Advertisement
Dublin SFC

Ciaran Kilkenny stars as Castleknock dump Plunkett's out after Dublin club epic

New recruit Seamus O’Carroll was excellent with 1-10 for the victors.

Castleknock 2-18

St Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh 2-15

Kevin O’Brien reports from Parnell Park

CASTLEKNOCK OVERCAME A titanic challenge in the form of Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh after extra-time to seal their passage into the last eight of the Dublin SFC.

Ross McConnell and Ciaran Kilkenny Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

Castleknock, who are in just their third year at senior ranks, proved their run to the 2016 final was no flash in the pan. New recruit Seamus O’Carroll, who plays county football with Limerick, has added a serious edge to their forward line.

He scored 1-10, while Ciaran Kilkenny was simply sublime for the well-drilled outfit.

This win over a Plunkett’s side featuring names like Bernard Brogan, Alan Brogan, Paul Galvin and Gareth Smith confirms that Castleknock are one of the elite sides in the county.

The youthful Castleknock played a hard running hand-passing game with two-time All-Star Kilkenny in electric form. He scored 1-2 but his contribution ran far deeper than that and everything good Castleknock produced went through him.

Three late frees from O’Carroll, who was excellent, delivered the win in style.

Seamus O'Carroll and Sean Hawkins Seamus O'Carroll neatly tucks away his second-half penalty Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

Three former Footballers of the Year started in the Plunkett’s attack – the Brogan brothers and Paul Galvin – but it was former Cavan forward Gareth ‘Nesty’ Smith who carried the brunt of their scoring threat.

Castleknock operated with Matt Griffin as a sweeper and he spent much of his time covering the space in front of Bernard Brogan. They dropped deep and left oceans of space for them to attack at the far end of the field, which is perfectly suited to Kilkenny’s direct runs from deep.

Plunkett’s didn’t have the legs to live with the winners, who scored the last four points of normal-time and the last four of extra-time to secure their progression.

Castleknock trailed by 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time, but had Colin Lynch or O’Carroll scored either of their goal chances in the opening period they would have been closer.

Smith clipped over four scores for Plunkett’s in a cagey first-half, but the game really took life after the interval.

Niall Walsh and Kilkenny traded goals in the 37th and 39th minute, before the latter won a penalty that O’Carroll converted.

Bernard Brogan and Shane Boland Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

With all the momentum in their favour, Castleknock handed Plunkett’s a way back into the game. A miss-hit short kickout fell to Paul Brogan who slipped in Alan Brogan to slot home from close range, leaving it at 2-11 to 2-7 after 52 minutes.

Castleknock forced extra-time with four frees from O’Carroll as their running game continued to draw fouls from the opposition.

O’Carroll and Kilkenny sent Castleknock 2-14 to 2-12 in front in the first period of extra-time before a brace from Smith and one from James Brogan put Plunkett’s one in front on 73 minutes.

But Castleknock had the legs on their opponents and they finished the game with four unanswered scores, including three O’Carroll frees, to seal the win.

Paul Galvin and Ross Mullins Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

Scorers for Castleknock: Seamus O’Carroll 1-10 (1-0 pen, 0-8f), Ciaran Kilkenny 1-2, Tom Shields 0-2, Matt Griffin, Colin Lynch, Graham Hannigan and Eoin O’Brien 0-1 each.

Scorers for Plunkett’s: Gareth Smith 0-7 (0-4f), Niall Walsh 1-2, Alan Brogan 1-2, Bernard Brogan 0-2  (0-1f), James Brogan 0-1.

Castleknock

1. Morven Connolly

18. Sean O’Connor
3. Tom Quinn
4. Colm Neville

7. Matt Griffin

2. Graham Hannigan
5. Ross Mullins
6. Tom Shields

8. Shane Boland
15. Ciaran Kilkenny

10. Rob Shaw
11. Ben Galvin
13. Colin Lynch

14. Seamus O’Carroll
9. James Slattery

Subs:

17. Paul Burke for Neville (20)
19. Peter Sherry for Lynch (57)
22. Kevin Kindlon for Galvin (71)
12. Dessie Carlos for Mullins (71)

St Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh

1. Sean Hawkins

2. Rory O’Connor
3. Shane Lyons
4. Eamonn Clarke

5. James Brogan
19. Declan Lally
7. David Kelly

8. Ross McConnell
9. Craig Dunleavy

12. Daragh Brogan
10. Paul Galvin
21. Niall Walsh

13. Gareth Smith
17. Alan Brogan
14. Bernard Brogan

Subs:

18. Sean O’Connor for Darragh Brogan (42)
20. Paul Brogan for Kelly (43)
11. Conor Walsh for Dunleavy (55)
24. James O’Donoghue for O’Connor (57)
7. Kelly for Walsh (60)
9. Dunleavy for Paul Brogan (60)
26. Conor Gunn for Galvin (67)
21. Walsh for Smith (72)
20. Paul Brogan for James Brogan (74)

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!

Adrian Mullen’s 1-8 inspires Kilkenny to Leinster final following 30-point demolition of Laois

Waterford ladies footballers stun Kerry to blow open Munster championship

Your Voice
Readers Comments
12
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.