Castledermot dig it out against Round Towers

The Auld Shebeen Athy Intermediate Football Championship Quarter Final

Castledermot 0-8

Round Towers 0-7

Castledermot ground out a win over Round Towers to once again secure their spot in the Intermediate Football Championship semi-final stage.

It was a typically Castledermot style performance as they set-up strong and took their point scoring chances when they came en-route to toppling last year's SFC relegation side.

Towers kicked plenty of wides on their way to defeat, but it would be unfair not to give their opponents credit for that fact.

Castledermot have a well-drilled resilience that forces whoever they play to take aim at the posts from less than ideal positions.

It was far from a classic in the first half as the sides traded scores for the opening 20 minutes. Towers were afforded plenty of possession in the opening exchanges but failed to make their presence felt on the scoreboard.

A Bryan Nolan point would pull Castledermot a point clear, 0-3 to 0-2, on the counter-attack after 23 minutes.

Castldermot would put their foot down towards the end of the half. After largely just containing their opponents, they began to open up Towers down the other end.

An excellent Gavin Keating free-kick was followed by a superb David Keating score from play to round off a strong half for the leading side.

The Keating’s on the double meant the second half started with Castledermot three ahead at 0-5 to 0-2.

The gap was maintained until seven minutes from time when it appeared Round Towers realised the perilous situation they were in.

Towers’ main man Jay O’Brien had been kept quiet to that point but he slotted two excellent points to reduce the gap to one as the game reached the hour mark.

Referee Colm Kearney’s decision to play nine additional minutes drew the ire of the Castledermot faithful more and more as each minute passed.

The trailing side would have chances with Jay O’Brien doing his best from long-range frees to create a chance for his side late on.

Towers were unable to take any of their chances deep into injury time as Castldermot held strong to secure a semi-final spot.

Scorers: Castledermot, Gavin Keating 0-2 (2 frees), David Keating 0-2, Emmet O'Keefe 0-2, Conor Nolan 0-1, Bryan Nolan 0-1.

Round Towers, Jay O'Brien 0-3 (1 free), Max Cosgrave 0-1, David Kelly 0-1, Neil Scanlon 0-1 (1 free), Jamie Flynn 0-1.

CASTLEDERMOT: Shane Nolan; Billy O'Gorman, Barry Nolan, Tomas Murphy; Bryan Nolan, Oisin Nolan, David Dooley; Gavin Farrell, David Keating; Conor Nolan, Gavin Keating, Padraic Murphy; Anthony Lawler, Willie Kelly, Fionn O'Gorman. Subs: Emmet O'Keefe for Anthony Lawler Half-time), Niall Dooley for Tomas Murphy (36 minutes), Paddy Whelan for Padraic Murphy (47 minutes), Tadgh Phelan for Fionn O'Gorman (50 minutes).

ROUND TOWERS: Colin English; Jack O'Neill, Michael Joyce, Mikey Kelly; Cathal Daffy, Davy O'Neill, Sean Glennon; David Kelly, Mark Waters; Jay O'Brien Jamie Flynn, Neil Scanlon; Niall Fleming, Aaron McConville, Max Cosgrave. Subs: DJ Flynn for Aaron McConville (45 minutes), Danny Kelly for Niall Fleming (50 minutes), Padraig Daly for Sean Glennon (60 minutes), Jason O'Brien for Neil Scanlon (60 minutes).

REFEREE: Colm Kearney