Castlemitchell breeze to JFC decider after Rheban’s false dawn

Castlemitchell   1-8 Rheban               1-2 Tom Cross Junior Football Championship semi-final replay

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As anyone who would have witnessed the All-Ireland final on Sunday afternoon will attest to, even the best and most talented footballers can find it tough when it comes to playing in conditions that resemble monsoon season. There may have not been any Colm Cooper’s or Bernard Brogan’s on display in Hawkfield on Sunday night but the conditions for football were equally as bad as they were in Croke Park earlier in the afternoon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUPQQpfFMDk The writing was on the wall for Rheban from early in the game that they were never going to win this one. When you managed to score just one point after the third minute of play you’re going to be in serious bother. Having stormed into a 1-1 to 0-0 lead after three minutes things couldn’t have looked better for the blues, but their propensity to give the ball away and their naivety to carry a wet leather into tackles cost them dearly as the game unfolded. [caption id="attachment_43977" align="alignnone" width="600"] Castlemitchell's John O'Connor and Rheban's James Lawlor compete for possession. Photos by Anthony Daly.[/caption] They were silky in their build up play in the opening exchanges, Brandon Shaw’s opening point of the game a perfect example of attacking football at its best as he sent Rheban into the lead. This was quickly followed up by a superb goal from Conor Germaine as he unleashed a bullet into the top corner following a sweeping Rheban move. That was as good as it got for them however, as they played the remainder of the half without ever threatening their opponents goal again. Castlemitchell must be given credit too, they adapted to the conditions much better. They were quick in possession and always managed to find a man in space to find a route to goal. They kicked six point in a row before half-time, started by a fantastic left footed effort from the left wing by Tadhg Fennin, before goalkeeper Michael Lawless pointed a massive long range free. Man of the match Joe Maher then kicked a pair of close range scores and Castlemitchell were motoring. A free apiece from Maher and Lawless gave them a two point cushion at the interval, 0-6 to 1-1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWgnMQrX1dk&feature=youtu.be The second half was almost a mirror image of the first, with Rheban consistently losing possession when trying to move out of defence and Castlemitchell were more than happy to punish them. Emmet Hyland and Maher kicked them further into the lead, before Rheban’s marauding corner-back Kealan McConville finally lifted the siege with a point for the blues. It was soon game over though, as Maher was at the end of a fine team move and he fired the ball to the net from close range to leave the result in little doubt. That score came nine minutes into the second half, and unbelievably, it was the last score of the game. It teetered out with a whimper, Castlemitchell more than happy to run down the clock as the game wore on and Rheban just unable to find any extra gear to mount a comeback. [caption id="attachment_43969" align="alignnone" width="600"] Fionn O'Rourke looks on in anguish as a Castlemitchell goal chance is squandered.[/caption] Scorers for Castlemitchell: J Maher 1-4(2f), M Lawless 0-2f, E Hyland andT Fennin 0-1 each. Scorers for Rheban: C Germaine 1-0, B Shaw and K McConville 0-1 each Castlemitchell M Lawless; B Kavanagh, J O’Connor, M Moore; F O’Rourke, R Fitzgerald, B Maher; E Hyland, J Maher; J Fennelly, T Fennin, T Griffin; Kieran Harris, Karol Harris, M Fennelly. Subs used: T Fitzgerald and JP Horgan Rheban C Byrne; K O’Shaughnessy, E Owens, K McConville; J Morrissey, J Shaw, S Horgan; C Casey, S Lawler; B Shaw, C Germaine, M O’Connor; N Owens, B Foy, J Lawlor. Subs used: D Carthy, A Ryan, D Renehan and D Kelly Referee: B Cawley