Carnmore............ 2-6
Castlegar........... 2-9
County Senior Hurling Champions Castlegar added another title to their collection on Sunday when they had a three point win over Carnmore in a bad tempered West Board final at Pearse Stadium. And although they never played in their championship winning mood they should have added a few more points against a Carnmore team that can thank, some level headed supporters on the side line and Padraic Fahy on the field that the game finished at all.
For in the second half some of their supporters, who should have never been on the field completely lost their heads and got so unruly that referee Paddy Glynn threatened at one state to call off the game. Altogether over fifty people were on the side-line—a number which is almost five times the number of officials that should hare been there.
The trouble began early in the second half when Castlegar's Ted Murphy was carried off having been viciously cut down as he chased a ball. But as the half continued both teams showed a reluctance to forget he incident and the situation was made worse by sideline' threats to Referee Glynn. Matters quietened down near the end with Carnmore's Padraic Fahy and Castlegar’s John Connolly, both county players, separating truculent players.
However this was a sad ending to a game that in the first half produced some entertaining hurling. But after Sunday's second half it seems as if the G.A.A. will have to decide not how many get on to the sideline but what mental type they can afford to allow in.
There was little sign in the first half of trouble as Carnmore settled down quickly and played the better forward hurling. At midfield Jim Hughes was having an unexpectedly good game and his opposite number Castlegar's John Connolly was also measuring up to standard but got a much poorer return- from his forwards for his work. The Carnmore forwards found themselves in acres of space and quickly shot two goals against a strangely loose and open Castlegar defence.
At times Castlegar did play it tight at the back but on one or two occasions afterwards they showed huge gaps and were lucky to escape conceding further goals. In general they looked very uncoordinated for champions. Mickey O'Connor and John Connolly were playing well but Connolly's shooting was off and O'Connor rarely received enough support from a forward line that got little space or time from the hard tackling Carnmore backs.
However, they did make a few breakthroughs and before half time two soft goals and some neat shots by Mickey O'Connor saw them lead at half time by one point. The second half seemed to promise all the excitement associated with such a final with Carnmore on their first half performance slight favorites to win. But after a promising ten minute period this half was marred by one long incident and Castlegar played whatever good hurling was seen.
The county champions completed their scoring with points from John Connolly, Sean Murphy and one from Tommy Glynn. Best for Castlegar who lined out without the injured Stephen Francis were the two Connolly’s, Tommy Glynn, John Corcoran, Mickey O’Connor and Tom Broderick. In particular they must be pleased with the game, played by Padraic Connolly. Absorbing an awful lot of punishment he proved he has plenty of latent talent and little fear.
For Carnmore who surely must have won had they kept their heads were John Long, John Hession, Sean Murphy, Jim Hughes, Padraic Fahy and Michael Hanly. Long and Hession really played consistently well and emerged as hurlers to watch. Goalie Paddy Welsh also played well.
Scorers:
Castlegar: Tom Madden (1-O) John Carr (1-0), Mickey O’Connor and John Connolly (0-3), Tom Glynn (0-2) and Padraic Connolly (0-1).
Carnmore: Tom Lenehan (2-0), Padraic Fahy (0-3), Sean Murphy (0-2), and Michael Greaney (0-1).
Teams:
Carnmore: Paddy Welsh, Billy McDonagh, Peter Fahy, Matty Cooney, John Long, John Murphy, John Hession, Sean Murphy, Jim Hughes Mick Hanly, Michael Greaney Padraic Fahy, Martin Leonard Tom Lenehan, Paddy Welsh.
Castlegar: John J. McGrath, Matty Wall, Tom Broderick, Alfie Cooney, Fergus Madden John Corcoran, Gerry Glynn, John Connolly, Kevin Shaughnessy, Padraic Connolly, Ted Murphy, Mickey O'Connor, Tom Madden, John Carr, Tommy Glynn.