Div 4 Co. League – Relegation Playoff
Churchill 1-12 Castlegregory 1-6
In Ballymac last Saturday, Churchill put in one of their best performances of the year to secure their Division 4 status and consign Castlegregory to Division 5. In wet and windy conditions, on a pitch with a lot of surface water, Churchill battled from the first minute to the last and put in a pure team performance to ensure their survival. Churchill, playing against the wind, came out of the blocks from the start and were 2 points up within 2 minutes, with a free from Ivan Parker and a superb point from play from Conor Daly. Alan Fitzgerald pulled a point back for Castlegregory after 4 minutes. At that stage, Castle were coming more into the game, and in the 11th minute, Paul O’Sullivan pulled off a brilliant double save to prevent a Castlegregory goal. Fitzgerald tied up the scores with a free after 15 minutes. For the next 10 minutes, Churchill owned the ball and added on 4 points, with 3 points from Parker (2 frees) and a great point from captain, Mikey Brennan. Castlegregory finished the half strongly with 2 points and indeed had a strong claim for a penalty waved away by the referee.
Half Time: Churchill 0-6 Castlegregory 0-4
Playing with the advantage of the wind, Churchill needed to get some quick scores on the board and this is exactly what they did. Within a minute of the throw-in, Parker had a point from play to extend the lead to 3 points. He added another point after 4 minutes, and then Churchill got the decisive score. A well worked move up the pitch resulted in Mikey Brennan cutting in from the end-line and slotting an excellently taken goal at the near post. This really drove Churchill on and Brennan added another point a minute later, quickly followed by a good point from play from Daly. All Castlegregory could muster in reply was a point from a free from their ever dangerous centre forward. Parker added to his total tally of 8 points after 16 minutes and he then punished a poor kickout by returning the ball over the bar. Castle had another pointed free in the 20thminute, but couldn’t penetrate a resolute Churchill defence. From there to the end, Churchill controlled the ball and played very clever possession football. Castlegregory did raise a green flag with the last attack of the game, but by then, their fate was sealed.
While Churchill will be thankful of securing their Division 4 status, this was a season of what ifs. If a few results had gone our way, the team could have been looking at a promotion play-off instead of fighting relegation. However, if the team show as much fighting spirit in 2016 as they did on Saturday, there is no reason they can’t compete for honours next season.
Full Time: Churchill 1-12 Castlegregory 1-6
Churchill: Paul O’Sullivan, Mitchell Holland, Peadar Stack, Shane Crowley, JJ Prior, Garrett Walsh, Matt Finnerty, Ciaran Crowley, Jack O’Connell, Ivan Parker(0-8, 4 frees), Mikey Brennan (1-2), Dara O’Shea, Cathal Rogers, Conor Daly (0-2), Des McCarthy
Subs used: Oisin O’Brien, Brian Hill, Mike O’Brien
Churchill GAA AGM
The AGM of Churchill GAA will take place on Thursday 10th December 2015 at Spa Community Centre at8.30 pm. All members are requested to attend.
Churchill Juvenile GAA AGM
The club’s Juvenile AGM will be held on Sunday 6th December at 4 pm in the Spa Community Centre.
Nomination for Officers and mentors can be submitted to the Juvenile Secretary, Aidan Murphy [aidanmurphy22@hotmail.com] in advance of the meeting and will also be taken from the floor on the day.
