Embedded Files
Palmer Cup 1st Round 28/2/09 @ AbbeyleixMountrath
Abbeyleix 1-14 Castletown 2-9
From Leinster Express
JHC 1st Round 17/7/09 @ Mountrath
Camross 3-15 Castletown 0-8
From Leinster Express
SHC 1st Round 26/7/09 @ O' Moore Park
Colt 0-16 Castletown 1-12
From Leinster Express
Colt stun Castletown
Colt caused the first upset of the SHC on Sunday evening as they recorded a surprise one point win over Castletown to get their campaign off to a dream start.
The Raheen outfit were full value for their win, and it was a fortuitous late goal from a ’65 which gave Castletown a late chance to claim something from the game, but they couldn’t take advantage.
David Cuddy had a chance from a late free to level up the game but his effort tailed off to the right, and in reality Colt would have been very unlucky not to have walked away with the win.
In what was a poor game overall Colt produced the better hurling over the 60 minutes, and with Chris Murray leading the forward line superbly and Shane Mullins and Colm Kavanagh offering excellent support, Castletown couldn’t contain them.
Colt lead for most of the game too, and Chris Murray settled them into the game early with a pointed free. David Cuddy responded in kind for Castletown before Kavanagh opened his account with a nice point from the left wing.
David Cuddy added two points for Castletown, one from a free, to put them 0-3 to 0-2 ahead but that was to be the only time they lead in the game. A Shane Mullins point and a free from Chris Murray put Colt back in front, and they would not relinquish that lead over the rest of the game.
Kavanagh added two more points for Colt, one of which was as good a score as will be seen in this year’s championship. After taking a sideline cut down in the left corner of the field at the town end, the ball came back to him and he controlled it on his hurl and shot first time for a wonderful score.
Further first half points from Jimmy Farrell, Murray (free) and Shane Mullins saw Colt take a four point lead in at half time, and Castletown were in trouble as they trailed 0-9 to 0-5.
Castletown started the second half well, with John Gaughan working an early goal chance and Paddy Mullaney firing over a long range point. Chris Murray hit back for Colt with a nice point from play out on the left wing before Shane Mullins stretched their lead further with a point from the right wing after Castletown had left him all on his own.
John Palmer fielded the resulting puck out and fired over a great point but it failed to jolt Castletown into life. Every time they got close to Colt, they pulled away and the longer the game went on the more bereft of ideas the Castletown attack looked. They needed a slice of luck, and it arrived with a little over five minutes to go.
Paul Cuddy sent a 65 in the direction of the goal, and as the ball came up just short it slipped past Colt ‘keeper Brian McDermott and into the net. Castletown had been thrown a life line, but as the game transpired, they couldn’t take advantage of it.
They got the gap back to one point thanks to points from David Cuddy and John Richard Kingston, but Cuddy’s late free from 55 yards out tailed off to the right and wide, as Colt held on for a well deserved win.
COLT: Brian McDermott; Benny Connor, Ger Doolin, Tony Ryan; Colin Ryan, Jimmy Farrell, Brian Keegan; Anthony Dunne, Gearoid Parkinson; Dan Dalton, Eddie Dunne, Shane Mullins; Chris Murray, Padraig Dunne, Colm Kavanagh. Subs: Karl Grant for Parkinson (18 mins), Michael Grant for Karl Grant (42 mins), Gearoid Parkinson for E Dunne (49 mins)
CASTLETOWN: John Lyons; Tom Phelan, Fionnain Cuddy, Brian Ferns; Declan Keenan, Paul Cuddy, Adrian Dollard; Cyril Cuddy, Robbie Delaney; David Cuddy, John Palmer, Patrick Mullaney; Kieran Dunne, John Richard Kingston, John Gaughan. Subs: Brendan Reddin for T Phelan (half time), Damien Brophy for Delaney (47 mins)
Referee: Anthony Stapleton (Rathdowney Errill)
In Brief…
Main Man – Chris Murray (Colt)
Colt had a number of contenders for this, but the manner in which Murray lead the line in the second half showed maturity beyond his years. He won just about every ball which came up to him and was always available when his midfield or half backs were looking to relieve the pressure Castletown were putting them under
Score of the Game
Gearoid Parkinson had a late contender with his wonderful run, but Colm Kavanagh’s point in the first half was superb. Almost standing on the sideline, 21 yards from the end line on the stand side of the field, he instantly controlled the ball as it came to him, and without handling it, flicked it up and fired over a brilliant point.
