Shine's free earns Clann a deserved share of the spoils

Clann na nGael and Castlerea St Kevin's opened their Roscommon Senior Championship campaigns by sharing the spoils in O'Rourke Park on Sunday evening last. Castlerea, senior champions in 2008 and 2009, would surely have ambitions of success again this year. However, Clann na nGael indicated that they themselves will not be making up the numbers in the championship on the basis of this display. The home side would certainly fancy their chances of emerging from this group, but their task will now be more difficult as a result of this draw. Strokestown's win over Kilmore makes them the leaders of the group and the meeting of Castlerea and Strokestown next weekend will have huge significance. With just 19 minutes gone in this game, Castlerea were very much in the driving seat, with a 0-7 to 0-1 lead. The home side made a confident start to the game, led by two excellent Darren McDermott points in the first two minutes. However, Clann na Gael put in a huge effort in just over ten minutes to leave just two points between the sides at half-time, 0-8 to 0-6. The second half was tight and tense with Castlerea unable to shake off their dogged opponents, who grew in confidence. Donie Shine, the focal point of so many Clann attacks, got the equalising point (from a free) for his side with four minutes of normal time remaining. That score earned a deserved point for the hard working side, trained by the vastly experienced Dessie Dolan. Castlerea were given an opportunity to win the game deep into stoppage time. They were awarded a very dubious free by referee Paddy Neilan, who deemed that Enda Kenny was fouled by Donie Shine, who made very little contact with the Castlerea midfielder. Ger Heneghan went looking for his fifth free kick of the game, but his effort from about 25 metres out drifted wide of the uprights. In truth, Castlerea wouldn't have deserved to win the game. Clann na Gael fought for every ball, and bringing Donie Shine out around midfield in the second half gave them leadership in that sector. Apart from Shine's influence around the middle, Brian Goode put in a good shift in the No. 8 jersey. David Flynn worked hard in defence, while Matt Scally was excellent in attack. Darren McDermott got Castlerea off to the perfect start, kicking over two excellent points in the early stages. Donie Shine got Clann off the mark with a pointed free in the fifth minute. Shine was getting some close attention from his marker Neil Collins and both men received yellow cards for an incident in the 7th minute. Ger Heneghan lofted over a free from about 35 metres out in the 8th minute. Castlerea defender Dermot Lyons surged upfield in the 12th minute to take a point. Lyons was on the charge again in the 17th minute, with Enda Kenny setting up the No. 4 for another point. A foul on Ronan Curran yielded a free for Castlerea in the 17th minute, with Ger Heneghan accurate from the dead ball. Curran was in the thick of it again in the 19th minute, this time setting up Heneghan, who sent the ball over the bar. Clann na Gael needed to respond to their perilous situation and that they did. Graham Pettit started the revival, finishing off a good move with a point in the 20th minute. Donie Shine then sent over a free in the 22nd minute to continue the Clann comeback. The lively Matt Scally underlined his positive contribution to the Clann cause with a well taken point in the 28th minute. Donie Shine (free) and Ger Heneghan ('45) traded points late in the half and another Scally point gave Castlerea a two-point lead going into the break. Clann further increased the pressure on Castlerea with an Enda Kenny point in the 32nd minute. Darren McDermott replied for Castlerea with a point in the 33rd minute. Ger Heneghan, an increasing influence from open play, fired over a point in the 39th minute to give Castlerea a three-point lead. Enda Kenny replied for Clann na Gael in the 42nd minute, firing over the bar after the ball was knocked down by Brian Goode. Goode was fouled himself in the 44th minute, with Donie Shine sending over the subsequent free. Matt Scally further underlined his influence on the game with a good point in the 47th minute. Ger Heneghan was fouled by David Flynn in the 50th minute. This resulted in a yellow card for Flynn and a point for Castlerea, with Heneghan knocking over the free. The last ten minutes provided plenty of drama for the vocal crowd. Donie Shine sent his free off an upright in the 52nd minute, but Shine did find the target with a dead ball in the 56th minute, a crucial score that levelled matters. Castlerea did their best to find a winner in the closing stages. Ger Heneghan's injury time free came off the upright and a subsequent shot for a point from Seamus Stenson was wide. Castlerea's Enda Kenny was moving with purpose into the danger zone when referee Neilan decided that a foul had been committed. Donie Shine had been narrowing the space for Kenny to operate in, but the county star hardly even touched Kenny. Ger Heneghan's touch let him down, the free kick went wide and both set of supporters could be happy enough with the final result. Castlerea St Kevin's: Geoffrey Claffey; Eddie Creaton, Neil Collins, Dermot Lyons (0-2); Michael Sweeney, Declan Murphy, Gareth McElhone; Michael Killilea, Enda Kenny; Ronan Curran, Seamus Heneghan, David Scahill; Nigel Dineen, Ger Heneghan (0-6, 2f, 1'45), Darren McDermott (0-3). Subs: Seamus Stenson for Dineen (50 mins), Noel Curran for Lyons (54). Clann na nGael: Ronan O'Reilly; Ronan Gavin, Cathal Duignan, David Flynn; Eugene Pettit, Darragh Shine, Niall McManus; Brian Goode, Graham Pettit (0-1); Ronan Killian, Matt Scally (0-3), David Lennon; Enda Kenny (0-2), Donie Shine (0-5, 5f), Mark Shine. Subs: Emmet Rock for Killian (3 mins), Alan Dunne for Lennon (20). Referee: Paddy Neilan (St. Faithleach's).