Some things are simply ordained to fall the way they do – and often long before they do.
Last July, Patrick O’Rourke joined Teresa Lonergan in turning the first sod on the site of the new Astro Turf / Georgie O’Callaghan Park Last week he scored the first senior team goal on the finished pitch.
As a player who came up through the juvenile ranks under the incomparable and much lamented, Georgie, Patrick was, undoubtedly, one of those who provided his coach with the greatest return for the almost endless time he invested in their futures.
Patrick’s tireless work on the project which now, still unofficially, bears the name of his late mentor, is well acknowledged by those close to the development – as it is in the course of the following Castleisland AFC notes by spokesmen, Mike Brosnan and Neil O’Sullivan
Greyhound Bar Cup First Round: Strand Road FC 0 – Castleisland A 6
The Castleisland AFC A team traveled to Tralee during the week to take on Strand Road in the first round of the Greyhound Bar Cup.
The visitors had an easier than expected 6-0 victory over a gallant Strand Road team.
While the front three of O’Donoghue (1 goal) Damian Feehan (2 goals) and Colin McCarthy (3 goals) did all the damage, the midfield trio of Lyons, Brosnan and Huggard laid the foundations.
Bartlett’s Net Well Minded
The back four of Paul Carmody, Mike McCarthy, Walsh and Mahony were in command and Bartlett’s net was well minded. The three changes made at half time didn’t disrupt the flow of the team with Hickey, O’ Donoghue and debut boy Daniel Kelly all contributing to the victory.
Greyhound Bar Cup First Round
Cedar Galaxy Killarney 1-3 Castleisland B
Cedar started the game with plenty of possession but they never looked like penetrating in the early stages.
Castleisland took the lead in the 21st minute and it was an historic goal first goal for a Castleisland Senior side in Georgie O’Callaghan Park.
Patrick O’Rourke First Senior Goal on Georgie O’Callaghan Park
In a fitting way for all his hard work in fundraising and organising the building of the pitch it was club Chairman Patrick O’Rourke who rounded the keeper and slotted home to give the local boys the lead.
O’Rourke and McCarthy were linking up well up front and were causing all sorts of problems for the Cedar defence.
McCarthy was on hand to double Castleisland’s lead in the 35th minute when he finished well past the keeper.
Dangerous on the Break
Cedar pulled one back early in the second half when a misplaced clearance fell to Tadgh Fleming and he finished past Moran.
As Cedar pushed on for an equaliser Castleisland were looking dangerous on the break and eventually in the dying stages of the game Josh Horan was rewarded.
He closed down the back line and after winning the ball was able to walk it into the net.
Both Castleisland sides are now looking forward to the second round draw.
Denny U-17 League
Castleisland 2-2 Killarney Athletic
Daniel Kelly continued his impressive campaign with the U-17s and he grabbed both goals, one from a free kick and another from the penalty spot.
In a well contested game in Castleisland on Saturday his performance impressed senior manager Edmond Hartnett so much he was promoted to the Senior A team.
There he made his debut against Strand Road in the Greyhound Bar Cup the following day.
U-15s Division 1
Castleisland 6 Killarney Celtic 1
Dean Poolman’s team remain top of the league after a great team performance against Killarney Celtic on the Astro Turf on Saturday.
Alex Kepp grabbed a hat trick in a man of the match performance, with League of Ireland hopeful Freddie Galway also catching the eye in a resounding win.
Evan Murphy, James Kenny and grabbed a goal apiece but credit goes to the whole team who are playing cracking football at the minute.
Castleisland leads the table by two points from Mastergeeha with Fenit Samphires third five points behind the Islanders.
With a game in hand it promises to be a tight and exciting finish to the season with potentially only two points separating the top three teams.
U-13s Campaign Continues
Our U-13 teams continued their league campaigns this week, the Division 2 team played a strong LB Rovers side in Castleisland and saw David McCarthy score for the second match in a row unfortunately the result didn’t go their way but the boys will learn from the experience.
The Division 1 team played two games in the week, first against a good Tralee Dynamos side last Thursday night under floodlights in difficult conditions on the night with heavy fog but the boys continued their great start to the league with a 4-2 win Jack Joy (2) Mint O’Connor and Eoghan Shire with the goals.
On Saturday morning the boys faced a strong Mastergeeha side on the new Astro pitch. They started well with Kian Downey and Finn Nolan controlling the midfield all the back line working as a unit and the wide players and strikers playing well.
Finn Nolan opened the scoring with a fantastic strike from the edge of the area this was followed by goals from Mint O’Connor (2) and Jack Joy to see the boys winning 4-1 and extending their lead at the top of Division 1.
They can now look forward to the first round of the cup competition. A fantastic improvement from all the U-13 players this season, well done boys!
Girls U-14 Premier
The girls had a tough away game to League leaders Killarney Celtic on Saturday which resulted in a resounding victory for the home side. The girls showed great fight and will have better days ahead.
Players of the Week
Alex Kepp with his hat trick for the U-15s helped keep them top of the table and Daniel Kelly got a brace in the youths’ game on Saturday and made his debut for the senior A team the following day. Well done to both
Club Fixtures
Saturday: Denny Youth League at 2pm Listowel Celtic v Castleisland AFC.
Sunday: Denny Premier A at 11:30am Fenit Samphires v Castleisland AFC
Venue Mounthawk Park Astro Pitch.
Denny Premier B at 3:30pm AC Athletic v Castleisland B
Venue Mounthawk Park Astro Pitch.
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