JFC "C" Final 3/8/09 @ Mountrath
Shamrocks 1-7 Portlaoise 0-10
From Leinster Express
JFC "C" Final Replay 8/8/09 @ Shanahoe
Portlaoise 1-11 Shamrocks 1-6
From Leinster Express
SHC 2nd Round 16/8/09 @ O' Moore Park
Castletown 5-15 Tinnahinch 1-12
From Leinster Express
Cuddy rolls back the years
A master class in goal scoring by David Cuddy reignited Castletown's championship aspirations and ended Tinnahinch hopes of progress as the Laois SHC got down to serious business at O'Moore Park on Sunday.
As so often in the past it was the Cuddy twins that came to Castletown’s rescue in their hour of need as Paul gave a majestic display in the centre of defence and David shot three classic goals as they rolled back the years.
Castletown had been shocked by Colt in the opening round and with Tinnahinch losing to Portlaoise this was a knockout game but while the team from the Offaly side of the Sliabh Blooms competed for the opening 20 minutes once David Cuddy shot his opening goal and followed with another before the break the result was never in doubt.
It was a well contested game but the twins had superior back up in the outstanding Cyril Cuddy at wing back, Declan Keenan and Fionan Cuddy in defence, an industrious midfield of Adrian Dollard and Mick Butler and Ger Reddin who had a powerful game in attack.
Add in substitute Tom Phelan who had a fine game and Castletown had too much power for a Tinnahinch team that lacked team work and leadership and it was obvious that they had done very little in team preparation for this championship. Mountmellick and Laois football team mates Ger Reddin and John O’Loughlin found themselves on opposites sides and a clash early on saw the Castletown man show no mercy in a physical challenge with his colleague and he ended the day with his reputation as a hurler enhanced with a tally of 1-2 apart from a totally committed hour long display.
Tinnahinch set the early pace with points from James Young and Mark Rooney but excellent scores from young John Gaughan and Cyril Cuddy had the sides level by the eight minute. Then came Castletown’s first goal as Ger Reddin soled through the Tinnahinch defence and played a one two with David Cuddy before crashing the ball to the back of the net with real conviction.
Tinnahinch however were back on level terms within a minute as James Young scooped the ball over the advancing John Lyons and he followed with a point to give his side the lead again. Damien Brophy and Young traded points and a fine score from Killian Murphy gave Tinnahinch a two-point lead and things were looking good for the Declan Conroy managed side but within minutes the destiny of the points on offer changed.
First David Cuddy fired over a super point and then two minutes later caught a magnificent high ball in behind full back Martin Fallon and gave keeper Tommy Tynan no chance with a rasping shot and converted free within 30 seconds for a 2-5 to 1-5 lead after 22 minutes of play. Then three minutes from the break he again plucked the ball from the air from a long delivery from his brother Paul and flashed it to the net as Castletown went on to lead 3-5 to 1-7 at the break.
David opened the second half scoring and between the twins they shot seven of their sides next eight scores with Paul landing three long range frees and only Brendan Reddin interrupting the scoring sequence. David almost had his hat trick six minutes into the half but the blue spot in the middle of the cross bar denied him but 18 minutes in he again took the ball from the sky and with a turn and strike it was in the net.
Ger Reddin hit two fine scores in the final quarter with a goal from substitute Barry McKelvey completing the rout and plunging Tinnahinch into relegation territory while Castletown must beat Portlaoise to make the knockout stages.
CASTLETOWN: John Lyons; Robert Delaney, Fionán Cuddy, Brian Ferns; Declan Keenan, Paul Cuddy, Cyril Cuddy; Adrian Dollard, Michael Butler; Paddy Mullaney, Damien Brophy, Ger Reddin; John Gaughan, David Cuddy, Brendan Reddin. Subs: Tom Phelan for Delaney, John Palmer for John Gaughan, Seamus Lyons for David Cuddy, Barry McKelvey for Brendan Reddin, Paudge Cuddy for Mullaney
TINNAHINCH: Tommy Tynan; Jonathan Carroll, Martin Fallon, Enda Fitzgerald; Michael Bermingham, John O’Loughlin, Glen McEvoy; Bernard Rochford, John Rowney; Conor Dunne, Mark Rooney, Joe Conroy; Killian Murphy, James Young, Eoin Gorman. Subs: Conor Hyland for Carroll, Conor McEvoy for Rochford, Christy Hartnett for Dunne, Michael Hyland for Joe Conroy.
