Castleisland Mart Novice Club Football Championship Semi Final
Asdee 2-8 Knocknagoshel 2-5
Bob Stack Park, Ballybunion was the venue and even though the football in general rarely excited the attendance it was always keenly contested. It took Asdee until the 27th minute before they got a score from play against a very wasteful Knock side who kicked some terrible wides and when they do look back on the game it was most certainly their shooting that left them down. No doubt it was the accuracy of midfielder Darragh Keane that swung the issue in Asdees favour notching 0-7 with one coming from play.
The game was just a minute old when Darragh Keane split the posts from a 45 meter kick followed by Shane O Connell and John Walsh for Knock and two from Darragh Keane leaving the score after 12 minutes Asdee 3pts Knock 2pts. At this stage Knock got control of the game but a stern Asdee defence held firm against waves of attacks.
However a a nice passage of play from Asdee saw Noel Long get on the end of a movement and he blasted to the net in the 25th minute. Directly from the kickout it was Knocks turn and less than a minute later full forward John O Keeffe got in for the first of his two goals. As we approached the half-time whistle Shane O Connell gave Knock the lead 1-4 to Asdee 1-3.
On resumption it was a dogged affair and played in a real championship style. Darragh Keane levelled up matters from a free to have the sides all square for the 4th time. Again Darragh Keane swung over which was followed by a goal from Michael Breen leaving it Asdee 2-5 Knock 1-4 by the 6thminute. It took 14 minutes before we say the next score coming from Cillian O Connor but during that period of time Knock owned the ball but as already mentioned the wides were just totting up both from play and placed balls.
They were also dealt another blow in the 24th minute when Shane O Connell received a black card. John O Keeffe did get a scrambled goal in injury time but it was too little too late at that stage. Asdee weathered the storm and finished the game stronger with Darragh Keane and Noel Long adding points to secure a place in the final against Kilgarvan on a date and venue to be confirmed. John O Keeffe did get a scrambled goal in injury time but it was too little too late at that stage.
Teams. Asdee; James Kelly, Eoin O Carroll, Martin Collins, Conor Keane, Kieran Kelly, Sean Keane, Jack Keane, Darragh Keane, 7pts, (45, 5f, 1play), John Doran, Mike Breen, 1gl, Noel Long, 1gl 1pt, Paul O Carroll, Cyril Dineen, Michael Tydings, Eoin Kennedy. Subs; Brian Coughlan for Cyril Dineen, Eoin Tydings for Brian Coughlan, Brian Coughlan for Noel Long, David O Connor for Michael Tydings.
Knocknagoshel; Mike Casey, Denis Collins, 1pt, Gary Downes, Darragh O Connor, Declan Delaney, John Brosnan, Conor Sheehan, Michael Walsh, Shane O Connell, 2pts, Cillian O Connor, 1pt, David O Donoghue, Dan Roache, David Cahill, John O Keeffe, 2gls, John Walsh, 1pt. Subs; Denis Roache for David Cahill, Mike Brosnan for Shane O Connell, Padraig Reidy for Declan Delaney. Referee, John Ross, Ballyduff.
Fixture: County League Div. 5 A, Asdee v Scartaglin Saturday 26th of May @ 7.00pm
Golden Goal: last week winners were Gerard Stack and Sonny Dowling.