Nothing separates Charlestown and Holly-Carra in hard-hitting stalemate
Darren Coen struck 1-4 for Hollymount-Carramore in the second half. Picture: INPHO
Charlestown Sarsfields and Hollymount-Carramore shared the spoils after an enthralling and hard-fought draw at Fr O’Hara Park in Charlestown on Friday evening. Six yellow cards were issued in a fiercely contested encounter that saw momentum swing dramatically throughout.
The visitors nearly made the perfect start when Enda Maloney thought he had found the net, only for the effort to be ruled out for a free out. Hollymount-Carramore opened the scoring moments later when Darren Coen linked up with Tiernan Egan for a point before Matthew Morris added another free to make it 0-2 to 0-0.
Charlestown’s Colm Maye missed two long-range frees before finally opening his account on his third attempt. Coen responded from a free and Thomas Morris extended the visitors’ lead after good work from Jack Keane through midfield.
The game’s physical edge became clear when Enda Maloney received the first yellow card following a high tackle on Conor McArdle. Ciaran Honeyman converted the resulting free before Coen restored the two-point cushion from another placed ball.
Charlestown responded with a flowing move involving Patrick Dunleavy, Ben Crean and Alan Woods, who pointed to reduce the gap to one. Yellow cards were issued to Ruairí Cullen and Dunleavy for separate incidents before Tomás Holton levelled the game with a fine score after patient build-up play.
Hollymount-Carramore finished the first half strongly. Coen struck a two-point free before Maloney burst through the defence and fired powerfully past Kenneth Brennan for the game’s opening goal. Moments later, Finian Walsh won a penalty after a challenge from Tomás Goldrick, who was yellow carded. Coen calmly converted the penalty to leave the visitors 2-7 to 0-5 ahead at the break.
Charlestown began the second half brightly through an Eoin Murphy point, while Rory Walsh was shown yellow after hauling down Jack Corley. Maye added another free as the home side kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Following a lengthy stoppage during which Matthew Morris and Finian Walsh were booked, Keane finally registered Hollymount-Carramore’s first score of the half. However, Charlestown continued to build momentum. Cullen and Woods both pointed before Holton broke through the defence and found Cullen who blasted to ball into the net to leave just two between the sides, 2-8 to 1-9.
Substitute Cian Towey made an immediate impact converting a free to cut the deficit to one with two minutes remaining.
Keane briefly gave the visitors breathing space with another point entering injury time, but Charlestown refused to give in. Ben Crean rattled the crossbar before the ball bounced over, leaving the minimum between the teams once more.
Deep into added time, Charlestown earned a late free after a breach from the visitor. Towey step up and calmly converted from close range to secure a dramatic draw and leave the sides level after a highly entertaining contest.
Scorers - Charlestown Sarsfields: Ruairí Cullen 1-0-1, Colm Maye 0-1-1 (1tpf), Cian Towey 0-0-2f, Ciaran Honeyman, Tomás Goldrick, Tomás Holton, Eoin Murphy, Alan Woods and Ben Crean 0-0-1 each.
Hollymount-Carramore: Darren Coen 1-1-2 (1-0pen, 1tpf, 2f), Enda Maloney 1-0-0; Jack Keane 0-0-2, Tiernan Egan, Matthew Morris (f) and Thomas Morris 0-0-1 each.
Charlestown Sarsfields: Kenneth Brennan; Alan Woods, Tomás Goldrick, Tadgh Horkan; Patrick Dunleavy, Niall Murphy, Jack Corley; Tomás Holton, Eoin Murphy; Ruairí Cullen, Ben Crean, Gareth O’Donnell; Ciaran Honeyman, Colm Maye, Conor McArdle.
Subs: Niall Fleming (for C Honeyman 44), Mark Lowther (for C Maye 49), Gavin Honeyman (for P Dunleavy 53), Cian Towey (for O’Donnell 57), Michael Marren (for E Murphy 60+1).
Hollymount-Carramore: Rian Gilligan; Stephen Corroy, Dylan Jennings, John Walsh; Enda Maloney, Oisin Duffy, Rory Walsh; Jack Keane, Nathan Moran; Ben Sheridan, Thomas Morris, Tiernan Egan; Matthew Morris, Darren Coen, Fineen Walsh.
Subs: Kevin Feerick (for Sheridan 30), JJ Connelly (for Maloney 56), Padraig Feeney (for Feerick 54).
REF: Jon Finn (Aghamore).
