Embedded Files
SHC Final 1/10/00 @ O' Moore Park
Castletown 3-9 Camross 2-5
From Irish Independent
Leinster Championship 15/10/00 @ O' Moore Park
Castletown 2-10 Coill Dubh 0-10
From Irish Independent
Leinster Championship 4/11/00 @ O' Moore Park
Castletown 2-10 Birr 1-8
From Irish Independent
From Sunday Independent
A FAMOUS Laois hurling victory and, God knows, there aren't too many of those. This win in yesterday's AIB Leinster Club quarter-final will rival the best of them.
Castletown produced an exemplary performance, rich in quality and discipline, and one wholly deserving of such a prized scalp. Birr were simply out-played.
The prospect of Castletown turning over their rivals at the third attempt appeared remote. In two previous meetings, both provincial finals, Birr ruled as expected. But at Portlaoise yesterday, before a paltry attendance of around 1,000, Castletown were in the undoubted ascendancy.
With the exception of a bright second half start by Birr, the match was totally dominated by the Laois champions who should have won by an even more comfortable distance. A measure of their supremacy can be gleaned from the scorers listed beneath; even the Birr goal was claimed by a Laois defender.
Despite heavy rain mid-week, which necessitated a late change of venue from Birr, conditions were remarkably good. The day was bright and clear, free of any meddlesome winds, while the pitch's healthy appearance was astonishing. Fittingly, the match did not disappoint and hung in the balance until the final five minutes.
The surprise was that the majority of the heroism and artistry came from Castletown who now meet Graigue-Ballycallan on Sunday next in the semi-finals. They started uncertainly, but Birr let them off the hook with some sloppy finishing, fuelling early suspicion that this was not going to be one of their better days.
How Birr were ahead at half-time (1-3 to 0-5) is something of a mystery. Put it down to an indecent amount of good fortune and some sterling individual displays; Joe Errity at full-back and Johnny Pilkington at midfield doing their utmost to trigger some enthusiasm.
They were comfortable in defence - their goal was not threatened - but the industrious Fionan O'Sullivan won more frees and left a greater imprint on midfield than they would have preferred. Pilkington and O'Sullivan were the pick of the four.
Up front, Birr were shambolic in the opening period and subject to constant tinkering and alterations by a visibly frustrated management team. Castletown's defending was impressively disciplined and, in the case of full-back Paul Cuddy, often outstanding.
It was cruel justice, then, when an under-hit '65' by Brian Whelahan 21 minutes into the game gifted Birr a goal they didn't deserve. Castletown right half-back Robert Delaney reached to catch or divert it clear, but only succeeded in directing the ball past his goalkeeper John Lyons.
Lyons deserved it least of all, for the Birr offensives he had to deal with - mainly in the opening 10 minutes - were done so with a brilliant eye and reassuring reflexes. There was nothing, however, to prepare him for Delaney's unintended intervention.
Castletown started with Fionan O'Sullivan at midfield (he was listed at full-forward), with David Cuddy moving to left half-forward and Michael Butler to the left corner. Full-forward Patrick Phelan hardly got a decent puck, though, as Errity commanded his goal area imperiously. In the second half, Phelan exploded to life.
David Cuddy had Castletown ahead after seven minutes and they regained the lead after Birr had levelled on 12 minutes when a piercing run led to a fine score by Fionan O'Sullivan. The Birr goal came totally against the run of play but they re-emerged looking more focused, probably having had a stern interval lecture.
Inside two minutes Birr had two points and their best spell of the match. Barry Whelahan set up Niall Claffey for the first; Declan Pilkington provided Liam Power possession for the second. They seemed to have snapped out of their torpor.
Not so. Castletown responded with a goal on 35 minutes when Patrick Phelan managed to finish with one hand on the hurley. Phelan went on to play a storming second half and Castletown were in front through David Cuddy, now back at midfield, soon afterwards.
Cuddy's return to the middle helped reduce the influence of Pilkington and the Birr forwards continued to struggle. Gary Cahill was moved there from defence and Paul Murphy replaced Conor McGlone. The effects were minimal. Instead, Castletown tightened their grip.
The sides exchanged scores and then Michael Butler goaled for the Laois champions in the 49th minute after scrambling home Paudge Cuddy's centre. Castletown led by four with 10 minutes left and the shock looked on.
Brian Whelahan reduced it to three with a free eight minutes from time but Birr were outscored 0-3 to 0-1 in the remainder, Castletown substitute Brian Ferns summing up the growing sense of insurrection with a wonderful score near the final whistle, moments after coming on the field.
