Second-half goals do trick for Castleknock
Castleknock (Dublin)……………….. 2-15
Mountmellick (Laois)……………….. 1-07
By Daire Walsh
Leinster Special Club JHC Final
Second-half goals by Dermot Curran and Brian Hughes proved decisive at Somerton Park yesterday as Castleknock secured the title with a big win over Mountmellick of Laois.
The Dublin champions – minus Ciaran Kilkenny – built up a 0-5 to 0-1 cushion by the 17th minute thanks to fine scores by Ronan Lynch (two), Shane Boland, Jamie Tunney and Cian O Dulaing.
Mountmellick forced their way into the reckoning with a magnificent goal from full-forward Ray O’Connor, but Castleknock nevertheless held a slender 0-9 to 1-4 lead at the mid-way stage following efforts by O Dulaing and Boland.
Donnacha Hartnett reduced Mountmellick’s deficit to the minimum on the resumption, but Curran’s opportune 33rd minute goal helped Castleknock regain the initiative.
A brace of scores from Curran, as well as one apiece from subs Hughes and Niall O’Callaghan, left significant daylight between the teams, and even though Mountmellick added to their tally with placed-ball strikes from Mick Bermingham and Aidan Challoner, Hughes’ stoppage time finish sealed an emphatic triumph for Castleknock.
Scorers for Castleknock: D Curran, B Hughes 1-2 each, C O Dulaing (2f), S Boland 0-3 each, J Tunney, R Lynch 0-2 each, N O’Callaghan 0-1.
Scorers for Mountmellick: A Challoner 0-4 (3f), R O’Connor 1-0, M Bermingham (f), R McEvoy, D Hartnett 0-1 each.
CASTLEKNOCK: B Dunne; D Tobin, E Forrest, C Prunty; R O Briain, C Corcoran, J King; T Quinn, S Boland; J Tunney, R Lynch, P Hamill; C O Dulaing, C O’Brien, D Curran.
Subs: N O’Callaghan for O’Brien (h-t), B Hughes for Hamill (36), D Cormican for Tunney (54), I Cleary for Quinn (56), P Mulvehill for O Dulaing (59).
MOUNTMELLICK: E Quigley; D Young, K Dunphy, L Kenny; J McEvoy, B Rochford, C Hartnett; S Stapleton, M Bermingham; J Hilliard, A Challoner, R McEvoy; D Hartnett, R O’Connor, I Fennelly.
Subs: T Gormley for Hilliard (41), I Moore for R McEvoy (53), D Allen for Young (60), E Melia for J McEvoy (61).
Referee: K Brady (Louth).