Charlestown and Crossmolina played out a pulsating draw at Fr. O’Hara Park on Wednesday last in the first round of the U21 B Chmapionsip. The game was in the balance right throughout the game, up to and including the final whistle with a total 30 scores in two highly entertaining halves.
The large crowd in attendance were treated to some fine scores in the early stages as accurate Crossmolina shooting ensured the visitors led by four in the opening minutes. Charlestown were stung into action and found the net inside the first quarter thank to the deadly Martin Warde. Keelan Horkan was moved from centre-back to corner forward and Charlestown instantly got their reward as Horkan cleverly set up Ward for his second major. Charlestown dominated the second quarter of the match and a fine score from open play by Horkan was added to by the accuracy of dead ball strikers, Warde and Jack Reilly. Niall Murphy was also carrying a lot of ball for the Sarsfields at this time and was often the creator of many of the home sides chances. Crossmolina always looked dangerous up front however and tagged on a number of points towards the end of the half to leave Charlestown two points to the good at half time, 3.04 – 1.08, Charlestown’s third coming form Horkan.
There was no let up in the pace of the game upon the resumption, with neither team willing to give an inch. Sean McHale and Diarmuid Clarke were reveling in defence duties during this spell and together with Karl Saville, helped to sniff out a number of Crossmolina attacks. Kenneth Brennan was also called into action to make a save during this spell. The game continued to be played at a frantic pace, going from end-to-end with mistakes around the middle third only adding to the drama. Crossmolina then hammered both the crossbar and post before kicking the equaliser with 8 minutes to go and one feared for Charlestown as tired legs began to kick in. Keelan Horkan also saw his fisted effort brilliantly cleared off the line which would have given the ‘town the impetus going into the final stages.
The visiting team then raised another white flag with three to go, a superbly kicked ’45 even if its decision to award it was quite dubious. The men in green and white were not finished there however and Jack Reilly kicked a free from 30 metres with the aid of the post to draw the teams level once more. In the dying embers of this classic, Charlestown produced another attack but a failure to take the shooting opportunity at the right time led to a turnover and the referee signaled the end of the game.
Both teams must be commended on their attitudes to produce attacking football without the need for sweepers or blanket defences and this resulted in a thrilling hour’s football for those in attendance. Charlestown now face a tricky journey to Belmullet, knowing that a win will put them into the knockout stages of the competition.
Team: Kenneth Brennan, Sean McHale, Brian McGowan, Jason Gallagher, Keelan Horkan, Diarmuid Clarke, Jack Reilly, Eddie Hanlon, Darren Williams, Keifer Curry, Gary Keane, Niall Murphy, Martin Warde, Karl Saville, Darren Healy, Luke Dunleavy.
