Carna-Caiseal men fail to recover from opening half disallowed goal

Date Published: 24-Oct-2012

Charlestown 1-13

Carna-Caiseal 0-6

Cian O’Connell at Pearse Stadium

THOUGH the scoreline was rather harsh on Carna-Caiseal, there was no denying Charlestown superiority in Sunday’s Connacht Intermediate Championship quarter final at Pearse Stadium.

Carna-Caiseal had been brave initially, but the concession of a goal on the stroke of half-time handed Charlestown the initiative. After the restart, Charlestown reeled off five points without reply to double their advantage meaning that the ultimate winning margin was all that needed to be determined in the closing stages.

Late on as Carna-Caiseal chased the game pouring bodies forward, they just weren’t accurate enough converting the chances they created. Niall Coyne did land a couple of fine points, but the grim statistic that only three scores were posted in each half meant that it was Charlestown who prevailed with the minimum of fuss.

While Charlestown shaded the opening period, Carna-Caiseal certainly had grounds for complaint as a few key decisions when against them. In these kind of matches where clubs are almost entering the unknown, slices of good fortune are crucial and the Connemara outfit were robbed of a goal in the 12th minute.

Despite bossing the early exchanges, Charlestown had only registered a point in the first 12 minutes courtesy of Paul Ward when Carna-Caiseal stitched a neat move together. Micheál O Cathasaigh and the diligent Seán O Cillín were involved with the ball worked inside to corner forward Seosamh O Cathasaigh.

Showing admirable strength and composure O Cathasaigh drilled a smashing goal from an acute angle, but referee Ray McBrien controversially awarded a free in. Instead of a major, Carna-Caiseal had to settle for a routine Seosamh Seoige free. Even at that stage, the decision had a significant impact because Charlestown were in the ascendancy.

At centrefield, Tom Parsons was productive covering the ground repeatedly putting Charlestown on the front foot and inside rangy full forward Anthony Mulligan was showing well for the ball. With the interval looming, Charlestown had established a 0-5 to 0-3 cushion when the decisive play occurred in the 29th minute.

Richard Haran, Ollie Conway, and Joe Owens were heavily involved manufacturing space for man of the match Mulligan, who swept an opportunistic shot past the advancing Donal O Dubhda. Carna-Caiseal trailed 1-5 to 0-3, but within eight minutes of the restart they were in deep bother as Charlestown continued to probe.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.