Aredfield 5

Castletown Celtic 0

GER McCARTHY REPORTS

NIALL Keane’s hat-trick fired Ardfield into a second consecutive Beamish Cup final.

Intent on going one step further than last year, the fairy-tale ending is on after last season’s runners-up easily overcame Castletown Celtic in the semi-final at Ollie McCarthy Park in Skibbereen.

‘The lads were brilliant today,’ Ardfield manager Johnny Lawless told The Southern Star.

‘We scored five goals and probably could have had a few more.

‘I’m pleased with the goals and the fact Aaron (O’Brien) made some huge saves for us as well. He was like Spiderman jumping around and came to our rescue a few times at the start of the game.’

The winners were full value for their triumph thanks to four superbly finished goals and a converted penalty. Niall Keane’s hat-trick was an obvious highlight but Paul Hodnett was at the hub of Ardfield’s best moments.

Hodnett, Keane, Conor Twomey, Sam Linehan, Aaron O’Brien and an effective back four provided the requisite quality to reach another cup final.

Castletown Celtic's Matthew Draper in action against Ardfield's Paul Hodnett. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

‘Myself and Sean (Linehan) have spent the year going over what we did and didn’t do in last year’s cup final,’ Lawless added.

‘That’s the positive thing. We have taken the lessons from last year’s defeat and put them into action this season.’

A disappointed Castletown had their moments but failure to find the net proved costly. Jack O’Callaghan, Darragh Ryan, Oisin O’Leary and Gearoid O’Donovan worked hard for a club that will be desperate to rebound from Premier Division relegation next season.

Favourable conditions greeted the sides at kick-off on Sunday, despite a strong wind blowing across a superbly prepared pitch.

Ardfield settled quickly and utilised Paul Hodnett, Sean Lawless and Conor Twomey to keep their opponents on the back foot.

It was Castletown who created the tie’s first opportunity with Mark Draper shooting wide. That was followed by Twomey racing clear only for a heavy touch to take the ball past an outrushing Oisin O’Leary and wide of the target.

A scrappy first quarter of an hour delivered little in terms of quality until Aaron O’Brien produced two brilliant point-blank stops to prevent Conor O’Sullivan and Mark Draper from firing Celtic ahead. Those saves proved crucial as an improving Ardfield promptly hit the front after 19 minutes.

Sam Linehan’s run and cross was collected by Conor Twomey who instantly passed to Paul Hodnett. The latter executed a sublime turn that took him past two defenders before firing low into the net.

Castletown’s response was positive, forcing Ardfield into hurried clearances and another O’Brien save. But Ardfield’s quality in the final third remained constant and delivered a second goal on the half hour – Conor Twomey’s impudent first-time flick from a Niall Keane corner doubled Ardfield’s lead.

Rather than sit on their 2-0 advantage, Ardifeld pushed forward and twice went close to adding a third. Hodnett headed wide from a corner before bringing the best out of Oisin O’Leary to conclude an engaging first 45 minutes.

Castletown Celtic's Micheál O'Driscoll and Ardfield's Seán Lawless in a race for possession. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Castletown enjoyed their best spell during the third quarter. Jack O’Callaghan instigated a series of attacks with Darragh Ryan, Niall O’Halloran and Eoghan Mangan asking questions of their opposing defence.

Happy to sit deep, Ardfield broke from the back and ended the tie as a contest after 55 minutes. Celtic failed to deal with an Aaron O’Brien punted clearance. Paul Hodnett gained possession and played in Niall Keane who billowed the net to make it 3-0.

Niall Keane provided the finish to another sweeping move with 11 minutes to go. There was still time for Keane to complete his hat-trick, converting a penalty with the last action of the game.

Still in the hunt for Premier Division promotion and the Championship Cup, Ardfield will relish their underdogs tag in this season’s Beamish Cup final.

‘Being underdogs will suit us,’ Lawless added.

‘I prefer it that way. After losing last year’s Beamish Cup final, it was one of our goals to get back there again.

‘That loss means the lads really want to win it this year. You saw that in today’s performance.’

OUR STAR: Ardfield hat-trick hero Niall Keane was excellent throughout and finished each of his three goals superbly.

Ardfield: Aaron O’Brien, Caolan Hayes, Fintan Barrett (captain), Michael Maguire, Ronan Hayes, Niall Keane, Sam Linehan, Sean Lawless, Paul Hodnett, Conor Twomey, George Cannon.

Subs: Cillian White, Peter Barrett, Colm Hayes, Karol Siwek, Jerry McCarthy.

Castletown Celtic: Oisin O’Leary, Darren Coughlan, Eoghan Mangan, Darragh Kelleher, Micheal O’Driscoll, Niall O’Halloran, Jack O’Callaghan, Stephen Moore, Conor O’Sullivan, Gearoid O’Donovan, Matthew Draper (captain).

Subs: Cian Buttimer, Shane Corcoran, Tiernan O’Driscoll, Colin O’Leary.

Referee: Niall O’Donovan.