Shanballymore remain on course for play-offs

Shanballymore 2-12 Clyda Rovers 0-9

SHANBALLYMORE remain on course for a place in the knock-out stages of the Cavanagh’s Fermoy Division 1 HL when they ran out deserving winners over Clyda Rovers at Mourneabbey on Friday evening.

The opening stages saw both teams enjoy their moments. Shanballymore raced into a 0-3 to no score lead when Robert McHugh, Vincent Burke and Darragh Palmer were on target by the fourth minute.

Clyda Rovers regrouped well and three points on the spin by Sean O’Connor had them back on terms by the eighth minute at 0-3 apiece. However, for the rest of the half Shanballymore gained supremacy with Darragh Palmer and Robert McHugh very much to the fore at midfield.

McHugh edged them in front with a long range point before the Rovers keeper Conor Roche came to his sides rescue in the 11th minute when he denied Vincent Burke with a great save on the line.

Nevertheless some well taken points by Jamie Sheedy (3) Robert McHugh, Darragh Palmer and Micheal Burke where followed by late goals by Kenneth Barry and Miceal Burke that helped open up a sizeable lead 2-10 to 0-3 lead at the interval.

On the changeover Clyda Rovers made a promising start with Sean O’Connor on hand to get the first three points in this period by the 34th minute. In a low scoring half Clyda Rovers tried hard to reduce the deficit but at times found it difficult to break down the Shanballymore defence.

Jamie Sheedy got Shanballymore’s second half account up an running in the 40th minute when he pointed a free. Clyda Rovers responded when Garret O’Hanlon pointed from a very tight angle with Sean O’Connor pointing from distance at he mid way stage that narrowed the margins to 2-11 to 0-8.

In the end it was Shanballymore that emerged comfortable victors and claim their fourth win to date in the current league.

SHANBALLYMORE: S Donegan, N Barry, E McHugh, A Sheedy, P Fitzgerald, E O’Regan, D Roche, D Palmer 0-2, R McHugh 0-3, C O’Reilly, B O’Reilly, J Sheedy 0-5f, K Barry 1-0, V Burke 0-1, M Burke 1-1

Subs: R Burke for K Barry, R Hallinan for C O’Reilly, P Burke for V Burke

CLYDA ROVERS: C Roche, J Buckley, C Flanagan, D Ronayne, B O’Connor, O O’Hanlon, M Forde, S Ronayne, T Buckley, D Buckley, C Kenny, W Cronin, M O’Sullivan, S O’Connor 0-8 (0-5f), G O’Hanlon 0-1 Subs: R Flanagan for M O’Sullivan, G O’Shea for C Roche, C Roche for W Cronin, W Cronin for G O’Hanlon

REFEREE: Alec Morrissey (Newtownshandrum)