Oldcastle were unfortunate to go out at the group stages last year after relinquishing a five-point lead in the closing stages to draw with eventual champions Rathkenny. However, on the basis of this display, they seemed determined to make amends for that disappointment.
They dominated proceedings and playing with the advantage of the breeze in the opening half, had built up a 1-8 to 0-3 lead against the Stamullen men who never came close to the form that saw them reach the semi-final in 2023.
Any chance St Patrick’s had with the elements in the favour disappeared early in the third quarter when Oldcastle struck for a second goal. It was mainly one-way traffic after that with the outcome having already been decided.
With their next outing against Moynalvey, who were impressive winners over Drumbaragh, the east-Meath side need to find some form quickly or their championship ambitions will be at an end.
Ben Sullivan, Seán Emmanuel and Darren Hagan accounted for their opening-half scores but they had no answer to Oldcastle’s pace and direct play throughout. Oldcastle took control with four successive pints in the early stages and St Patrick’s were unable to break their stranglehold after that.
The opening goal arrived from Rory Crawley who palmed a CJ Healy pas to the net to leave it 1-4 to 0-1.
Robbie Farrelly and CJ Healy did most of the damage in the Oldcastle attack throughout the half as St Patrick’s struggled in most areas of the pitch.
John Curtis pointed within 30 seconds of the restart for St Patrick’s before Farrelly (free) and Jamie Murphy swapped scores. However, any chance of a revival was firmly dashed when Keith Connell struck for a second goal.
Donal Landy registered another point for the Stamullen men before the outstanding Jason Scully set-up James Cooke for a third Oldcastle goal to leave it 3-9 to 0-6 entering the final quarter.
Midfielder Pearse Sheridan fired home a fourth goal for Oldcastle near the finish to complete St Patrick’s tale of woe.
OLDCASTLE: Conor McHugh; Oran O’Reilly, Cian McPartland, Dylan Garrigan; James Cooke 1-0, Steven Lawless, Lee Healy; Pearse Sheridan 1-1, Oran Mulvanny; Ronan Maguire, CJ Healy 0-5 (2f), Keith Connell 1-1; Jason Scully, Robbie Farrelly 0-4 (2m, 1f), Rory Crawley 1-0. Subs: Conor Delaney for Crawley (29), Darren Hawdon for Cooke (52), Paul Hennessy for Connell (56), Louis Colleran for L Healy (57), James Gibney for Mulvanny (60).
ST PATRICK’S: Darragh Sullivan; Adam Byrne, David McQuillan, Killian O’Connor; Liam Brennan, Darren Hagan 0-1, Barry Mooney; John Curtis 0-1, John Mannion; Shane Landy, Seán Emmanuel 0-2, Neil O’Flaherty; Donal Landy 0-2, Jamie Murphy 0-1, Ben Sullivan 0-1. Subs: Shane Dowling 0-1 for Mooney (31), Dylan McCreedy for Brennan (36), Sean Hackett for S Landy (49), Duiguid McDonagh for O Flaherty (49), Shane Byrne 0-1 (1f) for Mannion (56).
REFEREE: Joe Curran (St Michael’s).
