Castleknock topple Skerries to progress to SFC semis

Wed, 19th October 2016

CASTLEKNOCK 2-14 SKERRIES HARPS 0-10

A powerful and controlled second half by Castleknock saw them overcome Skerries Harps by ten points in Wednesday's night's opening Dublin SFC quarter-final at Parnell Park.

The Dublin 15 side led 1-6 to 0-7 at the interval but Harps had closed out the half on the up.

However, Castleknock put in a very disciplined and mature second half to run out convincing winners after a good battle.

The highly influential Shane Boland got Castleknock's first half goal in the 17th minute when he fired clinically to the net following a super counter-attack move by Graham Hannigan to put his side 1-3 to 0-2 ahead.

A Des Carlos free edged his side further ahead before Skerries grew into the match with points from the lively Stephen Smith (two frees), Colin Daly, Graham Cullen and another point from Smith from outside 40 metres.

Castleknock grabbed the last point of the half to halt Harps' momentum when the impressive Hannigan found the target following good graft by Tom Shiels.

In the third minute of first half injury-time Castleknock keeper Morven Connolly pulled off a fine save to deny Donncha Reilly at the end of clever build-up by Paul Cashman and Kevin Gilmore.

The early part of the second half belonged to Castleknock with points form Carlos (free), Boland off his left, and Carlos again sandwiching a Stephen Smith free to lead 1-9 to 0-8 after 39 minutes.

Lar Norton's side had moved 1-11 to 0-9 ahead by the 48th minute, with Ciarán Kilkenny, now operating from full-forward, driving over one excellent point from the left wing,before Mikey Galvin struck for Castleknock's second goal after Boland had covered huge ground to link the play.

The eventual winners tagged on to late frees from Carlos and Mikey Galvin to put polish on the final scoreline while Skerries keeper Shane Davis also made a fine save to deny Colin Lynch of a third goal for Castleknock.

Check out the match highlights:

SCORERS - Castleknock: D Carlos 0-7 (0-6f), S Boland, M Galvin (0-1f) 1-2 each, G Hannigan, C Lynch, C Kilkenny 0-1 each. Skerries Harps: S Smith 0-8 (0-7f), C Daly, G Cullen 0-1 each.

CASTLEKNOCK: M Connolly; C Neville, P Sherry, E O'Brien; T Quinn, T Shiels, G Hannigan; J Sherry, C Kilkenny; D Carlos, B Galvin, K Kindlon; M Galvin, S Boland, M Griffin. Subs: C Lynch for Griffin (33), J Kindlon for K Kindlon (42), P Bourke for Neville (50), T Corcoran for Carlos (58).

SKERRIES HARPS: S Davis; R Newsholme, E McGinley, E Smith; D O'Brien, S Rocks, J Smith; D O'Reilly, M Boylan; C Daly, B Cullen, K Gilmore; P Cashman, G Cullen, S Smith. Subs: J Garrett for D O'Brien (25), D McIlgorm for Boylan (40), C O'Brien for Daly (55), B Davey for Cashman (55), R McKey for Rocks (59).

REF: D O'Connor (Nh Mearnóg).