Purcell cleans up in second half blitz

CASTLEKNOCK’S senior hurlers made it two wins from three B championship ties as they saw off Parnell’s by five points at Chanel to lift them into a potential playoff place.
Having gotten a bit of a trimming from the Coolock side in the first round of the league, the Somerton men bounced back in impressive style.
Castleknock have put together some good results since that first AHL2 game but had struggled to put back-to-back performances together.
This was an opportunity to do just that and the balmy conditions boded well for a great night’s hurling although the deceptively strong breeze ensured that neither goal mouth would be safe from aerial bombardment.
Knock faced into the breeze and started well. Ian Cleary took some beautiful scores and Kieran Duggan’s persistence was awarded with a goal on 23 minutes for a 1-7 to 0-3 lead.
This was just desserts for the engine room of the team where Duggan, Shane Boland, Conal Purcell, Cian O’Dulaing and Aaron O’Gara were all putting in ferocious shifts to counteract the wind advantage.
Comfort was short-lived, however, as straight from the goal, Parnell’s launched a puckout to the which was promptly and sweetly despatched to the net, leaving Brian Dunne with no chance.
Castleknock had to endure brief dominant spell from Parnells who scored three points in the final minutes of the first half and, just on half time, Parnells snatched another goal against the run of play to leave it level at 2-5 to 1-8.
But the Somerton side reasserted their advantage in the second half. The key moment came in the 45th minute when Conal Purcell picked up a loose ball on the 45.
He raced through the gap and buried a fabulous goal in the top right hand corner. Castleknock were never to lose the lead after this.
The introduction of some fresh legs gave the visitors new impetus and Luke Whelan, Colum Breslin and Cleary all forced turnovers which resulted in the scores to put the finishing touches to a great display.