Oldcastle coast to opening round victory
It wasn't expected to be this easy, but Oldcastle laid down a significant marker to the rest of the IFC contenders with this 4-11 to 0-10 demolition of St Patrick's at Pairc Tailteann today.
Using the strong wind that was at their backs Oldcastle started well and never looked back as they established an eight-point interval lead and went on to stretch that to 13 points at the finish.
This was a devastating display of powerful, direct football mixed with determined defence and midfield dominance from Brian Donohoe's side and they were full value for their win.
Leading by 1-8 to 0-3 at the break Oldcastle put the issue beyond doubt with Keith Connell grabbing their third goal. That put 10 points between the teams and there was no way back for the Stamullen side.
Oldcastle used the wind to decent effect in the opening half, but they were guilty of seven wides and another chance dropped short.
They opened the scoring on the minute mark with Robbie Farrelly on target. Less than a minute later Pearse Sheridan pointed despite taking a big hit and by the end of the fourth minute Oldcastle were 0-3 to 0-0 ahead when CJ Healy landed a free.
After that bright start Oldcastle had to wait another four minutes for their next score, a well executed mark by Farrelly.
St Patrick's struggled to move the ball against the wind, but when they did go long it caused a few moments of worry in the Oldcastle rearguard and from one such ball from Donal Landy, Ben Sullivan blasted over from what was a sniff at goals.
That let off sparked Oldcastle into action and they went the length of the field with a brilliant move which ended with Rory Crawley palming CJ Healy's centre to the net.
Scoring and chances dried up as CJ Healy kicked a couple of frees short and wide before Sean Emmanuel lofted over a super score to double his side's tally and close the gap to 0-2 to 1-4.
A tap over point from CJ Healy and another mark from Farrelly extended Oldcastle's lead, but they continued to be wasteful as Darren Hagan powered forward to finish off a patient St Pat's move.
The Stamullen men would have been content to go in six points down at the break playing against such a strong wind, but they shipped more points from CJ Healy (free) and Keith Connell and trailed 0-3 to 1-8 at the interval.
John Curtis hinted that St Patrick's might launch a second-half rally when he pointed within 38 seconds of the restart, but despite playing against the wind Oldcastle continued to play the more positive football.
Farrelly (free) and Meath u-20 star Jamie Murphy traded points before the excellent Pearse Sheridan and Conor Delaney linked up to set up Keith Connell for the game-ending second goal.
Donal Landy pulled a point back for St Patrick's, but as if to emphasise their supremacy Oldcastle swept through for a third goal with the outstanding Jason Scully setting up James Cooke for a fine finish to make it 3-9 to 0-6 in the 47th minute.
The remainder was academic.
Emmanuel tapped over for St Pat's before Sheridan fired his side's fourth goal with a brilliant soccer style finish. Oldcastle eased off and added to their wide tally.
Two points from CJ Healy, one either side of scores from Shane Dowling and Donal Landy, maintained the 14-point cushion before Shane Byrne tapped over the closing score from a 13-metre free to bring the curtain down on a great afternoon for Oldcastle, but a miserable one for St Patrick's.
Oldcastle - Conor McHugh; Oran O'Reilly, Cian McPartland, Dylan Garrigan; James Cooke (1-0), Steven Lawless, Lee Healy; Pearse Sheridan (1-1), Oran Mulvanny; Ronan Maguire, CJ Healy (0-5 two frees), Keith Connell (1-1); Jason Scully, Robbie Farrelly (0-4 one free, two marks), Rory Crawley (1-0). Subs - Conor Delaney for Crawley 29m, Darren Hawdon for Cooke 52m, Paul Hennessy for Connell 56m, Louis Colleran for L Healy 57m, James Gibney for Mulvanny 60m.
St Patrick's - Darragh Sullivan; Adam Byrne, David McQuillan, Killian O'Connor; Liam Brennan, Darren Hagan (0-1), Barry Mooney; John Curtis (0-1), John Mannion; Shane Landy, Sean Emmanuel (0-2), Neil O'Flaherty; Donal Landy (0-2), Jamie Murphy (0-1), Ben Sullivan (0-1). Subs - Shane Dowling (0-1) for Mooney 31m, Dylan McCreedy for Brennan 36m, Sean Hackett for S Landy, Duguid McDonagh for O Flaherty both 49m, Shane Byrne (0-1 free) for Mannion 56m.
Referee - Joe Curran (St Michael's).