Semi-final heartbreak for Craigbane
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Milltown-Castlemaine (Kerry).................1-7
Craigbane (Derry)....................................1-6
THERE was heartbreak for Craigbane in the Intermediate Club Championship Semi-Final as the Derry side lost out to Kerry side Milltown-Castlemaine by a single point at O'Moore Park Portlaoise on Sunday. A disappointing first-half from the Derry Champions saw Castlemaine hold the lead at the interval 0-04 to 0-02. The Ulster Champions were dealt a further blow as defender Brain Rainey harshly was sent off two minutes into the second-half but Lee Moore got his side back in the game with a well taken point to narrow the gap. Despite having the man advantage Milltown could not make it count as they missed several chances to extend their lead. Craigbane were battling well and were soon rewarded for their efforts when centre forward Adrian McLoughlin levelled the sides with a great point.
Lee Moore then put the Derry side in front when he took advantage of a slip by a Milltown defender before raising the green flag. Castlemaine struck back immediately, winning the ball from the kick-out before breaking forward and Shane Murphy made no mistake as he hammered the ball past Paul Sharkey in the Craigbane net.
Substitute Derek Twiss grabbed two points late on and although Craigbane's Ryan Moore hit over an injury-time point to set up a nail-biting finale, the Milltown-Castlemaine defence held firm to advance by the slenderest of margins.
Milltown-Castlemaine will now face Connacht champions Davitts of Mayo in the All-Ireland Club Intermediate Football Final.
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