Heartbreak for Abbey Rovers

enough from here on, but Abbey Rovers found it very difficult to get scores when adding 1-1 in this half their goal in the closing moments as the Carbery outfit emerged victors in the end by a two point margin.

The opening stages saw Abbey Rovers certainly take the game to their opponents. Their inside full-forward line of Eoin Noonan, Mark O’Callaghan and Niall Hazelwood looked to have the upperhand, Shay O’Mullane and Philip Murphy also made their presence felt at midfield while others to impress included Muiris Browne, John Batterberry, Dave Relihan, Russell O’Brien and Harry O’Farrell.

In the eighth minute the Castletown side had the first of their three goals when a delivery by Niall Hazelwood came back off the upright with the alert Eoin Noonan first to react when he finished to the net from close range.

Further pressure by the Avondhu side saw Muiris Browne with their second goal opening up a commanding lead. Indeed, the Rovers could have got through for a third goal soon after when Goleen’s Sean Sheehan got across to make a vital interception.

Along with the two goals the Rovers also added points in this half by Shay O’Mullane (2 Mark O’Callaghan and Muiris Browne as they led by double scores at the interval 2-4 to 0-5.

On the changeover Goleen after making a number of positional changes came out a much improved side. In the 34th minute Darren O’Donovan soloed through and scored a great goal that helped them get back on level terms at 2-4 to 1-7.

With a county title at stake both teams battled hard for supremacy from here on. Despite the Rovers hitting the front again when Mick Devine pointed a free they found scores near impossible to come by for the rest of the game.

Goleen who had some fine displays by Daniel O’Callaghan, James Scully, Donal O’Driscoll,. Liam O’Connell, John Cullinane, Jack Murphy, Tadhg Cullinane and Darren O’Donovan shaded matters from here on.

They kicked over the next six points through John Cullinane, James Scully, Donal O’Driscoll and Tadgh Cullinane to move five clear as the game entered the closing stages. Abbey Rovers refused to give in and were given a lifeline when Muiris Browne had their third goal.

Try as they might they were unable to get a fourth goal to snatch victory with Goleen holding on to claim the title.