by Ronan Fagan Starlights 2-12, Castletown 0-11
Goals from Eamonn Furlong and Dylan Redmond decorated defending champions Starlights’ advance to the last-four of the Tom Doyle Supplies county SFC with a confident dismissal of Castletown at Innovate Wexford Park on Saturday evening.
The title-holders didn’t have to hit top-gear as they accounted for the champions of 2010 in a complete repeat of last year’s semi-final meeting as double-chasing Rapparees-Starlights now switch their attentions to next Saturday’s Pettitt’s SHC quarter-final showdown with Rathnure.
A second-minute pointed free by Castletown’s Jonathan Bealin was the solitary input during a frenetic opening spell before Paul Bealin’s men moved 0-3 to 0-0 clear after 12 minutes with rapid additions by Bealin and Anthony Masterson.
But Starlights were menacing, and they eventually ended their drought on 14 minutes with an Alan Tobin free before turning the tide by 0-4 to 0-3 after 18 minutes as Dylan Redmond added a free before corner-backs Mel Doyle and Rory O’Connor purposefully completed the transformation.
Jody O’Shaughnessy and Jonathan Bealin (free) regained the initiative for Castletown by the 22nd-minute (0-5 to 0-4).
But Starlights reaffirmed their intent as Dylan Redmond levelled from a free before the no.12’s mazy run ended with his cross before inadvertently crashed to the net by a Castletown defender for a 1-5 to 0-5 breakthrough on 25 minutes.
And Ryan Mahon and full-back Jack Kelly bolstered Starlights’ advantage to 1-7 to 0-6 at half-time as Anthony Masterson maintained Castletown’s firm interest.
An early exchange of points on the resumption preceded a fortuitous lead-consolidating Starlights’ goal on 35 minutes, when a tame shot appeared to be offering no threat only for Castletown to be caught napping as full-forward Eamonn Furlong popped up to find the Clonard-end net as the gap stretched to 2-9 to 0-7.
And midfielder Liam Ryan went within the crossbar of rounding off a dominant passage of play with a goal only to have to settle for a point to leave it 2-10 to 0-9 on 48 minutes after Jonathan Bealin pegged back a couple of Castletown scores.
Eamonn Furlong was also left soothing his disappointment with the consolation of a point when his goaling chance flew over after he seized onto a defensive error.
Castletown weren’t without hope though as Donnacha Holmes found Anthony Masterson in a promising breakaway only for Starlights’ keeper Pa Doyle to effect a fine save.
Jonathan Bealin did add another free to shave the gap to 2-11 to 0-10 after 52 minutes, and Starlights were immensely relived when one of their defenders diverted a threatening effort on goal from Robbie Brooks over the crossbar.
But Starlights were full value for qualification as Castletown ended with 14 men.
Starlights – Pa Doyle, Rory O’Connor (0-1), Jack Kelly (-1), Mel Doyle (0-1), Kevin Foley, Ricky Fox, James Peare, Liam Ryan (0-1), James Carty, Alan Tobin (0-4, 3 frees), Nick Doyle, Dylan Redmond (1-2, 0-2 frees), Darragh Pepper, Eamonn Furlong (1-1), Ryan Mahon (0-1).
Sub: Anthony Roche for Mel Doyle; Tom Wall for James Carty.
Castletown – Niall Hempenstall, Peter Devine, Danny Gardiner, Killian Pierce, Pierce Maxwell (0-1), Frank Roche, Conor Carty, Rory Heffernan, Richard Farrell, Stephen Moloney, Jonathan Bealin (0-6, 4 frees), Jody O’Shaughnessy (capt., 0-1), Brendan Halpin, Anthony Masterson (0-2), Ben Brosnan.
Subs: Liam Coleman for Richard Farrell; Donnacha Holmes for Stephen Moloney; James Holmes for Jody O’Shaughnessy; Ross Bealin for Brendan Halpin; Robbie Brooks (0-1) for Pierce Maxwell; (black-card, George Sunderland for Liam Coleman).
Referee – James Owens (Kilrush).