Castletown knock out 2024 finalists O'Mahonys

Castletown advance in group C of the IFC along with St Michael's.

Castletown 2-0-11

Navan O’Mahonys 0-1-9

Castletown weathered a mid-second-half storm from Navan O’Mahonys and closed out proceedings well to seal their spot in the quarter-final of the IFC at Simonstown on Saturday. The result means that last years finalists, Navan O’Mahonys have been eliminated from the competition. Goals from Declan Cribbin and Killian Price proved crucial to Castletown’s victory.

After 40 minutes of action, the sides were deadlocked and Castletown still hadn't scored since the restart. When the men in green and yellow did eventually get their second-half tally off the mark, they hit 1-4 in a row to go seven points clear of the opposition.

Navan O’Mahonys had a brief bright spell between the 49th and 51st minute where they hit 0-4 on the spin, including a wonderful two-point free from the boot of Robbie Keelaghan. However, the Brews Hill side failed to register another score and two late points from Rian McConnell and Cribbin sealed the important win for Justin Carry Lynch’s side.

There wasn't much to split the two sides in the opening exchanges. McConnell was very prominent in the first 20 minutes. He got Castletown’s tally underway and he also set up Eoin Reid for their third point. A few minutes later McConnell was dragged by his jersey to the ground. Somehow, he was not awarded a foul but he just got back to his feet quickly and kicked a wonderful score.

Navan O’Mahonys kept in touch with a brace of scores from both Aodhan Mallon and Keelaghan. After 20 minutes, the sides remained level at 0-4 apiece. A poor Navan O’Mahony’s kickout proved costly as Killian Smyth took advantage and set up Cribbin who burst through and found the back of the net.

Keelaghan hit his third to reduce the gap back to two before the interval. At half-time Castletown led 1-4 to 0-5.

There was a few missed opportunities early on in the second-half on either end and eventually after seven minutes of poor shooting, Oisin O’Brien split the posts for the hoops and moments later, David Dillon brought his side level.

Castletown responded well though and points from Darragh Weldon and Darren Finney reinstated their half-time advantage before Killian Price scored a super individual goal to put the eventual winners five points clear. Weldon and William Bellew tagged on two more points to press home Castletown's lead.

The Brews Hill side had to produce something quickly and it was Keelaghan who stepped up to the mark, as he kicked a free and a two-point free before O’Brien brought the deficit back to three points.

Navan O’Mahonys were not able to make any more inroads into the lead and points from Seamus Doherty and McConnell sealed the victory for Castetown. Rory Maguire and Damien Moran’s side had a few late goal chances but the Castletown defence dealt well with the danger.

Castletown - Jonathan Ginnitty; Sean McKeown, Evan Hoey , Killian Markey; Eoin Reid (0-1), Killian Price (1-0), Daragh Kelly (0-1); Rian McConnell (0-3 one free), Adam Matthews; Dan Moran, Killian Smyth, William Bellew (0-1); Dan Moran, Darren Finney (0-1), Darragh Weldon (0-2, two frees), Declan Cribbin (1-1). Subs - Seamus Doherty (0-1) for Kelly 10m, Mark Kelly for Matthews 56m, Adam Matthews for Moran 57m, Shane Hoey for Reid 62m.

Navan O’Mahonys - Jamie O’Reilly; Darragh Murphy, Paddy Dillon, Sean Betson; Louis Collins, Mike O’Reilly, Darragh Maguire; Aodhan Mallon (0-2 one free), Conor Finnegan; Evan Coffey, Oisin O’Brien (0-2) Chane Maguire; Ivo Fitzherbert, David Dillon (0-1), Robbie Keelaghan (0-6 three frees, one two-point free). Subs - Eoghan Nugent for Finnegan half-time, Conor Brady for Fitzherbert, Craig Munnelly O’Toole for Coffey both 49m, Cormac Nugent for Maguire 60m.