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CASTLETOWN
astletown again recovered from a defeat in their opening group game to reach the knockout stages of the Intermediate Football Championship and after getting the better of Dunderry in a quarter-final they suffered disappointment at the semi-final hurdle for the second successive year when losing to Gaeil Colmcille. It will be recalled that Castletown won Division 2 of the All-County A League in 2011, beating Oldcastle with ease in the final, and there is no doubt that operating in the top flight of the league in the last two years aided their development. Na Fianna beat them by four points in a championship semifinal last year but there was enough in that campaign to suggest that they would again be serious contenders this term. All-Ireland senior medal winner Donal Curtis certainly had a busy schedule this year. As a player he helped Rathkenny reach the Senior Championship semi-finals in football and Wolfe Tones to advance to the same stage in the Intermediate Hurling Championship. He was also the Castletown coach, with Aidan Young
Mark Kelly raises the Under 14 Division 8 Cup at Nobber
and Christy Meehan acting as selectors. Castletown made a favourable start to their competitive year when they defeated Duleek / Bellewstown by 0-9 to 0-8 in the league but three defeats in succession followed before the main event as they went under to strong senior teams Donaghmore / Ashbourne, Navan O’Mahonys and Wolfe Tones. They were drawn in group C of the
Intermediate Championship, a section which also included last year’s junior winners Ratoath, Ballivor, Ballinlough and Ballinabrackey, and it was against the Ratoath men that they opened with a customary first round defeat at Skryne. This was a very well contested match in which Tommy Smith and Kenny Smith scored first half goals for Castletown who led by 2-3 to 1-2 at the interval. Bryan McMahon got the Ratoath major in that period and with Eamon Wallace and Gareth Rooney also finding the net in the second half they ran out winners by 3-9 to 3-5. Tommy Smith scored Castletown’s third goal but it was the same old story as they lost in the first round yet again. Ballinabrackey trounced them to the tune of 10 points in an opener last year but Castletown exacted a measure of revenge in the second round this time when winning by 1-7 to 0-8 at Dunsany. The Offaly-border outfit held a 0-5 to 0-3 lead at the interval but a goal from Tommy Smith was a huge boost to Castletown who went on to shade the verdict and revive their qualification hopes. Castletown were the team with a bye in the third round and when they did
CASTLETOWN EDGING CLOSER
Prior to their IFC win over Ballinlough in Carnaross, front l/r: Robbie Hoey, Noel Smyth, Jamie McMahon, Kevin Ross, Alan Smyth, Gerry Farrelly, Joey Carry, Darren Finney, Johnny Metry, Tommy Smith, Barry Smith, Noel Farrelly. Back: Declan Cribbin, Mark Donegan, Shane Farrelly, Paul Cribbin, Francis Hoey, Shane Hoey, Paul Smith, Ross Blaney, Damien Ginnitty, Kenny Smith, Jason Ross, Robert Duffy
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