Youth versus experience, and experience prevail - Div 3 FL
March 30, 2026
Killavullen and Castletownroche played out a very interesting game, in Castletownroche yesterday, in what was a game, involving contrasting teams. Killavullen were very, very young, and numerically very tight, even though it was a 13 a-side competition and Castletownroche had a large panel, and far more experienced outfit.
Castletownroche were the first to score, but Colm O Mahony, playing his second game in 24 hours, as were some others from Killavullen as well, replied with a fine point against the wind. The vastly experienced Muiris Browne scored a fine two-point score with the aid of the significant wind and this lead was added to by Niall Hazelwood shortly there after for Castletownroche. Despite playing well, and minding the ball well, for periods, any loss of possession was punished by Castletownroche who craft and guile up front was telling. Colm got another point back for us, before Castletownroche stretched out the lead again, with two further points. Seamus O Mahoney scored another fine point for us, but Castletownroche answered that back immediately. Just before the break, Niall Feaheny, and he with the Oral Irish exams on the following day, scored a great goal for us, with a powerful shot.
The designated referee was unfortunate in that his car broke down on the way to the game, and the opening 28 minutes of the opening half was refereed by Stephen Dunne, coach for Castletownroche without any discernible grievance from both sides. He was replaced for the remaining two minutes of the game, by experienced local referee, Justin Murphy.
In the second period, Darragh O grady scored a cracking goal for us, to bring parity to the scoreboard, 2-03 to 0-09. Muiris Browne restored the Castletownroche lead with a point, and then, the home team was awarded a penalty. Cian made himself big in the goals, and he managed to parry the initial shot, but it rebounded kindly to the kicker, Adrian O Donovan, who finished it, to the net. Ian O Mahony scored a great point from distance, that was adjudged to be just inside the arc, and he followed up later with another point. The lead was down to the minimum when Colm O Mahony, brother to Ian, scored a good point. In a welter of excitement, Castletownroche held on for the win, and the game was settled with another goal for Castletownroche, that belied the valiant effort put up by Killavullen.
2-10 to 2-06 was the final score.
The team and scorers were.
- Cian Murphy
- Sean O Shea
- Joe Cagney
- Conor Barrett
- Conor Griffin
- Niall Carroll
- Niall Feaheny (1-00)
- Colm O Mahony (0-03)
- Seamus Cronin
- Seamus O Mahony(0-01)
- Darragh O Grady (1-00)
- David Walsh
- Ian O Mahony (0-02)