Referee: John Lalor (Shanahoe)
Main Man - David Cuddy
David Cuddy was the man of the day as his three goals were text book examples of full forward play and how to take goals with half opportunities. Great to see him still delivering after his years of wonderful service to his beloved club
Talking Point
Will this huge victory for Castletown be enough to see them through to the quarter finals? With Tinnahinch now out of the running, a win for Colt in that final game will see them in to the last eight with Castletown having to beat Portlaoise to have a hope. It will certainly make for an interesting final round
SHC 3rd Round 30/8/09 @ O' Moore Park
Castletown 1-14 Portlaoise 0-15
From Leinster Express
Cuddy fires Castletown into quarter finals
A superb individual display from Castletown full forward David Cuddy saw his side upset the form book as they recorded a two point victory over Portlaoise and booked a quarter final place ahead of Colt on points difference.
Cuddy finished with a personal tally of 1-11, as the returning Cahir Healy was given a harsh welcome back into local hurling championship. Along with his brother Paul, who was forced off at half time with injury, they accounted for all but one of their final tally. Portlaoise were missing a few players through injury but in spite of that they really struggled with Castletown and trailed for most of the game. Castletown's size and tenacity of their play upset them and they never really got into any sort of rhythm.
They did enjoy the better start and points from Tony Byrne and Eoin Costelloe in the first seven minutes had them ahead before David Cuddy pointed his first free for Castletown. Cuddy and Keith Murphy traded scores before the crucial goal arrived midway through the half when David Cuddy won the ball eight yards out, turned and fired past Colm Clear.
Portlaoise responded well and drew level within minutes courtesy of Noel Costelloe (free) and Tony Byrne, but Castletown hit their best run of form in the game after that. David and Paul Cuddy both pointed from play and Damien Brophy almost had a goal but was denied by a fantastic save from Clear. David Cuddy hit three more points and Paul chipped in with another as Castletown finished the first half strongly, and Eoin Whelan only managing one reply for Portlaoise as Castletown lead by five points at half time, 1-8 to 0-6.
Half time brought substitutions for both teams and a substitute referee also, as Liam Dunne was forced off with an injury, and Portlaoise settled back into the game well with three points on the trot. Noel Costelloe got the first of them from a free before a wonderful individual point from Eoin Whelan and an equally good effort from Tony Byrne gave them a timely boost.
David Cuddy got Castletown's first point of the half ten minutes in courtesy of a free, and himself and Noel Costelloe traded pointed frees over the next ten minutes as Portlaoise struggled to close the gap. y twins that came to Castletown’s rescue in their hour of need as Portlaoise struggled to close the gap.
They finally got the run of scores they needed to get back on level terms, as two more frees from Noel Costelloe, and a good point from Barry Fitzgerald levelled the game at 1-11 to 0-14.
With their lead threatened, Castletown responded well and David Cuddy was at the heart of their next two scores, pointing a free and taking another one quickly to John Palmer, who fired over.
There was drama late on when Tommy Fitzgerald was the victim of a high tackle 21 yards out and Noel Costelloe had the chance for a goal. His free was too high though, and it flew over the bar.
David Cuddy settled any nerves with a pointed free from 60 yards out, as Castletown ran out deserving winners.
CASTLETOWN: John Lyons; Tom Phelan, Brian Ferns, Fionán Cuddy, Declan Keenan, Paul Cuddy (0-2), Cyril Cuddy; Adrian Dollard, Michael Butler; Paddy Mullaney, Damien Brophy, Ger Reddin; John Gaughan, David Cuddy (1-11, 8f), Brendan Reddin. Subs: John Palmer (0-1) for Reddin (20 mins), Robert Delaney for Paul Cuddy (h/t-inj), Barry McKelvey for Brophy (48 mins), Brendan Reddin for Butler (54 mins)
PORTLAOISE: Colm Clear, Darren Murphy, Cahir Healy, Mickey Bowe, Brian Mulligan, Eoin Browne, Rock Scully, Eoin Whelan (0-2), Noel Costelloe (0-7 all frees), Tony Byrne (0-3), Barry Fitzgerald (0-1), Keith Murphy (0-1), Eoin Costelloe (0-1), Tommy Fitzgerald, Darragh Cushen
Referee: Liam Dunne (Clough/Ballacolla) and Mick Cleere (Errill)
Main Man - David Cuddy
No one else came close for this accolade, he was by far the best player on the field. 1-11 from a total of 1-14 is exceptional, and Castletown's fortunes for the rest of the year will depend on whether he can continue this good run of form.
Turning Point
When Portlaoise drew level in the first half after David Cuddy's goal, Castletown went on a run which started with Cuddy and his brother Paul hitting two points in three minutes. They finished the first half strongly and that cushion they gave themselves at half time would turn out to be crucial.
From Laois Nationalist
SHC Quarter Final 13/9/09 @ O' Moore Park
Castletown 3-15 Rathdowney/Errill 1-17
From Leinster Express
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