Shandrum bow out to Midleton in the County Under 21 HC

ANOTHER step in the right direction for All-Ireland Junior champions Knocknagree after fashioning a deserved victory over Adrigiole in Round 3 to the County IFC at Ballyvourney on Saturday evening.

At times, the Duhallow side weren’t at their usual flowing fluency yet they tackled their task with great enthusiasm and as the contest advanced, Knocknagree exerted a firm grip in most sectors.

Certainly, Adrigole lacked nothing in commitment yet the firepower necessary to amass scores was clearly lacking and by the end of the hour, time and again, they failed to penetrate a competent Knocknagree rearguard.

Strength in depth is a key component in championship fare, its certainly in evidence in Knocknagree, from seventeen players utilised against Rockchapel in the opening round more than three months earlier, just ten of those players made it to the starting team against Adrigole, their class underlined on claiming a comprehensive fifteen point win over the peninsula men.

At times during the opening 20 minutes, space and possession were hard to come by yet as the game aged, Knocknagree proceeded to make less errors and worked as an unit much harder to register an impressive tally.

Still the demeanour of team coach John Fintan Daly suggests there is plenty of room for improvement for the reigning All Ireland Junior Football champions if they are to make further roads where goals at vital stages back-boned another win for a side in their debut season in the grade.

“To be fair, the level delivered was below that we need to be at to challenge for honours. Adrigole picked up a few injuries, they didn’t possess the same squad to make up the numbers as us and we got a fortunate opening goal that put daylight between the sides in the opening half,” said Daly.

“Once we got the opening goal, our experience told and as the second half wore on, two things surfaced, Adrigole tired, they didn’t possess the numbers on the bench to make a difference.

“We introduced six substitutes, all made an impression, two players Daniel O’Mahony and Denis O’Connor were Under 17 last season and made the starting line up with colleague Gearóid Looney also introduced, all three were Junior debutants earlier in the summer and now drafted onto the intermediate side,” said Daly.

A decent start for Adrigole, they had Knocknagree on the backfoot with Kevin Goggin delivering a pair of points. Slow to settle, Knocknagree rode of the storm, Eoghan McSweeney and Tomás Cooper posting two points apiece for a 0-5 to 0-3 advantage midway through the opening half.

A greasy ball saw both sides struggle to produce any great degree of free flow in the mediocre fare on offer. A crucial moment surfaced in the 23rd minute, disaster for Adrigole, corner-back Fergal Carey won a free in his left hand side, electing to find his keeper, the ball across the danger area was misplaced and in nipped, the completely unmarked Fintan O’Connor to goal.

That score spurred on Knocknagree as Daniel O’Mahony, Michael Mahoney, Kealan Buckley and Danny Cooper stood up manfully in defence and it allowed good ball into attack for a 1-7 to 0-5 advantage at the break. Adrigole returned with all guns blazing and a pair of Goggin pointed frees narrowed the arrears.

However, the Knocknagree response was strong and measured, good work by Eoghan McSweeney allowed Anthony O’Connor blast home a second goal in the 43rd minute.

To their credit, Adrigole never threw in the towel, Goggin and Jason Harrington denied goals in quick succession by Knocknagree ‘keeper Patrick Doyle and midfielder Padraig Collins.

Knocknagree finished in a gallop with a run of points from John Fintan Daly and Donough Moynihan helped secure a meeting against Ballydesmond or St Finbarrs in a quarter-final. KNOCKNAGREE: P Doyle; D O’Mahony, S Daly, M Mahoney; D Moynihan 0-1, K Buckley, D Cooper 0-1; T Cooper 0-2, P Collins; J Dennehy, E McSweeney 0-2, F O’Connor 1-1; M Dilworth 0-1, Denis O’Connor 0-2, A O’Connor 1-6 (0-2f) Subs: G Looney for S Daly (41), J O’Keeffe for Dilworth (45), David O’Connor for Collins (50 inj), G O’Connor for T Cooper (50), J F Daly 0-1 for Denis O’Connor (53), T Long for A O’Connor (55)

ADRIGOLE: W O’Sullivan; D Harrington, C O’Shea, F Carey; J Harrington, A O’Sullivan, L Harrington; N O’Sullivan, T O’Shea; K O’Sullivan, K J O’Sullivan, C O’Shea; R O’Sullivan, K Goggin, D Harrington Subs: C Carey for K J O’Sullivan (12 inj), P Green for C O’Shea (43)

REFEREE: J Ryan (Macroom)

Midleton 3-19 ‘Shandrum 2-9

MIDLETON were comprehensive winners over ‘Shandrum in the County Premier (1) Under 21 HC at Castletownroche on Wednesday evening.

The winners dominated for most of the game with their midfielders and half-forwards scoring 3-12 of their 3-19 tally. They had three early points with ‘Shandrum drawing level when Cormac O’Brien and John Geary worked well for David Jones who goaled.

John Geary and Kevin Finn exchanged a point. Midleton keeper Alan Power saved well from Luke Morrissey. Cormac Beausang and Sean Griffin exchanged a point with impressive Tommy O’Connell pointing a free followed by Shane Finn as Midleton led 0-8 to 1-2 after 15 minutes.

