The first quarter saw Aghamore establish an early lead, Alan Freeman opened the scoring for the visitors with a free after four minutes, which was cancelled out shortly afterwards by Richard Haran. Aghamore then took control for the next ten minutes, and four unanswered points from Colm Forde, Sean "g Robinson, and two from Alan Freeman put the visitors in a strong position.

The visitors, however, could not keep this momentum going. They saw their lead disappear at the expense of a Charlestown side that had suddenly found their scoring touch. Two points in quick succession from Richard Haran and Ollie Conway brought the deficit back to two points, and the visitors no longer seemed superior.

Charlestown midfielders Tom Parsons and David Tiernan had improved considerably as the half wore on, and points from Anthony Mulligan and another free from Haran on the 24th minute brought the sides back on level terms.

The most significant moment of the half came two minutes after Charlestown had drawn level, as they went three points ahead courtesy of a Mark Caf-frey goal. Caffrey played a clever pass to Paul Mulligan, whose shot was saved by Aghamore goalkeeper Niall Walsh, and Caffrey followed in the rebound to score from close range and give his side breathing space at a crucial time.

The sides then finished the half with a point each in injury time, Aghamore went for more than 15 minutes without a score, and it was a period which changed the course of the entire game. There was, however, only three points in the difference at the halfway mark.

Having scored 1-7 in the first half, the hosts replicated this score in the second half, while their opponents could only muster five points. Charlestown were dominant for the vast majority of the second period, and took a significant step towards victory in the 41st minute when they hit the back of the net for the second time.

Ollie Conway did well to put himself into a scoring position, and selflessly squared the ball to full-forward Anthony Mulligan, who finished by hand to establish the biggest lead of the match so far, as Sarsfields went six points clear.

Aghamore still had time to recoup this deficit, they introduced Liam Groarke into the half-forward line in a bid to freshen up their attack, but there was little they could do when faced with a very well-organised Charlestown side.

Further points from Conway and Mulligan ensured that the visitors could not eat into their lead. Sarsfields held them at arms length, and when corner-back Colm Caulfield was dismissed in the final moments for a second yellow card, the game was well and truly over for Aghamore. Charlestown finished as eight-point victors in a game which turned out not to be quite as competitive as the first half suggested.

Anthony Mulligan, David Tiernan and Colm Maye were all excellent. Aghamore, on the other hand, can have few complaints about the result, despite good performances from Caoimhín Carty, Sean "g Robinson and Alan Freeman.

SCORERS - Charlestown Sarsfields: Richard Haran 0-6 (5f), Mark Caffrey and Anthony Mulligan 1-1 each, Paul Mulligan (2f) and Ollie Conway 0-2 each, David Tiernan and Colm Maye 0-1 each.

Aghamore: Alan Freeman 0-6 (3f), Simon McGuinness, Sean "g Robinson, Liam Groarke, Colm Forde, Cathal Carty, Brendan Jordan 0-1 each.

CHARLESTOWN SARSFIELDS: John Casey; Darragh McMeel, Patrick Walsh, David Caffrey; Colm Maye, Aidan Higgins, Kevin Deignan; David Tiernan, Tom Parsons; Richard Haran, Mark Caffrey, Paul Mulligan; Martin Mulvaney, Anthony Mulligan, Ollie Conway. Subs: David Sloyan (for Casey), Enda Casey (for Walsh), Dermot Higgins (for Mulligan).

AGHAMORE: Niall Walsh; Michael Morley, David Kilkenny, Colm Caulfield; Enda Sweeney, Caoimhín Carty, Colm Garvey; Colm Forde, Sean "g Robinson; Brendan Jordan, Cathal Carty, Adrian Freeman; Fintan Coleman, Alan Freeman, Simon McGuinness. Subs: Liam Groarke (for Cathal Carty), James Kilkenny (for Jordan).

Referee: Kevin Connolly (Hollymount).

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