Castlegar must defeat Clarinbridge by a big margin this Sunday at Pearse Stadium (2.30pm ) to have any slim chance of avoiding the relegation play-offs following their disappointing 0-15 to 0-10 defeat to Sarsfields last weekend in Ballinasloe.
They also need another result to go their way and Padraig Connolly’s men will be hoping Sarsfields can give a good trimming to Turloughmore this weekend if they are to have any hope. Unless Turloughmore are defeated, then the city club will be in the relegation dogfight, regardless of what they produce themselves. Turlough are on three points, but Castlegar have only one point and are 10 points behind Turloughmore on scoring average.
Sarsfields led by 0-8 to 0-6 over Castlegar last weekend at half time thanks to good scores from Sean Kelly (2 ), Kerril Wade and Joseph Cooney.
In a bid to salvage something from the game, Castlegar sprung the injured Ger Farragher after 40 minutes and he hit two frees.
Sarsfields were not shaken by that development and a few more frees from Wade and two points from midfielder Niall Kenny saw them safely over the winning line.
They had solid displays from Joseph Cooney and Niall Kenny at midfield, Kerril Wade, who shot five frees, Sean Kelly, who hit three points from centre-forward, Cathal Murray and Kieran Dolan.
For Castlegar Kevin Brady, Ronan O’Flynn, Enda Concannon and Donal Barry tried hard.
In the other Group C game from last weekend, Clarinbridge had a five-point victory, 2-12 to 0-13 over St Thomas.
Eoin Forde scored the two goals for the current All-Ireland champs in the first half and they led by 2-8 to 0-5 at half time. Eight points to the good was a solid cushion and they were unlikely to be caught after Forde’s brace despite a valiant effort by St Thomas in the second half.
In the other games, Loughrea defeated Craughwell 1-12 to 0-12. Gort overame Beagh by 2-16 to 0-11, with their two goals scored by Richie Cummins and Ollie Fahy.
