Carnmore............ 4-8
Castlegar........... 4-11
Short only two of their championship-winning team Castlegar look on Carnmore in this hectic grandstand finish West Board Senior Hurling Championship game at Pearse Stadium on Sunday and won by three points. In the first half, playing relentlessly forward, they notched up a comfortable 4-8 lo 1-4 half-lime lead without hitting top gear Then in the second half they survived some great Carnmore hurling that showed why they can become county champions
Yet it was Carnmore who stole the honors. Down a goal in the first minute after Fergus Madden sent thirty-five yards free to the net they rapidly faded out and after seven minutes were seven points behind. And the longer this first half lasted the worse they got. Their backs were doing well at time but up front their hard-running forwards were making, little impact. And Castlegar were also disappointing. From a continuous supply of the ball from Kevin Shaughnessy at midfield their only two forwards to threaten danger were Ted Murphy and Mick Connor.
All and all it was a bad day for forwards. And finally it took a Ted Murphy goal in the nineteenth minute to set Castlegar spark aglow. This he dil when he scored his second goal. His first was well taken but his second was a superb effort and it came when he cut across the goal and shot an angled back-hander straight to the net. With this goal Carnmore's deteriorated and Castlegar added a further 1-3 before the thirtieth minute. And yet it seemed as if the half-time whistle could only delay the complete annihilation of a game but far from skillful Carnmore side. With the exception of Padraic Fahy at left half forward their forwards were a sorry lot.
In the second half Tom Glynn opened the scoring with a Castlegar point in the sixth minute and this was followed with Mick Connor adding another for the champions But Suddenly Carnmore rolled up their sleeves and the champions staggered and creaked but continued to play some fine hurling. Now Carnmore were the aggressors and proved to Castlegar that life at the top can be tough. And yet this great come-back brought out the best in Castlegar With Castlegar's Padraic Connolly, Ted Murphy and Stephen Hosty doing everything they knew to crack a defence in which suddenly goalie Paddy Walsh became outstanding, Carnmore looked dangerous.
Time after time Walsh was on hand to make up for momentary lapses by Billy McDonagh, Peter Fahey and John Hession. With ten minutes to go Castlegar were leading by 4-10 to 1-2 and it seemed as if they would have no trouble in surviving this great come-back. But then Martin Leonard was introduced to the Carnmore attack and suddenly the picture changed. Within a minute be had scored a goal and four minutes later he added another when he was on hind to take advantage of a Castlegar mix up. This second goal was the signal for an all-out attack and with the time ebbing away Castlegar played some of their best hurling. With John Corcoran, Tom Broderick and Fergus Madden proving tough as nails Carnmore increased the pressure until ii seemed as if something would have to go. As it happened it was the spectators who went wild and when P. Glynn blew the full-time whistle both teams got a great ovation.
Best for Carnmore whose remarkable come-back delighted the crowd were Martin Leonard, John Hession, Padraic Fahy, Willie Greaney and Paddy Walsh. For Castlegar, who after surviving this set-to have added to their reputation, best were Ted Murphy, Mick Connor, Stephen Hosty and Padraic Connolly
Scorers:
Castlegar: Ted Murphy (2-0), Mick Connor (0-6), Tom Madden (1-2), Fergus Madden (1-0) and Tom Glynn (0-3).
Carnmore: Padraic Fahy (1-4), Martin Leonard (2-0), Jimmy Hughes (1-1), Michael Greaney and Matty Greaney (0-2 each).
Teams:
Carnmore: Paddy Walsh; Billy McDonagh. Tom Lenehan, Peter Fahey; John Long. John Murphy, John Hession; Jim Hughes, Sean Murphy, Matty Greaney. Michael Greaney, Padraic Fahy; Paddy Joe Spellman. Mick Hanly, Willie Greaney. Subs.: J.J.Conneely for Tom Lenehan and M. Leonard for P.J.Spellman.
Castlegar: John Joe McGrath Tom Broderick, Alfie Cooney, Matty Wall. John Corcoran. Fergus Madden, Stephen Francis Kevin Shaughnessy, Gerry Glynn, Padraic Connolly, Ted Murphy, Mick Connors, Tom Madden, Tom Glynn Stephen Hosty.
Referee: Mr. P. Glynn.