'Castle survive late onslaught to fight another day

After 60 plus minutes of football in Croke Park last Saturday that had every ingredient which the 25,412 spectators could hope for, Garrycastle and Crossmaglen Rangers will have to meet again to decide whether the Andy Merrigan Cup will reside in Westmeath or Armagh for the next twelve months. This was a heart-stopping match and a wonderful advertisement for Gaelic football in an era when many traditionalists bemoan the dearth of good old-fashioned contests - with an emphasis on catching, kicking, tough but fair challenges (in the main), high-quality scores, near-misses and wholehearted endeavour way beyond the call of duty for entirely amateur players. Garrycastle led by four points at half-time and by five points with 20 minutes to go, but the Armagh champions characteristically battled back to secure a replay. While, in the end, a draw was an eminently fair result, the return bus and car journeys northward are likely to have been quieter affairs than those westward, with the five-time champions spurning a couple of late chances when almost totally dominating the exchanges. Throw in a very fortunate escape for Paul Dillon early in the game, a missed goal opportunity from livewire corner-forward, Jamie Clarke at a crucial juncture and it may seem that Lady Luck smiled inordinately on the Shannnonsiders on St Patrick's Day. However, Garrycastle also hit the woodwork twice and their ultra-confident approach to the game belied their status as rank outsiders. The odds will be significantly shorter about Anthony Cunningham's men for the replay, the Galwegian needing to 'double-job' for another ten days (at least) as his magnificent troops in green and red plan another assault on the Holy Grail of club football. The rematch will be eagerly awaited by all football lovers, when the Orchard County men will be even stronger given the return from suspension of their captain, Stephen Kernan. Clearly showing no signs of stage fright, Garrycastle, who had whatever benefit was accruing from the wind blowing towards the canal end of GAA headquarters, started the game strongly and took the lead through a Des Dolan 25-metre free in the second minute, quickly followed by another score from his cousin James (when teed up cleverly by Des). The very impressive Jamie Clarke responded with a fine score for Crossmaglen, before many Westmeath hearts almost stopped when it looked certain that Paul Dillon would be taking an early shower, but his altercation with Brendan McKeown was deemed just a yellow card offence by the referee. James Duignan (who had a great first half) and Tony Kernan traded points, as did Des Dolan and Aaron Kernan (both classy scores). The latter player (in particular) and his Crossmaglen colleagues were beginning to open up some gaps in the Garrycastle defence and, on 12 minutes, it took typically alert goalkeeping from Cathal Mullin to deny Tony Kernan a goal chance, a save which prompted a counterattack ending in a converted free by Paul Dillon. Oisín McConville and Des Dolan exchanged points from frees before Jamie Clarke reduced the gap to one again with a marvellous individual point. In the 21st minute, a sideline kick from Seanie O'Donoghue was not cleared by the Crossmaglen defence and the ball fell to Patrick Mulvihill, whose low shot flew past Paul Hearty. An opportunist point from Jamie Clarke reduced the margin to a goal (1-6 to 0-6), but James Dolan and Aidan Browne (a blood sub for O'Donoghue) added to the green and reds' total. Michael McNamee's late point for the Ulster men left the score at the interval reading: Garrycastle 1-8 Crossmaglen Rangers 0-7. Six minutes into the second half, Tom McHugh picked up his second yellow card for a challenge on Jamie Clarke and Oisín McConville tapped over the resultant free. Two converted frees by Des Dolan made it 1-10 to 0-8 for the 9/2 outsiders, with full-back Paul Kernan picking up a second yellow of his own for a foul on Gary Dolan prior to the second free. However, Crossmaglen are justifiably renowned for their never-say-die spirit and the remaining Kernan brothers, Aaron and Tony, kicked a point apiece, sandwiched between which Jamie Clarke's close-range effort came off the post followed by a suspicion of a handball offence by a Garrycastle defender near the goal line. Crossmaglen were beginning to dominate and three points, all from Oisín McConville (two from frees), between the 46th and 49th minutes brought his side level and seemingly heading for a sixth crown. But Garrycastle are renowned battlers themselves and a Des Dolan free (after he had been fouled) and a point from play by Mulvihill (who wisely opted not to try for a goal) looked like they would be the clinching scores. Seven minutes remained and, in truth, they proved very uncomfortable viewing for Garrycastle supporters as Tony McEntee's men utterly monopolised possession in and around midfield. Another McConville free and a tremendous point from David McKenna tied up the scoring. However, Garrycastle rode their luck in a tense climax as the Orchard County men untypically wasted match-winning chances, the most blatant being a slapped goal chance wide of the post by Jamie Clarke just yards from goal. Two minutes' added-time failed to yield a winner and a pulsating contest had ended all square. Scorers - Garrycastle: D Dolan 0-6 (5f), P Mulvihill 1-1, J Dolan 0-2, J Duignan, P Dillon and A Browne 0-1 each. Crossmaglen Rangers: O McConville 0-6 (5f), J Clarke 0-3, T Kernan and A Kernan 0-2 each, M McNamee and D McKenna 0-1 each. Garrycastle: Cathal Mullin; Enda Mulvihill, John Gaffey, Mark McCallon; Tom McHugh, Doron Harte, Karl Henson; Seanie O'Donoghue, David O'Shaughnessy; Paul Dillon, Patrick Mulvihill, Gary Dolan; James Duignan, James Dolan, Des Dolan. Subs used: Aidan Browne (blood sub), for O'Donoghue (27 mins), Rory McGowan for Duignan (43), Aidan Browne for G. Dolan (46), Alan Fox for Henson (49), Alan Daly for Dillon (56). Crossmaglen Rangers: Paul Hearty; James Morgan, Paul Kernan, Paul McKeown; Aaron Kernan, Danny O'Callaghan, Brendan McKeown; Johnny Hanratty, David McKenna; Aaron Cunningham, Tony Kernan, Michael McNamee; Jamie Clarke, Kyle Brennan, Oisín McConville. Subs used: Stephen Finnegan for B. McKeown (inj,, 24), Kyle Carragher for Brennan (29), Martin Aherne for McNamee (51), Francis Hanratty for Carragher (56). Referee: Rory Hickey (Clare).