Wins for ’Shandrum and Inniscarra minors

Shandrum 2-23 Eire Og 2-14

‘SHANDRUM made it a winning start to the Carrigaline Court Hotel Rebel Og County Premier MHC (2) when they defeated Eire Og at Mourneabbey. The opening half was keenly contested with just two points separating them at the interval. However, on the changeover the winners back-boned by their Co Minor contingent of Brian Buckley, David Jones and John Geary showed the greater urgency while they also had very good displays by Kieran O’Sullivan, Jack Twomey, Luke Morrissey, Conor Griffin and Ronan Geary as the ran out clear winners.

The opening stages saw the sides level for the second time at 0-2 apiece early on before Eire Og with a point each by Adam O’Riordan and David Kirwan moved into a 0-4 to 0-2 lead by the 8th minute. Their lead was short lived with ‘Shandrum taking a lead they would not surrender for the rest of the game when the hardworking John Geary set up Alan O’Leary who netted from close range.

The remainder of the half was keenly contested. ‘Shandrum with some well taken points by Ronan Geary, David Jones and John Geary moved into a 1-6 to 0-5 lead by the 18th minute. Back came a resilient Eire Og outfit with Diarmuid Dineen, Matt Brady, David Kirwan, James O’Shea, Adam O’Riordan and Jerome Kelleher doing very well and three points on the trot closed the gap 1-6 to 0-8 by the 24th minute. In the closing moments Conor Griffin, David Kirwan, David Jones, Jerome Kelleher and Jack Twomey swapped points as ‘Shandrum held a 1-9 to 0-10 lead at the break.

On the resumption the North Cork side certainly made better use of the chances they were presented with. They picked off two early points before a delivery by Eoin Finn resulted in Conor Griffin scoring a great goal in the 37th minute 2-11 to 0-10. Moments later the impressive David Jones with a point from a sideline cut stretched their lead.

Eire Og who missed a couple of chances had to wait till the 40th minute for their first score in this half when Jerome Kelleher pointed.

However at the other end the Dromina/Newtown combination were finding scores much easier to come by as they reeled off 11 more before the end that sealed the issue long before the final whistle.

Eire Og battled to the end. Adam O’Riordan with a goal from a free in the 50th minute gave them a lifeline when in arrears 2-16 to 1-12. Colm O’Callaghan had their second goal in injury time but that proved a mere consolation score with ‘Shandrum running out clear winners in the end.

SHANDRUM: J McAuliffe, C Bowles, K O’Sullivan, C Sheehan, K Foley, B Buckley, C O’Brien, J Twomey 0-3, L Morrissey, C Griffin 1-2, D Jones 0-13 (6f, 1 sl), E Finn, R Geary 0-4, A O’Leary 1-0, J Geary 0-1. Subs: P O’Sullivan for A O’Leary, M Quinn for E Finn.

EIRE OG: J Lynch, C Sheehan, S O’Flynn, C Buckley, D Dineen, M Brady 0-2f, D Brennan, D Kirwan 0-3, S Quigley, C Alison, J O’Shea 0-1, R O’Flynn, C O’Callaghan 1-1, A O’Riordan 1-5f, J Kelleher 0-2. Subs: C McGoldrick for D Brennan, B O’Connell for S Quigley, B O’Shea for J Kelleher, Cathal Egan (Glen Rovers)

Inniscarra 3-10 Mallow 0-10

GOALS at vital stages proved essential to Inniscarra as they held out for a deserved win over Mallow in the Carrigaline Court Hotel Rebel Og Central County Premier MHC 2 at Blarney.

Inniscarra had a goal from a Liam Ryan sideline cut in the second minute and they led for the rest of the game. Mallow battled back well and points by Niall O’Riordan (free) and Ronan Sheehan long range free left just a point between the sides after 7 minutes. Ardal O’Connell pointed a free for the Mid Cork side. Good play for Mallow by Eoin Kelleher, Danny Buckley and Tomas Duignan, led to a great point by Ben Slattery.

Ronan Sheehan broke up a good Inniscarra movement. Liam Ryan was in great form for the winners at midfield. Ryan pointed following a solo run and Michael O’Connell with a point restored the goal lead after 17 minutes. A long range free by Liam Ryan was pointed by Ardal O’Connell. Mallow replied through Eoin Buckley. Good play by the Avondhu side led to points by Danny Buckley and Niall O’Riordan (free) as they cut the lead to a single point.

In the closing moments another long range free by Liam Ryan was finished to the net by Michael O’Connell. In injury time Owen McCarthy pointed from long range for the winners who held an interval lead 2-5 to 0-6.

Mallow introduced Charlie Carroll in attack on the restart and he played well. Carroll set up Danny Buckley for an early point. They were off target from a number of frees with Inniscarra’s Colin O’Sullivan soloing through and pointing. Ardal O’Connell with a free made it 2-7 to 0-7. By the 40th minute Eoin McCarthy with a point made it 2-8 to 0- 7. Mallow were again off target from play and frees.

Callum Morris broke up a great Mallow attack and his delivery to Colin O’Sullivan led to a free that went wide by Ardal O’Connell. Ben Slattery had two pointed frees for Mallow who came within five points in the 55th minute 2-8 to 0 -9. Inniscarra were off target from a free. In the 60th minute Ben Slattery with another free left four points between them.

Mallow tried very hard for a goal but the Inniscarra defence and keeper Evan Cunningham held firm. Michael O’Connell had the winners third goal in the 63rd minute that had the winners 3-9 to 0-10 clear.

Deep in injury time Liam Ryan with another good point ensured a win for Inniscarra by a three-goal margin. INNISCARRA: E Cunningham, C Murphy, C Morris, J O’Shea, J O’Sullivan, J Buckley, C Lombard, L Buckley, L Ryan 1-2 (1-0 sl), P Holland, D Church, M O’Connell 2-1, A O’Connell 0-4 (3f), C O’Sullivan 0-1, O McCarthy 0-2. Subs: M Buckley for D Church, S Sheehan for P Holland, B Linehan for M O’Connell.

MALLOW: D Heffernan, E Kelleher, M McGlynn, E Murphy, C Murphy, R Sheehan 0-1f, E O’Leary, D Buckley 0-2, K O’Driscoll, N O’Riordan 0-2f, B Slattery 0-4 (3f), S Duffy, E Buckley 0-1, K Mills, T Duignan. Subs: C Carroll for T Duignan, S O’Sullivan for S Duffy, O Carroll for R Sheehan (inj) T McNamara for E O’Leary, G Murphy for E Kelleher (inj).

REFEREE: Pat Lyons (Bishopstown)