Semi Final Showdown for Castledermot Teams

It’s a Semi-Final showdown weekend for Castledermot GAA as there are three teams in action this weekend, all looking to get within one step of Silverware for the club.

Newtown Gaels v O’Tooles

On Friday night in Robertstown, the hugely successful amalgamation of Castledermot and Grangenolvin GAA clubs will see O’Toole’s Under 16’s take on another club amalgamation of Newtown Gaels. Newtown Gaels are the result of the joining of the Caragh GFC and Robertstown GFC clubs.

These amalgamations in Kildare are proving to be very successful and shows the desire for understanding and progression in many parishes. When I was sixteen, we would play together with Grangenolvin players for Colaiste Lorcain but the idea of joining our fierce rivals on the field was about as realistic as splitting Dublin in two! Well done to all involved to help make these brilliant initiatives happen.

Under 16 Shield Semi-Final

Newtown Gaels v O’Tooles

Venue: Robertstown GAA Club

Date: Friday 25th September

Time: 20:00

Update:

Final score: O’Tooles 2-15 Newtown Gaels 3-09

Ellistown v Castledermot

Saturday night, under the lights in Ellistown, the Castledermot Ladies team take yet another step towards a championship final when they take on their hosts in the Junior C Championship Semi-Final.

After a sabbatical for a number of years, 2019 saw the return of the Castledermot Ladies team and they have looked like they are eager to make up for lost time with some storming performances last year reaching two finals and lifting the league cup in their first year back. Hop Lawler has the girls flying again this year and a tally of 10-24 in their opening two Championship games ensured everyone knew they meant business in 2020. They have also shown their character recently bouncing back from a heartbreaking loss against Twomilehouse to defeat Naas last Saturday night in a cracker. That hard-fought win ensured they reached this Saturday Night’s semi-final in Ellistown. The girls have been well served all year by a strong line up the middle including Sinead Deering in goals, Lisa Hickey at Full Back, Roisin Kelly at Center Back, a dynamic midfield of All-Star Neasa Dooley and Chloe Walsh and Niamh Byrne is a defenders nightmare up front with her powerful darting runs. Chloe is unfortunately injured for this game but the girls won’t be found wanting when the extra effort is needed against an Ellistown team coming off the back of two wins in seven days recently.

Ladies Junior C Semi-Final

Ellistown v Castledermot

Venue: Ellistown GAA Club

Date: Saturday 26th September

Time: 19:30

Castledermot v St. Kevins

On Sunday afternoon in Hawkfield, it is the turn of the Castledermot Senior Reserves as they meet St. Kevins in the league semi-final.

The reserve grade has been forever a breeding ground for young players trying to make their way to the senior ranks and also a pasture for more senior players to feed their desire to continue playing the game they love. This is no different from this brilliant bunch of players and the mixture of youth and experience has seen them progress to the final four for yet another year. If anyone has seen this team play recently they would have immediately called for the water in Castledermot to be bottled and sold for profit!

Any team that has Ross Coleman, Paul Murphy, Hop Lawler and Gary Mulhall involved is going to be hard beaten and this bunch of lads are made of serious stuff. When you add Doyler in the goals, captain Anthony Kelly, Niall Dooley and the brilliant Oisin Doherty up front, you have the makings of a team that knows how to win. With Oisin Nolan showing his class by leading the pack of younger players that includes Ciaran Phelan, Castledermot will hope that they have enough in the tank on Sunday afternoon to overcome a St. Kevins team that topped the division by beating Clogherinkoe this week.

Reserve C Championship Semi-Final

Castledermot v St. Kevins

Venue: Hawkfield

Date: Sunday 27th September

Time: 16:00