CASTLETOWN: J Lyons; M Phelan, Paul Cuddy, S Hanlon; R Delaney 1-0 (o.g), C Cuddy, J Palmer; D Cuddy 0-5 (0-2 fs), E Dooley; Paudge Cuddy, J O'Sullivan, M Butler 1-1; R Kingston, F O'Sullivan 0-1, P Phelan 1-2. Sub: B Ferns 0-1 for Dooley.
BIRR: B Mullins; G Cahill, J Errity, D Franks; JP O'Meara, Brian Whelahan 0-2 (both fs), N Claffey 0-1; J Pilkington, Barry Whelahan 0-1; L Power 0-2, C McGlone, D Pilkington; R Hanniffy, G Hanniffy 0-2, S Whelahan. Subs: P Murphy for McGlone (45 mins); P Carroll for D Pilkington (56 mins).
REF: P Ahearne (Carlow)
From Irish Daily Mirror
Birr left out in cold by classy Town
LAOIS champions Castletown wrote a glorious chapter into their history books as they produced their greatest ever display to dethrone the reigning Leinster club hurling champions, Birr.
In a truly magnificent quarter final at O'Moore Park, Castletown laid to rest the ghost of two previous defeats by the Offaly champions.
The game surpassed all expectations as both teams produced a memorable game of hurling that had the crowd on the edge of their seats right until the final whistle.
That Castletown won was because of a superb team display that knocked the champions off their stride and a spirit that showed scant regard for their opponents.
This was championship hurling at its best. It was teak tough with no quarter asked or given as two mighty club sides fought for supremacy.
Birr had twice beaten Castletown in recent finals and there was an awful lot at stake in this the third meeting of the team.
Engrossing
The game was a highly charged affair from the throw in and while the early stages were low in scoring, the contest on the field was engrossing as both teams, with an abundance of skill, produced it to glowing effect.
Birr led by the minimum margin at half time after Castletown had gifted them a goal in a top class 35 minutes of hurling but the second half was to prove even better.
The home team came from behind to take the lead and then defended it against all that the top club team of the 1990s could throw at them.
The scoring was indeed low in the opening half and while David Cuddy gave Castletown the initiative with a point in the seventh minute, midfielder Barry Whelehan had the sides level within minutes.
Then disaster struck for the Laois champions as Brian Whelehan's 65-metre free was deflected into the net by wing back Robert Delaney as it dropped short in the square.
It was a cruel blow for the player and his team but it failed to affect their confidence and two rapid points from Michael Butler and David Cuddy narrowed the gap to a single point as Birr led by 1-3 to five points at the break.
The reigning champions started the second half as if they were going to hurl Castletown off the field and two points from wing back Niall Claffey and Liam Power had them three points clear inside a minute.
Castletown then struck for their first and crucial goal. A free from David Cuddy from 75 metres found Pat Phelan inside the defence and although quickly surrounded, he managed a one-handed strike to leave the teams level again.
Twenty minutes into the second half came the second killer goal when David Cuddy again launched a long range free towards the Birr square.
Smashing
His brother Padreag caught it and hand-passed for the incoming Michael Butler to finish to the net for a smashing goal.
It was heart stopping stuff now as Castletown defended a one goal lead and Birr swept down field in search of the equaliser but despite the sternest of pressure, the Laois defence stood firm and with great discipline repulsed all attacks.
Two points from David Cuddy and substitute Brian Ferns gave Castletown a five points advantage and despite three intense minutes of injury time, they held out for a famous victory.
Castletown now play Kilkenny champions Graigue Ballycallan in the semi- final next weekend.
CASTLETOWN: J Lyons; M Phelan, Paul Cuddy, S Hanlon, R Delaney, C Cuddy, J Palmer, F O'Sullivan 0-1, E Doley, Pat Cuddy, J O'Sullivan, D Cuddy 0-5, R Kingston, P Phelan 1-2, M Butler 1-1. Sub: B Ferns 0-1 for Doley.
BIRR: B Mullins; G Cahill, J Errity, D Franks, J P Omeara, Brian Whelehan 1-2, N Claffey 0-1, J Pilkington, Barry Whelehan, L Power 0-2, C McGlone, D Pilkington, R Hannify, G Hannify 0-2, S Whelehan. Subs: P Murphy for McGlone, P Carroll for D Pilkington.
REFEREE: P Aherne (Carlow).
Leinster Championship Semi Final 11/11/00 @ Dr. Cullen Park
Graigue/Ballycallan 2-12 Castletown 0-7
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse