MALLOW COME BACK TO BEAT CLOYNE
Fermoy 2-16 Carrigaline 0-16
THE premier intermediate hurling first round championship encounter played at Ballincollig was closely contested for most of the hour.
The eventual winners Fermoy finished the stronger side, however, and a goal from Jack Hutchings in the 46th minute set them on the road to victory. They subsequently outscored their opponents Carrigaline 0-7 to 0-3 so their hurling fortunes have received a significant boost.
The winners were county finalists in this grade of hurling in 2016 when they lost to Bandon and last season their championship campaign was disappointing. Last Saturday’s victory was consequently a good boost to their morale and they will enter the third round draw with a good degree of confidence.
The fare produced in the early stages on Saturday last was disappointing with a share of frees being conceded. Carrigaline were in a better position than Fermoy at the end of the first quarter with Brian Kelleher’s accuracy from placed balls enabling them to lead by 0-6 to 0-2.
Liam Coleman pointed a free in the 20th minute to improve Fermoy’s position and a minute later their prospects of victory were greatly enhanced. David Geary drove a long range free goalwards and Shane Ahern got a vital touch to the sliotar to make sure it reached the net.
The sides were consequently on level terms, but Carrigaline quickly regained the lead when Brian Kelleher sent the sliotar between the uprights from another placed ball. Fermoy who were always the more likely side to score from play again equalised in the 26th minute when Padraig Clancy was on target, but Simon O’Brien quickly replied for their opponents.
Two more minors from frees, one from Kelleher and one from Robert O’Shea brought Carrigaline’s first half tally to ten, while points from play from Kieran Morrison and Arlen Ahern during the same period for Fermoy left them behind at the interval by the narrowest of margins.
The north Cork side introduced Jack Hutchings to their attack for the second moiety and they placed him at full forward with good effect and their rearranged forward sextet as a whole displayed improvement.
Liam Coleman was on target from a free in the 31st minute so the sides were again on level terms but Carrigaline again regained the lead. Another Kelleher point from a free and a Killian McIntyre effort from play raised their hopes of victory.
Twenty three minutes of play still remained at that stage and the remaining playing time saw Fermoy play their best hurling. They were still a point in arrears entering the final quarter, but they then secured the all important second goal and they never looked back subsequently.
An important interception by Eoin Clancy led to defence being turned into attack when his long range delivery headed for the Carrigaline goal. Jack Hutchings did well to catch the sliotar in a crowded area and he subsequently managed to get in a shot that found the net.
Fermoy were consequently on the road to victory as their opponents were unable to get back into the game. The winners ensured that the Carrigaline players never got in an easy delivery as they were blocked down regularly.
The north Cork side were now oozing with confidence and they scored five points in quick succession before David Drake from a free got a consolation point for Carrigaline.
FERMOY: C Quinn, E Clancy, S Shanahan, R O’Callaghan, B O’Sullivan, D O’Carroll, P De Roiste, P Clancy (0-1), A Ahern (0-1), T Clancy, D Geary (0-2f), D Dawson, K Morrison (0-3), S Ahern (1-3), L Coleman (0-6f) Subs: J Hutchings (1-0) for Dawson (half-time)
CARRIGALINE: M O’Mahony, C MacSweeny, S Williamson, Kieran Kavanagh, Kevin Kavanagh, D Griffin, P Ronaye, R O’Shea (0-4, 3f), W O’Brien, K McIntyre (0-1), K O’Connell, S O’Brien (0-1), D Drake (0-1f), S Corcoran, B Kelleher (0-9f) Subs: J McCarthy for O Connell (30th minute), E Desmond for McIntyre (50th minute)
REFEREE: B Murphy (Carrigtwohill)