Fechins defeated in Leinster Club JHC semi-final

It was not to be for St Fechins as they lost out to Wexford side Castletown Liam Mellows in a closely-fought Leinster Hurling Championship semi final in Drogheda on Saturday.

Despite finishing with 13 players in the end, the Wexford champions sealed their place in the Leinster final, with the free taking of Eoin Cullen proving crucial, as he landed key frees at crucial times for them.

Despite that numerical advantage, St Fechins only managed 0-3 from play in that second half, and 1-4 from 13 shots in open play overall.

However, it could have been all so different for the Louth champions, but for a heroic goal-line clearance from Castletown defender Dylan Goland to deny Paul Matthews who collected a long ball and had beaten Castletown keeper Gavin Stamp all ends up, only for Goland’s herculean intervention.

It just serves as a reminder of how tight the margins are between winning and losing in these keenly contested provincial clashes.

There was nothing to choose between the sides at the end of the first quarter, with both teams deadlocked at 1-3 each.

Castletown’s Eoin Cullen (f) and the lively Doran Daly O’Toole opened the scoring, before St Fechins came to life, to take a three point lead with eight minutes on the clock. They rattled off 1-2 without reply.

Following a converted free from Patrick Lynch, a long ball from the hardworking Ryan Walsh found Seaghan Conneely at the edge of the square. Despite losing his hurley, Conneely managed to kick the sliotar to the net, which was met by a huge roar from the Fechins bench and supporters alike.

Either side of two strikes from St Fechins Patrick Lynch (1 sideline cut), Jack Higgins who also played a key role in the Castletown Liam Mellow’s football county title win this year, took a pass from O’Toole, before scoring from play, leaving it at 1-3 to 0-3 in the Fechins’ favour after 10 minutes.

Another lovely burst of pace from Jack Higgins, saw the dual star play a neat one two with Doran Daly O’Toole, before he fired the ball to the Fechins net to level things up at 1-3 each.

Higgins was causing the Fechins defence huge problems with his pace. However, the forward had to be substituted before half time after appearing to pull his hamstring, while running with the ball later in the half.

St Fechins were at times guilty of conceding cheap possession when they went long into their inside line, while the visitors also managed to win 12 of 24 Fechins’ puckouts, with Colin Kennedy, Rory Heffernan, Ross Cody and Brendan Halpin able to impose their physicality in that department.

On the other hands, St Fechins won 13 from 22 Castletown puckouts, as both sides bravely fought tooth and nail for each breaking ball.

County man Peter Fortune led the St Fechins charge here, winning several breaks, and finishing with 15 possessions in this semi final, while Sean Kerrisk, Ross Berkey and David Stephenson offered a strong support cast.

St Fechins’ keeper Dan O’Neill deserves credit for producing a marvellous acrobatic save from Doran Daly O’Toole who was baring down on goal, as Castletown caused problems when they ran at the home side’s defence.

Brendan Halpin, Jack Higgins and first half sub Sean Og Stafford gave Castletown a 1-6 to 1-3 lead with 20 minutes on the clock.

St Fechins’ ability to dig deep when the chips are down has been a cornerstone of their success, and the home side fought back to restore parity before the break.

Following a turnover from sweeper David Stephenson, he found Patrick Lynch, who in turn teed up Ross Berkery whose shot just curled inside the post for a point.

Two further Patrick Lynch frees left the sides level at 1-6 apiece at the break, as the team in green and white were met with a deafening cheer from the home support as they jogged into the dressing rooms at the interval.

Second Half:

Marksmen Patrick Lynch of St Fechins and Eoin Cullen of Castletown treated us to some wonderful free taking, as the game remained on a cliff-edge throughout.

Two frees from Patrick Lynch cancelled out two earlier frees from Eoin Cullen, and the sides were once again level at 1-8 each after 38 minutes.

Moments prior to Lynch’s free, Castletown’s bench and supporters were furious with referee Mark Ryan who dismissed Brendan Halpin with a straight red card for a challenge on Peter Fortune.

Following this, Castletown seemed to adopt a siege mentality, as a fine strike from Ross Cody put them ahead minutes later, which you felt meant a lot them from a psychological perspective.

From the resultant puckout St Fechins’ Donal Ryan found Paul Matthews who set up Ross Berkery to fire the ball over his right shoulder to level the sides once again level at 1-9 apiece. Berkery delivered a warrior-like performance for his side’s cause, finishing with 0-3.

It felt like Castletown had the player advantage, as they rattled off four points in a row thanks to Eoin Cullen (including 3fs).

This left Castletown ahead by 1-13 to 1-9 with 48 minutes on the clock.

Patrick Lynch closed the gap to three with a close range free. Despite appearing to lose control on proceedings, St Fechins always possess that goal threat, and almost landed a crucial second major through Paul Matthews, who was denied on the line by Castletown’s Dylan Goland.

In the same attack, Ross Berkey collected a Ryan Walsh pass, before putting the ball over the bar to narrow the deficit to two.

Another Cullen free stretched Castletown’s lead back to three.

David Stephenson who also finished with 15 possessions, landed a huge score from range as the Fechins pressed their opponents, who also lost defender Frank Roache to a second half dismissal.

A Patrick Lynch free did leave just a point between the sides, two minutes into stoppage time.

But try as they might, St Fechins could not find a leveller, with their profligacy from open play costing them, as Castletown’s sub Marc Halpin sealed a two point win for his side late on, as they battled their way over the line, which was met with huge celebrations from the visitors.

St Fechins: Dan O’Neill; Conor Matthews, Oisin Byrne, Colin Griffin; George Allen, Peter Fortune, Donal Ryan; Ross Berkery (0-3), Sean Hodgins; Patrick Lynch (0-9) (7f) (one sideline) (one ’65), Ryan Walsh, Sean Kerrisk; David Stephenson (0-1), Seaghan Conneely (1-0), Paul Matthews.

Subs: Danny Morgan for Hodgins (HT), Darragh Stone for Berkery (58), Ruairi Morrissey for Kerrisk (59).

Castletown Liam Mellows: Gavin Stamp; Dylan Goland, Danny Gardiner, Frank Roache; Richard Farrell, Brendan Halpin (0-1); Rory Heffernan, Ross Cody (0-1); Joe Gardiner, Jack Higgins (1-1), Conor Carty; Eoin Cullen (0-8) (7f), Doran Daly O’Toole (0-2), Robbie Brooks.

Subs: Sean Og Stafford (0-1) for Higgins (20), Alex Murphy for Higgins (24), Marc Halpin (0-1) for Murphy (46).

Referee: Mark Ryan (Co Dublin).