Carnaross edged out by Castletown in Tailteann Cup thriller

Despite finishing strong Carnaross had to settle for being marginally second best as they were edged out 1-15 to 2-13 by Castletown in a hugely entertaining Tailteann Cup clash.

Billed as a clash between the two main contenders for JFC honours the game lived up to the hype with the teams trading scores before Castletown struck for a goal and a three-point lead before the first water break.

Castletown pulled further clear when play resumed, but with Frank O'Reilly in fine form Carnaross hit three-in-a-row to narrow the deficit. Paddy McDermott and O'Reilly traded scores with Castletown and with Johnny Ginnitty making a couple of fine saves Colm Coyle's charges led by 1-7 to 0-7 at the break.

The close nature of the contest continued in the third quarter with Niall McDermott and Paddy McDermott helping close the gap to two points.

As Carnaross threw players forward in an effort to claim a salvaging goal, Castletown broke and palmed their second goal to the net and with 10 minutes remaining they led by seven points.

However a sublime Frank O'Reilly goal gave Carnaross hope, but even though Dillon Fox, Paddy McDermott and Frank O'Reilly tagged on further points it was Castletown who held on to claim the spoils in a thriller.

Carnaross - Shane McNiffe; Ian Donoghue, Cormac O’Reilly, Jack Roche; Seán Carpenter, Tomás Plunkett, Pierce Fleming; Cillian Comaskey, Cian McGlynn; Cormac Yore, Paddy McDermott (0-2), Dillon Fox (0-1); Niall McDonnell (0-2), Frank O’Reilly (1-10), Cian O’Reilly. Subs - Peter Carpenter, Dean Connell.