Sean Griffin kept ‘Shandrum in touch with a point. Kian Farmer soloed through and pointed for the winners. Cormac O’Brien pointed a ‘65 for ‘Shandrum. Midleton replied with a pointed ‘65 by Tommy O’Connell as they moved 0-10 to 1-4 clear.

They had their first goal in the 22nd minute when Sean O’Meara worked well for Tommy O’Connell who netted. Both sides swapped two points each by half-time 1-12 to 1- 6.

For the second half ‘Shandrum had Cormac O’Brien and Sean

FIXTURES

Ballincollig v Midleton, Pairc Ui Rinn 7.30pm

Co SHL

Glen Rovers v Newtownshandrum, Glen Field 7.30pm

Co Div 2 FL

Newmarket v Kiskeam, Newmarket, 7. 30pm

SATURDAY AUGUST 18

Co Premier IFC

Castletownbere v Kanturk, Cill na Marthra 7.45pm

Co Premier IHC

Aghada v Kilworth, Ballynoe, 5.00pm

Co IFC

Ballydesmond v St Finbarr’s, Macroom 7pm

Co IHC

Douglas v Eire Og, Brinny 7.30pm

Co Div 1 IHL

Watergrasshill v Castlelyons, Watergrasshill 7pm

Co Div 4 IHL

Glen Rovers v Dripsey, Glen Field 6.30pm

Co Div 4 IFL

Gabriel Rangers v Kildorrery, Ballydehob 4pm

Co JAFL Group 2

Cobh v Buttevant, Cobh 7.00pm

Co JAHL Group 3

St James v Dripsey, Ardfield (Prov) 1pm

SUNDAY AUGUST 19 Griffin in midfield. Their keeper Eric Moloney made some great saves over the hour including two in the early minutes of the second half.

In the 34th minute Sean Griffin put Conor Griffin in for a well taken goal. Midleton responded with Cormac Beausang and Kian Farmer working well with Tommy O’Connell who forced Eric Moloney to save well, the rebound broke to Kevin Finn who made it 2-12 to 2-6.

There was no way back for ‘Shandrum who lost key player David Jones to injury. Midleton added three points that had them 2-15 to 2-7 clear after 50 minutes. Cormac O’Brien pointed a free. A massive overhead catch by Ross O’Regan led to a great point on the run. John Geary completed ‘Shandrum’s tally with a late point.

Sean O’Leary-Hayes and Ross O’Regan had a point each for Midleton with Tommy O’Connell soloing through from the corner and scoring a brilliant goal as they emerged easy winners. MIDLETON: A Power, A Daly, S O’Sullivan, C Gunning, E Moloney, S O’LearyHayes 0-1, S Smyth, C Beausang 0-2, K Farmer 0-2, K Finn 1-2, S O’Meara 0-1, T O’Connell 2-5 (0-3f, 0-1 ‘65’), P O’Brien, R O’Regan 0-2, S Finn 0-4 Subs: C Crowley for P O’Brien

‘SHANDRUM: E Moloney, K Foley, D Hawe, P O’Sullivan, D Guiney, B Buckley, C Bowles, L Morrissey, J Twomey, C Griffin 1-0, S Griffin 0-2, Cormac O’Brien 0-5 (0-2f, 0-1 ‘65’), J Geary 0-2, D Jones 1-0, Cathal O’Brien Subs: J O’Sullivan for D Guiney (inj) E Finn for C Bowles, C Finn for D Jones (inj)

REFEREE: Justin Murphy (Castletownroche) Co Div 1 IHL

Ballinhassig v Fermoy, Ballinhassig 11.00am

Rochestown Park Div 1 FL

Ballincollig v Macroom, Ballincollig 12md

Co Div 2 IFL

Newcestown v Newmarket, Newcestown (Time Open)

CO Div 5 IFL

Millstreet v Glanmire, Millstreet 11.30am

Co JAFL Group 1

Cullen v Garnish, Millstreet (Time Open)

Co JAHL Group 1

Freemount v Nemo Rangers, Freemount 12md

MONDAY AUGUST 20

Co Div 1 IHL

Courcey Rovers v Charleville, Ballinspittle 7.00pm

Co Div 2 IHL

Dungourney v Meelin, Dungourney 7.15pm

Co Div 4 IHL

Inniscarra v Dripsey, Ballyanley 7.00pm

Co Div 3 IFL

Nemo Rangers v Glanworth, Nemo Grounds 7.30pm

Co JBFL Group 3

Grange v Kinsale, Grange 7.30pm

TUESDAY AUGUST 21

Co Div 2 IHL

Carrigaline v Eire Og, Carrigaline 7.30pm

Rochestown Park Div 1 FL

St Finbarr’s v Ballincollig, Togher 7.30pm

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 23

Co Div 1 IHL

Castlelyons v Kilworth, Castlelyons 7.15pm Fr O’Neill’s v Fermoy, Fr. O’Neills 7.15pm