Castlegar finish strongly to take spoils against arch city rivals

Date Published: {J}

Castlegar 0-21

Liam Mellows 1-14

Darren Kelly

CASTLEGAR took the spoils in last Saturday’s city derby to conclude the group stage of this year’s senior hurling championship. With both sides having already qualified for the next round, it was a matter of getting one over local rivals and finishing in second place in Group C.

Liam Mellows would have needed a 26 point victory to finish ahead of Mullagh, but while they made the better start leading 0-6 to 0-2 after 14 minutes, this game never looked like being one sided and a strong finish from Castlegar secured them second spot.

Ger Farragher attempted a point effort within seven seconds of the game’s commencement but while that effort went wide, team-mate Jason O’Gorman did split the posts before the first minute to give Castlegar the lead.

By the sixth minute, Mellows had overturned the advantage with Niall McInerney hitting a brace and Brian Lee also registering, with John Hughes set up two of these scores.

Farragher’s first point came from a ’65 in the seventh minute to reduce arrears to the minimum but further white flags for Jeffrey Lynskey, an Aonghus Callanan placed ball and a David Collins free gave Brian Hanley’s Mellows outfit their four point cushion.

Despite five wides in the opening 19 minutes, Castlegar were finding their range. Farragher and Ronan Flynn sent over two scores before Callanan responded with his second free on 17 minutes.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.