Castledermot back into IFC decider after win over Two Mile House

Castldermot 3-12

Two Mile House 1-11

Castledermot are through to their second final in a row after they saw off a determined Two Mile House by seven points and their prize is a final meeting with Allenwood in the Auld Shebeen Athy Intermediate football championship.

Two Mile House never hit the heights of some of their earlier round performances and despite a bright start they played catch up for most of the game.

The win sets up a chance for Castledermot to atone last years final defeat to Ballyteague and they have the advantage of the short trip to Netwatch Cullen Park in two weeks time.

On a beautiful autumnal afternoon for football it was Two Mile House who were up and running early, Aidan Casey and Caomhan Doolan putting them two up inside as many minutes.

The House should have gone five ahead when Conor Keogh, who was proving a handful from wing back, put Brian Collins in on goals but he shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

It seemed to spark Castledermot into life and the full forward duo of Paddy Whelan and Emmet O Keeffe combined for the latter to shoot over when again a goal looked on.

Three frees were shared over the next 7 minutes Aidan Casey and Didier Cordonnier for Two Mile House with Gavin Keating responding from 40 metres for the men from the south.

Emmet O'Keeffe added his second on 16 to close the gap but Aidan Casey's third kept the gap at two.

The House could only ad a single point before the break,Peter Kelly setting up Conor Keogh for his first of the day.

Castledermot hit four scores of their own over that closing ten minutes and it was enough to push them into a 2-5 to 0-6 interval lead.

Conor Nolan pounced on a loose ball before firing over from the 20 metre line.

Directly from the restart the impressive Oisin Nolan released David Keating and he shot low past Cordonnier Castledermot lead for the first time. They had grown into the game and on twenty seven they added their second goal.

Paddy Whelan and Conor Nolan worked the ball out of a tight corner and Emmet O'Keeffe buried the final pass.A late Gavin Keating free opened that five point gap.

Gavin Keating, rather fortunately and Nathan Sherry swapped early second half points.Keatings effort looked to be wide of the post.Castledermot dominated for the next five minutes as they somehow added four scores to move ten ahead.

David Keating curled over a beauty before Emmet O'Keeffe added his second goal and Castledermot's third.

A long David Keating ball found Conor Nolan and rather than take the mark he played in O'Keeffe for that third green flag. Conor Nolan and Gavin Keating endured that Castledermot had one foot in the final.

Aidan Casey and Chris Healy reduced the gap but a much needed goal never materialised Castledermot kept up the tempo over the last eight minutes and they added three late points through Willie Kelly, Emmet O'Keeffe and Gavin Keating. Their fitness levels were really strong as they never let up. Three minutes into injury time Matthew Kelly's run resulted in a late Two Mile House penalty. Chris Healy had to take it twice but he made no mistake.

Ray Kelly brought proceedings to an end straight from the kick-out.

Castledermot were back into the final for a second year in a row. They showed their true qualities in what was probably their best performance of the campaign. They have set up that mouth watering final with Allenwood and based on the two semi finals we are in for a cracker.

Netwatch Cullen Park is the place to be come October 22.

 CASTLEDERMOT: Shane Nolan; Billy O Gorman, Barry Nolan, Tomas Murphy; Bryan Nolan, Oisin Nolan, David Dooley; Gavin Farrell, David Keating 1-1; Willie Kelly 0-1, Gavin Keating 0-5 (4 frees), Padraic Murphy; Paddy Whelan, Conor Nolan 0-2, Emmet O Keeffe 2-3. Subs: Fionn O'Gorman for Paddy Whelan (35 minutes); Niall Dooley for Padraic Murphy (41 minutes); Anthony Lawler for Willie Kelly (56 minutes); James O'Relly for David Keating (60 minutes).

TWO MILE HOUSE: Didier Cordonnier 0-1 (1 free); Declan Kirwan, Nathan Sherry 0-1, Aidan Casey 0-5 (2 frees); Conor Keogh 0-1, Chris Healy 1-1 (1 penalty), James McGuinness; Andrew Cregg, Matthew Kelly; Tom Hennebry, Peter Kelly, Caomhan Doolan 0-1; Glen Burke, Andrew May, Brian Collins. Subs: Gavin Burke for Conor Keogh (half-time); Jack Collins 0-1 for Glen Burke (half-time); Willie Burke for Andrew Cregg (40 minutes); Shane D'Arcy for Declan Kirwan (41 minutes); Adam Conneely for Brian Collins (43 minutes).

REFEREE: Ray Kelly.

MAIN MAN

Emmet o'keeffe

Plenty of candidates on the Castledermot side.Oisin Nolan David Dooley,Gavin Farrell and Paddy Whelan all contributed hamsomely but Emmet O Keeffe's 2-3 earns him the honour

TURNING POINT

Brian Collins's missed chance to put Two Mile House five ahead seemed to spark Castledermot I to life.They never looked back.

SCORE OF THE GAME

When Oisin Nolan broke into the Two Mile House defence after 27 minutes he found Paddy Whelan.Whelan and Conor Nolan showed great awareness and skill to set up Emmet O Keeffe for the games second goal.

REF WATCH

Ray Kelly had a good game as he was on top of most decisions.The House will probably complain with Gavin Keating's early second half point but Kelly trusted in his officials.

WHAT NOW?

A final meeting with Allenwood on October 22 Castledermot's prize for this semi final victory. For The House season is over.