SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
COLT 0-16 CASTLETOWN 1-12
FOURTEEN years ago John O’Sullivan became the first man from the Village to mount the steps to receive the O’Keeffe Cup that would herald the biggest success stories in Laois hurling.
On Sunday evening last John patrolled the sideline as team manager and he could hardly believe his eyes as last year’s intermediate champions, Colt inflicted a first ever defeat by a new team on the one time aristocrats. John would be first to admit that the new kids on the block deserved their victory.
Intermediate champions in recent years have made little impression after stepping up. Indeed the last intermediate team to add the senior crown was Castletown. Colt may not be as successful but they have cleared the first hurdle with no faults.
Playing with wind assistance Colm Kavanagh had the distinction of scoring their first points in senior championship. David Cuddy got a brace for Castletown but Eddie Dunne drew level with a fine score from play after 15 minutes.
The second quarter saw Colt grow in confidence and Chris Murray regained the lead from a placed ball and Dan Dalton extended their advantage. Pat Mullaney then converted a Castletown free but then came the score of the game when Jimmy Farrell drove over a massive point from 80 metres ten minutes before the interval.
The closing minutes saw David Cuddy add to his tally but the final score of the half was sheer cheek from the newcomers when a ball appeared to be going wide a forward flicked back out field and Shane Mullins delivered it back between the uprights and at the break Colt led 0-9 to 0-5.
The consensus was that the experience of the seven times champions would be enough to drag them over the line. Wrong, John Carroll had words of advice for his charges and he knew they could hold their advantage.
The substituting of midfielder Gearoid Parkinson was a surprise move early in the game but late in the game he came back and proved he was still hungry for work, sending over a magnificent point at a crucial stage.
Castletown had just been thrown a lifeline when a 65 metre free by Paul Cuddy went all the way to the Colt net and reduced the margin. Two in a row for Castletown reduced arrears to the minimum but this time Colt held their nerve and in the closing minute were awarded a free out and the opposition were reduced to 14 players.
Colt had caused the shock of the championship and anything else will be a bonus.
COLT: Brian McDermott; Ben O’Connor, Ger Doolan, Tony Ryan; Colin Ryan, Jimmy Farrell, Brian Keegan; Anthony Dunne (.-.), Gearoid Parkinson (.-.); Dan Dalton (.-.), Eddie Dunne (.-.), Shane Mullins (.-.); Chris Murray (.-.), Pauric Dunne, Colm Kavanagh (.-.). Subs: Karl Grant for Parkinson, Parkinson for K. Grant, Mick Grant for E. Dunne.
CASTLETOWN: John Lyons; Tom Phelan, Fionan Cuddy, Brian Ferns; Declan Keenan, Paul Cuddy (.-.), Adrian Dollard; Cyril Cuddy, Robbie Delaney; David Cuddy (.-.), John Palmer ( Paddy Mullaney (.-.); Ciaran Dunne (.-.), John R Kingston ( John Gaughan. Subs: Damien Brophy for Phelan, Ben Reddin for Delaney.
REFEREE: Anthony Stapleton (Rathdowney/Errill)