Dublin AFl 1

CASTLEKNOCK………………….3-8

CUALA…………………………1-12

Daire Walsh

Substitute Kevin Stephenson struck a late goal at Hyde Park last Thursday evening to hand Castleknock a slender victory over Cuala in a Dublin Adult Football League Division One clash. Ahead for the vast majority of the contest, Cuala looked set to claim their fourth win of the campaign. That was until Stephenson found the net with just three minutes of normal time remaining to propel the visitors to a hard-fought success.

Aiming to build on their home victory over Ballymun Kickhams on April 2, ‘Knock opened the scoring through a Ger McDermottroe free in the third minute. However, this was their sole score of the opening quarter as their Dalkey counterparts gradually assumed control.

Although it took them a while to hit their stride, Cuala (Dublin Senior Two Football Championship winners for the past two seasons) edged in front courtesy of points by Luke Keating (free) and Eoin Kennedy. ‘Knock were quickly turned over off the restart from the latter and the ball was eventually worked into the path of Jamie Keenan for a 12th-minute goal.

The in-form Keating extended their lead with another place-ball effort before ‘Knock finally fired back on 21 minutes. After being picked out on the inside line, Eoin Sawyer dispatched a low shot beyond the reach of Cuala netminder Ryan Scollard.

While the hosts did settle again with unanswered points from Keating (two) and raiding wing-back Kennedy, Castleknock did finish the opening period in high spirits. Having instigated the move that led to a 27th-minute penalty, McDermottroe made no mistake from the spot.

This left just two points (1-6 to 2-1) between the sides at the interval and the gap was reduced to the bare minimum thanks to a McDermottroe ’45’ on the resumption. Cuala kept themselves in the ascendancy with Keenan and Darragh Spillane points either side of Rob Shaw’s effort at the opposite end, but Séamus O’Carroll’s introduction added an extra dimension to the ‘Knock attack.

After the former Limerick footballer shot inches wide off a spectacular volley attempt, Shields and McDermottroe got the Somerton Park outfit back on level terms. The influential McDermottroe also raised white flags in response to Keating and Kennedy contributions for Cuala, only for their southside rivals to develop another one-point cushion when Conor O’Brien split the uprights.

McDermottroe had a chance to restore parity on 57 minutes from a scoreable free but instead picked out Stephenson in front of the Cuala posts. Even though he had only just entered the fray, Stephenson made no mistake with a smooth three-point finish.

An additional single by O’Carroll suddenly left Castleknock in the driving seat, and though Keating added his sixth score of the night, it wasn’t enough to stem the tide.

MATCHFILE

SCORERS – Castleknock: G McDermottroe 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-3f, 0-1 ’45’), E Sawyer, K Stephenson 1-0 each, R Shaw, T Shields, S O’Carroll 0-1 each. Cuala: L Keating 0-6 (5f), J Keenan 1-1, E Kennedy 0-3, D Spillane, C O’Brien 0-1 each.

CASTLEKNOCK: C Kelly; S Moran, E O’Brien, C Murphy; N Millmore, R Shaw, T Norton; T Shields, S Boland; K Kindlon, G McDermottroe, C Chawke; E Sawyer, D Warnock, T Quinn. Subs: S O’Carroll for Chawke (h-t), T McDaniel for Sawyer (50), K Stephenson for Shaw (54), J Dargan-Akiwumi for Norton (56).

CUALA: R Scollard; D Conroy, E Kelly, M Conroy; C Doran, C Mullally, E Kennedy; J Power, B Smith; D Spillane, C O’Brien, C O Giollain; J Keenan, N O’Callaghan, L Keating. Subs: J Fitzsimons for D Conroy (h-t), M Treacy for Spillane (50), M Kiernan for Doran (60).

MENTORS – Castleknock: T Quinn, D Kelly. Cuala: A O’Malley, G Killion, E McGowan.

REFEREE: D Murphy (St James Gaels/An Caislean).

WIDES – Castleknock: 5 (3+2). Cuala: 4 (3+1).

CONDITIONS: Dry and breezy throughout.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Ger McDermottroe (Castleknock).