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Castleknock under-11s triumphant

The Castleknock GAA under-11 Boys won their first ever hurling cup final with a fine win over Scoil Ui Chonaill in Russell Park, recently. The Scoil Ui Chonaill teams arrived full of promise and confidence after an excellent semi final win that they would go a step further. Despite the age of the Castleknock boys – all born at the end of the last century, 1999 to be precise – they had other ideas about the destination of the laurels. A happy bunch of Castleknock hurlers

They battled hard with produced wonderful displays of skills and tenacity to end up emphatic winners at the final whistle based on the combined scoring of both teams - Castleknock 5-9 to 1-1 for Scoil Ui Chonaill on aggregate. Everyone associated with the club was delighted at the final whistle as the games ended in a welter of excitement with this group of players lifting silverware for the first time. Such a superb team effort from all involved bodes well for the future.

Castleknock 4-7 Scoil Uí Chonaill 0-1

Conditions were a little damp for the start of this match, however Castleknock started at a furious pace from the outset and were unlucky not to have scored early as a number of good efforts drifted wide of the posts. Midfielders, Sean Ryan and Darren O’Keeffe, were supplying a lot of ball to the forwards and Conor McGee capitalised on this to score two fine points from play. Sean Ryan’s ability to win ball from puck-outs was very evident throughout the half.

Scoil Uí Chonaill gradually got a foothold in the game but their efforts were repelled by a fine Castleknock rearguard, led by Ciaran O’Flanagáin and James Tolan. Midway through the half a long ball into the goalmouth was finished to the net by Luke McDermott and shortly after a second goal was scored by Conal Dillon following a goalmouth scramble. Castleknock were now in full swing and Conor McGee tagged on another fine point from play. Scoil Ui Chonaill responded gamely and were rewarded with a good point from play just before the break and went in at half-time with Castleknock in a very strong position leading by 2-3 to 0-1.

Scoil Ui Chonaill started the second half very strongly but their efforts went unrewarded as the Castleknock full-back line of Tom Mulvey and Johnny O’Shea kept out a number of attacks. Castleknock goalkeeper Cian Corcoran made a number of fine saves and his long puck-outs were a feature of the game. Castleknock gradually began to get on top and after a point from a free by Conor McGee, Luke McDermott scored two quick goals in succession to put the game beyond Scoil Uí Chonaill’s reach. Michael Gahan was now showing up very well in the half-forward line and made a number of fine solo runs. This resulted in further points from Conor McGee and Eoin McCambridge. The scoring was completed by a point from Darren O’Keeffe, which was well-deserved due to his industry and work rate throughout. Scoil Uí Chonaill battled on gamely and were unlucky with a number of efforts that went narrowly wide which might have reflected their efforts more fairly had they counted.

Castleknock 1-2 Scoil Uí Chonaill 1-0

Castleknock had to play this match without two of their top players Dylan Kelly and Adam Ryan who were injured during the week. The match started off at blistering pace with Castleknock being put under a lot of pressure from the start but excellent defensive work from Ross Keating and Fiachra Feehily in the full back line ensured that Scoil Ui Chonaill were kept scoreless in the first-half.

Eamonn Dunne in goal had massive puckouts right into the heart of the Scoil defence with Alex Uzunov and Aidan Hartnett picking up a lot of ball. Alex Uzunov was a constant thorn in the Scoil defence and broke through to score a fine point which was followed up by an Aidan Hartnett goal. The Castleknock full forward line of Matthew Nugent and Eoin Crossen and Sean Nagle ensured that Scoil were kept under consistent pressure with no easy clearances coming out and they were very unlucky not to score a few goals. Another free ensured that Castleknock went into half time 1-1 to no score in the lead.

Scoil started strongly in the second half and got a goal early on but the Castlekknock half backs of Aidan Mc Cartney and Ciaran McGee helped to guard against any further scores. Also Conor Levesley dropped from attack to play behind midfield which helped to ease the pressure on the Castleknock defence. The midfield pairing of Alex Clarkin and Aaron Cunningham really started to control midfield and Oisín Mac Mathúna and Sean Nagle showed up well in the forwards with Castleknock adding another fine point to get some breathing space in a tight low-scoring game. Despite shipping fierce pressure towards the end Castleknock held out win by 1-2 to 1-0.

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