Six from play for Breen as Castletown book Leinster Club semi-final spot

Castletown are into the semi-finals of the AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship after they were pushed to the pin of their collar by Meath SHC champions Kilmessan in Trim GAA on Saturday afternoon.

Two first-half goals proved crucial with Tom Og Phelan and Kyron Cuddy scoring a goal each. Phelan finished with 1-2 to his name, while Cuddy scored 1-5. The man of the match is undoubtedly Castletown’s Jack Breen, who scored six points from play at centre-forward. Castletown’s bench also gave them a big lift with Conor Phelan scoring two points after coming on, while Conor Doran scored their insurance point in the 64th minute.

Breen opened the scoring for Castletown after three minutes. A minute later, Tom Og Phelan had a goal chance, but fired his shot wide. The Castletown number 13 made up for it shortly after as he fired the ball past Sean Power, with Dan Whelan catching a puck-out from Gearoid Gaughan before laying it off to Phelan. Kilmessan finally got their first point with seven minutes on the clock. That was after Sean Doyle had missed two easy frees for the Meath side.

Breen raised his second white flag before Doyle got his first point of the contest in reply from a tight angle. Castletown went five points up after 10 minutes as Tom Og Phelan and Martin Phelan both split the posts. Kilmessan scored the next three points courtesy of Will Byrne and two Doyle frees. Tom Og Phelan scored a free to put Castletown ahead with his goal separating the sides.

The game was level come the 19th minute as Sean Doyle hit the ball along the ground and past Gearoid Gaughan after a long ball wasn’t dealt with by the Castletown defence.

Castletown’s response was a good one as Kyron Cuddy pointed a free before the game flipped on its head. Kilmessan’s Jack Cottrell was awarded a free after he was pushed in the back, but he was overzealous in celebrating the free, which saw the referee throw the ball in. No more than 30 seconds later, Jack Breen’s shot dropped short and Kyron Cuddy was first to react to raise Castletown’s second green flag of the afternoon.

The half ended with the sides scoring four more points each. Ryan Mullaney, Jack Breen (two) and Kyron Cuddy (free) scored for the Laois Premier IHC champions, while Lorcan Byrne (two), Kris Gorman and Jack Cottrell raised white flags for the Meath champions. Castletown led 2-10 to 1-9 at half-time.

Kilmessan half-back Kris Gorman cut Castletown’s lead to a goal within two minutes of the half, but Conor Walsh and Conor Phelan scored a point each to stretch their advantage back to five. The next four scores were traded as Cuddy (free) and Breen added a point each to their name. Finn Conroy and Cottrell were the scorers for the home side.

The Meath SHC champions took over for the next two minutes, scoring four points in a row to put just a point between the sides with 14 points to play. Kris Gorman, Lorcan Byrne, Lorcan O’Connor and Will Byrne all split the posts for Kilmessan.

Cuddy settled Castletown with another free, but he was matched by a free from Doyle. Conor Phelan put Castletown two points up with nine minutes to play. However, Kilmessan scored two points in a row, both from the hurl of the Doyle to draw the sides level with five minutes plus injury time to play.

Those five minutes passed by without a score, with three minutes of added time signalled to be played. Breen’s sixth point was probably his best one as he scored to put his side ahead once again before Cuddy pointed a free to leave Kilmessan needing a goal late on. They did manage to raise a white flag from Mark Horan, but with 90 seconds over the allotted time played, Conor Doran’s shot just about dropped over the crossbar to seal a two-point win for Castletown.

Castletown will face Westmeath side St Oliver Plunketts in the semi-finals after they beat Carlow Town Hurling Club in Netwatch Cullen Park.

FINAL SCORE

Castletown 2-19

Kilmessan 1-20

SCORERS- Castletown: Kyron Cuddy 1-5 (0-5 frees), Jack Breen 0-6, Tom Og Phelan 1-2 (0-1 free), Conor Phelan 0-2, Conor Walsh, Martin Phelan, Conor Doran and Ryan Mullaney 0-1 each. Kilmessan: Sean Doyle 1-6 (0-4 frees), Lorcan Byrne, Kris Gorman and Will Byrne 0-3 each, Jack Cottrell 0-2, Mark Horan, Finn Conroy and Lorcan O’Connor 0-1 each.

CASTLETOWN: Gearoid Gaughan; Killian Cuddy, Shane Phelan, Rory Kelly; Ryan Peters, Ryan Mullaney, John Gaughan; Tadhg Cuddy, Conor Walsh; Martin Phelan, Jack Breen, Daniel Whelan; Tom Og Phelan, Aaron Phelan, Kyron Cuddy. Subs: Conor Phelan for A Phelan(36 mins), Joe Phelan for J Gaughan (53 mins), Conor Doran for Whelan (56 mins).

KILMESSAN: Sean Power; Lorcan O’Connor, Shane Brennan, Noah Conroy; Kris Gorman, Kyle Donnelly, Alex Smyth; Cian Maguire, Finn Conroy; Will Byrne, Lorcan Byrne, Darragh Horan; Mark Horan, Sean Doyle, Jack Cottrell. Subs: Conor Gorman for Maguire (HT), Kevin Keena for F Conroy (56 mins), Paddy Lally for Cottrell (59 mins)

Referee: Brian Kearney (Kildare)