men.

Cashel had their goalkeeper Liam O’Reilly to thank for their half-time stalemate. O’Reilly saved brilliantly from O’Donnell in minute 30. O’Donnell was fouled in the act of shooting and O’Reilly again produced an excellent stop to deny Niall Burke from the resulting penalty.

Connolly’s early second half goal gave his team a four-point lead which they gradually added to, finishing the half with 2-10. Cashel hit 14 wides to Oranmore-Maree’s 11 in the game, but playing into the scoreboard end, Oranmore-Maree were guilty of going too long with their deliveries inside during the second period.

Greg Thomas came out on top in his personal duel with Gearóid McInerney to shoot four points in the half, and despite the best efforts of Colm Burke, Patrick Burke, Diarmuid Hanniffy and others, it was Castlegar who emerged with the vital three-point victory.

CASTLEGAR: L. O’Reilly; D. Barry, M. Connolly (captain), C. Ryan; G. King, S. Neary, C. Corcoran (0-1); S. Moran (0-1), C. Callaghan (0-1); O. Connolly (1-1), D. Neary (1-8, 0-6 frees), D. Carroll (0-2); J. Coyne (0-3), G. Thomas (0-4), S. Thomas. Subs: M. Gill, for S. Thomas, half-time; M. Casey, for Carroll, 52 mins; O. O’Connell, for O’Reilly (temporary), 58-59 mins; D. McNulty, for Moran, 60+1 mins.

ORANMORE-MAREE: J. Grealish; G. Carr, P. Burke, T. Blake; R. Malone (captain), G. McInerney, B. Keating (0-1); C. Butler (0-1), C. Burke (0-5); D. Hanniffy (2-0), N. Burke (0-6, 0-3 frees, 0-1 65), A. Keady; R. Davitt, R. O’Donnell (1-0), A. Doyle (0-2). Subs: R. Hanniffy, for A. Keady, 38 mins; J. Keady, for Davitt, 57 mins; S. Ruane, for Butler, 60+2 mins.

REFEREE: Conor Quinlan.

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH:

Greg Thomas (Castlegar).