28/09/2025
Slaney Rovers 1 - 1 Castle Rangers (AET)
4 - 5 penalties
Castle Rangers Triumph in Carlow Plate Final After Penalty Shootout Drama
Castle Rangers lifted the Carlow Plate after a tense and hard-fought final against Slaney Rovers under lights at Killeshin, with the match ultimately decided by a dramatic penalty shootout following a 1–1 draw in regular time and extra time.
The first half saw Castle Rangers dominate possession and create a flurry of chances. Aaron Bowden came close on 15 minutes, lifting the ball over the Slaney keeper only to see it drift narrowly over the bar. Luke Bailey nearly broke the deadlock on 23 minutes with a curling effort from the edge of the box that whistled past the top corner.
Castle’s pressure continued, and Travis Timmins’ long throw on 29 minutes led to another cut-back for Bowden, whose shot was again denied. Slaney’s best first-half chance came on 32 minutes with a one-on-one opportunity, but Adam Duggan produced a vital save.
The breakthrough arrived on 42 minutes when Castle won possession from a Slaney throw-in. Jake Snoddy split the defence with a precise pass to Craig Bowden, who beat two defenders and the keeper from a wide angle to give Castle a deserved lead.
Castle took a slender lead into halftime in the Carlow Plate Final after a dominant pulsating 45minute performance.
2nd half
Just after the restart, Slaney countered with numbers and nearly equalized. Duggan blocked the initial shot, but the rebound fell to a Slaney attacker. With the goal gaping, Matthew O’Donovan threw himself in front of the strike to make a heroic block and preserve the lead.
Slaney enjoyed a strong spell midway through the second half, and their persistence paid off in the 77th minute. A swift throw-in caught Castle Rangers off balance, allowing the ball to be worked into the D on the edge of the area. One of Slaney’s attackers reacted quickest, taking down the ball, squaring it for another forward who turned and struck a low drive beyond Duggan to bring the sides level.
Castle nearly retook the lead in the 82nd minute when Aaron Corless lofted a ball over the Slaney defence for Craig Bowden, who unleashed a wicked shot across goal. The Slaney keeper produced a brilliant fingertip save to divert it wide.
With the score locked at 1–1, extra time saw both sides battle fiercely but fail to find a winner.
Penalties became the only way to separate the teams, and Castle Rangers held their nerve from the spot scoring all 5 of their penalties with Adam Duggan brilliantly saving one to seal a memorable victory and claim the Carlow Plate, Castle's first piece of silverware for 15 years.
Best for Castle Rangers were Stephen Preston, Adam Duggan, Pearse Phelan and Dylan Salter
