Easkey maintained their unbeaten status in the intermediate championship in a sunny but breezy Quigabar on Sunday afternoon, although they required a late burst in the final quarter to see off a tenacious Castleconnor.

Easkey had the better of the possession in the opening 10 minutes but failed to register a score as they seemed to have trouble acclimatizing to the strong breeze, which saw them kick 4 early wides. Castleconnor soon settled into the game and points from Sean Carrabine with his trusty left boot and a long range point from Oisin Flynn, using the breeze to his advantage gave Castleconnor a 2 point lead. However, a mistake in the Castleconnor defence shortly after gifted Easkey attacker Fionn Moylan possession and he went through on goal and slotted home for the game’s only goal. The goal lifted Easkey and 2 quick points from Niall Kilcullen and Joe McHugh seen them race into a 3 point lead with 20mins played. However Castleconnor settled themselves once more and a Sean Carrabine free followed by points from Ronan Wilson and Luke Munnelly brought the scores back level. Another free from Sean Carrabine just before half time gave Castleconnor the lead but this was quickly cancelled out by a Brendan McGrath point for the Sea Blues and the sides went in at the break all square 0-6 to 1-3.

The teams traded points at the start of the 2nd half as a Kevin Duffy point for Easkey was followed by a point for Eoin Kent for Castleconnor before Easkey goalkeeper Daniel Rolston aided by the breeze slotted over an excellent 45”. The game continued in a tit for tat manner with a point from a mark from Fionn Moylan which was replied to in kind by Luke Munnelly for Castleconnor.

 A black card on 44mins for Easkey defender Niall Kilcullen looked like it could be a turning point in the game however it only seemed to reinvigorate the seasiders as points from Mikey Gordon, Brendan McGrath and substitute Jack Scott before a rasping shot from Jonathon Conway rattled the crossbar and went over the bar increasing Easkey’s lead out to 5 points. A free from Oisin Flynn reduced the margin temporarily but a now rampant Mikey Gordon added 2 more points to his personal tally and a point for Andrew Kilcullen in injury time left the final score 1-13 to 0-9 in favour of the Sea Blues.

The win leaves Easkey on top of the group after 3 games and guarantees them a spot in the semi-finals. Castleconnor still have it all to play for but know they will need a result from this Sunday’s clash against Bunninadden.

Easkey: D. Rolston (0-01, 1 45’), E. Lindsay, C. Montague, B. Feeney, E.R McGowan, N. Kilcullen (0-01), J. Conway (0-01), R. McHugh, M. Gordon (0-03), B. McGrath (0-02), F. Moylan (1-01), H. Gilroy, R. Sloyan, J. McHugh (0-1), K. Duffy (0-01). Subs used: I. Barrett, J. Scott (0-01), A. Kilcullen (0-01), J. Dunphy, A. Gibson.

Castleconnor: L. Donegan, R. Wilson (0-01), K. Earlis, T. Langan, P. Cooney, E. Kent (0-01), C. Flynn, O. Flynn (0-02, 1f), P. Flynn, C. Ruttledge, S. Carrabine (0-03, 2f), L. Munnelly (0-02), D. Flynn, O. Quinn, M. Cahill. Subs used: S. Rogan, R. Keane, C. Kilcullen, F. Boland

Referee: Michael Connolly