Garrycastle seal place in knockout stages

Garrycastle eventually overcame Killucan despite making hard work of it in the first game of the double header at Moate last Sunday evening. For long periods of the game it looked as though Killucan would be on the end of a serious beating. At one stage during the first-half, Garrycastle held a commanding ten-point lead and were looking very good. But through nothing more than sheer doggedness and hard work, Killucan somehow managed to whittle away the deficit to just two points with 10 minutes remaining. A scoring spree of 1-4 without reply between the 43rd and 50th minutes put Killucan to within touching distance. But Garrycastle eventually showed their experience to kick on for an expected, if slightly uneasy victory. James Dolan and James Duignan were both top performers for Garrycastle, scoring eight points between them, while Gary Dolan also proved very influential throughout the field. As expected, Garrycastle flew out of the blocks, taking the game to their opponents and it wasn't long before they had built up a lead, the three Dolans, James, Dessie and Gary all managing to raise the white flag inside ten minutes. Killucan replied with a Shane Leavy point on 11 minutes before a Paul Greville pointed free brought the deficit back down to one. That was as close as Killucan would get to their opponents for quite some time as Garrycastle managed 1-6 without reply. On 15 minutes, Dessie Dolan launched a free high into the Killucan penalty area where Alan Daly collected the ball before turning and rattling the ball to the back of the net. Already things looked bleak for Killucan. A solo run from Doran Harte a minute later saw him set up midfielder Aidan Browne for his first of the day - a long range effort from outside the 45. Dessie and James both registered further scores on 18 and 20 minutes respectively, before James Duignan landed a superb sideline ball from just 21 yards out. James Dolan then continued the scoring on 25 minutes with his third of the day to put 10 between the sides. On 27 minutes, Dessie Dolan was forced to retire with an ankle injury but at this stage, even that didn't look like being too much of a blow for the Athlone-based club. There was still enough time for Paul Greville to tap over what looked like an insignificant score before the half-time break, but things were looking very good for Garrycastle at this stage. With five minutes elapsed in the second period, James Duignan had increased Garrycastle's lead to 12 with a well-taken score. But back came Killucan with two frees in quick succession from Padraig Leavy and Cormac Boyle. Seanie O'Donoghue pointed well after a move involving Duignan and James Dolan but then began the Killucan fight-back. Cormac Boyle got the ball rolling with a free on 43 minutes. This was followed closely by a superb run and score by substitute Brian Smyth after Aidan Browne was caught in possession in midfield. Paul Greville landed a huge score on 47 minutes to leave six between the two teams and when Cormac Boyle converted another free on 49 minutes, Killucan had found some hope. But it was still going to take something special to get right back into it. And on 50 minutes, they were thrown a life-line. Some lapse defending from Garrycastle saw James Nugent flick the ball to the completely unmarked Daniel Riggs in behind the defence. And Riggs, not believing his luck, took his time before placing the ball beneath Cathal Mullin to the back of the net. It was some turnaround from Killucan. But the next score was going to be crucial. In the end it fell to Garrycastle and James Duignan, who curled over a nice ball to stop the rot from a Garrycastle point of view. From then on Garrycastle looked in control once again. Duignan and Browne both raised further white flags and although Paul Greville landed a superb side-line ball, just as Duignan had done in the first half, it was Garrycastle who held on for the victory. This win assures Garrycastle of a place in the knockout stages of the championship, while Killucan need to beat Bunbrosna in their last group game and hope other results go their way to have any chance of progressing. SCORERS - Garrycastle: James Duignan (0-4, 1f), James Dolan (0-4), Alan Daly (1-0), Aidan Browne (0-2), Dessie Dolan (0-2, 1f), Seanie O'Donoghue (0-1), Gary Dolan (0-1). Killucan: Cormac Boyle (0-3, 3f), Paul Greville (0-3, 1f), Daniel Riggs (1-0), Shane Leavy (0-2, 1f), Brian Smyth (0-1). GARRYCASTLE: Cathal Mullin, Pauric Rattigan, John Gaffey, Mark McCallon, Doran Harte, Karl Henson, Donovan Hermbusche, Seanie O'Donoghue, Aidan Browne, James Dolan, James Duignan, Johnny McGuire, Alan Daly, Gary Dolan, Dessie Dolan. SUBS: Robbie Fox for D. Dolan (27 mins), Stephen O'Reilly for J. McGuire (49 mins), Enda Mulvihill for J. Gaffney (52 mins), Shane Mulvihill for D. Hermbusche (58 mins). KILLUCAN: David Bryan, Brendan McKeogh, Francis Boyle, Tony Doyle, Niall Flanagan, Conor Jordan, Rory O'Reilly, Padraig Leavy, Shane Leavy, Cormac Boyle, Stephen Morley, John Shaw, James Nugent, Paul Greville, Paul Briody. SUBS: Brian Smyth for P. Briody (34 mins), Daniel Riggs for J. Shaw (43 mins). REFEREE: Pat Fox (Rosemount).