Avondhu get their season back on track with I-llen victory

Avondhu 2-12 I-llen Rovers 0-9

HAVING suffered a heavy defeat in their last game to UCC, Avondhu senior footballers got their season firmly back on track at Macroom on Saturday evening when they ran out worthy winners over I-llen Rovers.

The early exchanges saw the West Cork outfit start in a very determined manner with Dan MacEoin (2) Alan Holland and Sean O’Donovan kicking over points that helped move them into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead by the ninth minute – the Avondhu point by Shane Beston following a good pass by the hard working Ryan Harkin.

As the half went on Avondhu quickly got to grips with their entire defence of Padraigh Clancy, Andrew Cashman, Sean Shanahan, Tomas Clancy, Killian O’Hanlon and Mattie Taylor featuring strongly for the rest of the half in terms of keeping the I-llen Rovers attack at bay.

At the other end they strongly supported their forwards. In the 10th minute Mattie Taylor intercepted an I-llen Rovers attack and broke out of the backline at speed that eventually that saw Shane Beston kick over a fine point.

Moments later Andrew Cashman and Colm O’Connell combined well for Ryan Harkin to kick over. The Avondhu side were back on level terms at the end of the first quarter when Colm O’Neill pointed a free and in truth they never looked back from here on.

The resultant kick-out was won by the impressive Padraigh De Roiste whose pass set up Colm O’Connell for a fine solo point. A sweeping movement in the 21st minute led to a great score by Ryan Harkin as Avondhu moved 0-6 to 0-4 in front.

Avondhu were now exerting most of the pressure and their efforts were rewarded four minutes later when a another interception this time by Padraigh De Roiste saw the ball break at speed down the field with corner back Padraigh Clancy at the end of a great movement as the Fermoy player finished to the net.

I-llen Rovers rallied well before the break. At the end of normal time Peadar O’Driscoll cut through the Avondhu backline but his effort for a goal was saved by keeper Ciaran Cotter and it ensured the North Cork side held a 1-6 to 0-4 interval lead.

On the restart I-llen Rovers came close to a goal but a timely interception by Colm O’Connell denied Paddy Minihane a goal scoring chance. Colm O’Neill and Alan Holland traded a point but as the game went on the better balanced Avondhu side continued to show the greater urgency.

Killian O’Hanlon was denied a goal in the 41st minute when the I-llen Rovers keeper Damian O’Sullivan made a great save off his line at the expense of a ‘45. However, some well taken points by Michael Sheehan, Colm O’Neill and Ruairi O’Hagan made it 1-10 to 0-6 by the 46th minute.

Dan MacEoin kept his side in touch with a pointed free but it was Avondhu that sealed victory in the 50th minute when a pin point pass by Tomas Clancy picked out his brother Padraigh who was brought down in the square.

The resultant spot kick by Colm O’Neill was expertly finished to the net as they surged into a 2-10 to 0-7 lead. I-llen Rovers tried hard in the last ten minutes, but in truth they were too far adrift.

Kevin O’Sullivan’s attempt at goal hit the side netting soon after and there was no way back for the West Cork side. In the last eight minutes both sides traded two points each courtesy of Ryan Harkin, Dan MacEoin, Sean O’Sullivan and Kevin O’Sullivan.

There was no denying Avondhu their fully deserved victory. AVONDHU: C Cotter (Glanworth) P Clancy (Fermoy) 1-0 A Cashman (Mallow) S Shanahan (Fermoy) T Clancy (do) K O’Hanlon (Kilshannig) M Taylor (Mallow) E Stanton (do) P De Roiste (Fermoy) M Sheehan (Glanworth) 0-1, S Beston (Mitchelstown) 0-2, R Harkin (Mallow) 0-3 C O’Neill (Ballyclough) 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-2f, 0-1 ‘45’) S Walsh (Mitchelstown) C O’Connell (Killavullen) 0-1 Subs: R O’Hagan (Fermoy) 0-1f for S Walsh, K O’Connor (Mallow) for S Beston (inj), S O’Sullivan (Mitchelstown) 0-1 for C O’Connell

I-LLEN ROVERS: D O’Sullivan, E O’Driscoll, C O’Driscoll, S Minihane, A Hassett, T O’Regan, D O’Donovan, Peadar O’Driscoll, T Bushe, P Minihane, A Holland 0-2, Peter O’Driscoll, D MacEoin 0-4f, S O’Donovan 0-1, K O’Sullivan 0-2f Subs: S Leonard for Peter O’Driscoll, B Leonard for E O’Driscoll (black card), D Collins for T O’Regan

REFEREE: John Ryan (Macroom)