Dire show as Douglas deliver against Castlelyons

CASTLELYONS missed the cut by the proverbial mile as Douglas stormed into the third round of the Evening Echo Cork Co SHC at Caherlag last night.

In one of the most undistinguished games in the competition to date, Douglas capitalised on Castlelyons’ inadequacies to the full and comfortably chalked up a seven point win.

Ironically, the game started at a cracking pace, with the skilful Stephen Moylan pointing Douglas into the lead after just 45 seconds, and Timmy McCarthy equalising a minute later for Castlelyons.

Then it all started to go disastrously downhill for Castlelyons, who failed to score for the remainder of the half.

Douglas, with Eoin Cadogan outstanding at centre-back, Gary McLoughlin and Gary Wade working their socks off on the respective flanks of attack, and Stephen Moylan sparkling in the right corner, made hay while the sun shone.

Wade, with a succession of points from both play and frees, punished Castlelyons to the hilt as Douglas stormed in to a 0-9 to 0-1 interval lead.

Dead as a doornail, Castlelyons also proved to be their own worst enemies, with eight wides in the first-half, and received little inspiration from Cork seniors Timmy McCarthy and Kieran McGann, who played at centre-back.

Castlelyons’ overall performance left a lot to be desired. When Douglas extended their lead to nine points with a pointed free from Wade immediately after the resumption, it looked as if a defeat of cricket-like proportions was looming for a most chastened East Cork side.

With their second score of the game, a point from a 65 by Eoin Fitzgerald, Castlelyons at last managed to stop the rut and, rather amazingly, found themselves back in contention, when after substitute Sylvester McAuliffe was taken down Fitzgerald successfully converted the penalty with a rising shot to the roof of the net.

But before Castlelyons, now just five points adrift, could capitalise on this reversal of fortune, Douglas hit them hard with a splendidly struck point from midfielder Mark Harrington.

Stephen Moylan and Timmy McCarthy exchanged points from frees, to leave it six between the sides entering the closing stages. Then Douglas ruthlessly moved in for the kill. Moylan sent over three points in quick succession, two from frees, another beauty from Barry Fitzgerald followed, and the city side were home and dried.

It was all over for Castlelyons who must now face Killeagh in a regulation battle. But they did receive one small crumb of solace when Eoin Fitzgerald scored a consolation goal on the stroke of time.

Scorers: Douglas: S Moylan 0-6 (0-3 frees); G Wade 0-6 (0-2 frees, 0-2 65s); M Harrington 0-2; B Fitzgerald, C Dineen 0-1 each. Castlelyons: E Fitzgerald 2-1 (1-0 from pen. 0-1 65); T McCarthy 0-2 (0-1 free).

DOUGLAS: D O’Riordan, D McSweeney, A Barry, C Lahive, P Barry, E Cadogan, R Harris, B Fitzgerald, M Harrington, G McLoughlin, W Coveney, G Wade, S Moylan, J Moylan, C Dineen.

CASTLELYONS: B Sheehan, M Hegarty, B Fitzgerald, B O’Connell, K Barrett, K McGann, MF Dorgan, F Waters, S Barrett, T McCarthy, W Martin, E Fitzgerald, C O’Connell, W O’Riordan, L Sexton.

Subs: S Kenny for Barrett; S McAuliffe for Dorgan.

Referee: G Harrington (Carrigaline).