Mixed bag for footballers on opening weekend

AVONDHU DIVISION 1 JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE Fermoy 0-05 Killavullen 1-09

On a bitterly cold Friday evening last we played Killavullen in the first round of the junior football league under lights in Fermoy. We fielded what was mostly a young team with a few veterans thrown in and Killavullen showed their wiliness and experience to take the without really being put under any pressure. It was not for lack of effort that we lost but Killavullen found it easier to score.

There was very little goalmouth action in the first ten minutes and it was Killavullen who got the opening score with a point on 11 mins. A great move and final pass from Ronan O’Callaghan found Alan O’Connor and he duly dispatched the ball between the posts for our opening point on 13 mins. Unfortunately for us that were to be our only score of the half as Killavullen took complete control of the game. Points on 18 mins, 21 mins, 24 mins and 28 mins made it a five points to one for them.

Disaster struck for Fermoy on 29 mins when Killavullen scored a great individual goal giving Josh Shanahan, who earlier had made two brilliant saves, no chance. This was a disappointing finish to a totally forgettable half for Fermoy. Half-time: Fermoy 0-01 Killavullen 1-05.

The second half started with Killavullen scoring the opening point on 32 mins. Fermoy hit a purple patch after this getting three points without reply. Ronan O’Callaghan scored a close in free before Jake Carr got a nice point from play in the 45th minute. Gary O’Callaghan popped over a point on 46 mins to make the score Fermoy 0-04 Killavullen 1-06. Our hopes of finishing this game with a flourish and getting something from it were dashed fairly comprehensively when Killavullen got the next three points on 50, 51 and 55 mins respectively. We got the final score of the game on 59 mins through an Alan O’Connor free to make the final score Fermoy 0-05 Killavullen 1-09.

Team: Josh Shanahan; Cathal Murphy, James O’Sullivan, Cian Condon; Ronan O’Brien, Jack Scannell, Colm Carroll; Jake Carr, Sean Power; Arlen Aherne, David Lardner, Bryan Shanahan; Ciaran Clooney, Ronan O’Callaghan, Alan O’Connor. Subs: Mark Flynn, Gary O’Callaghan, Liam Clancy, Colm Lane, Cian O’Carroll, Ger Murphy.

CORK CREDIT UNIONS DIV 1 FL GROUP A ROUND 1 Fermoy 2-13 St Michaels 0-09

The Fermoy senior football team, under the new management of Martin Crumney, headed up to Mahon to take on fellow senior club St Michaels in the first round of the league. From a Fermoy point of view we were hoping for a good start to our league campaign and also to see how we would fare against a team that we are going to face off with in the 2022 championship. It was a nice sunny afternoon in Mahon with a strong breeze blowing across the field which didn’t prove any advantage to either side.

The ball was thrown in and for the first few minutes it was all St Michaels playing possession ball and not causing any threat to our goals. We got in to the game and on 5 mins forced a ‘45’ which our goalkeeper Liam Coleman dispatched beautifully over the bar. We doubled our score on 8 mins when Ruairi O’Hagan converted a difficult free on the right hand side of the pitch. Michaels got their opening point form play on 9 mins and then levelled the game with a free on 14 mins. Tomas Clancy got his first point from play and our third on 15 mins.

We were playing really well at this stage and throughout the whole game hounding down our opponents and fighting like terriers for every ball. Michaels did not get time to control the game and from a Fermoy point of view it was a joy to watch. Ruairi tucked over another free on 20 mins and in the 22nd minute Dale Dawson got in on the scoring when he got a point from play. Michaels got their third point on 26 mins but it was Fermoy who had the final say of the half when Ruairi scored our sixth point. Half-time: Fermoy 0-06 St Michaels 0-03.

The second half was very entertaining and it was a credit to both teams who showed a very good level of fitness for the start of the year. Michaels got the first two scores of the half on the 34th and 35th minutes to make it a one point game. Fermoy upped the tempo and proceeded to take over control of the game. Points from Tomas, his second from play, on 37 mins and a Ben Twomey free on 38 mins had us 3 points ahead again. Points were exchanged on 45 and 46 mins with Gary O’Callaghan getting Fermoy’s score.

Michaels got their 6th point on 47 mins before Fermoy made the vital breakthrough for a goal on 48 mins. An attack up the left saw the ball being worked in to the centre where it broke loose and hopped up, with Padraig de Róiste latching on to the bouncing ball to half volley from 21 yards to finish it to the roof of the net. The score now read Fermoy 1-09 St. Michaels 0-06.

Michaels scored the next point on 49 minutes but Tomas cancelled that out with his third from play on 50 mins. Points from Paudie and a beauty from Ben put us firmly in the driving seat on 54 mins. Michaels got a point on 60 mins before Arlen Aherne put the icing on the cake with a well taken goal on 61 mins. Michaels got a point on 62 mins but Ben had the final say with a point for Fermoy on 63 mins. Final score Fermoy 2-13 St. Michaels 0-09.

Team: Liam Coleman (0-01), Peter Murphy, Sean Shanahan, Eoin Clancy; Alan Bargary, Greg Lardner, Kieran Morrisson; Tomas Clancy (0-03), Gary O’Callaghan (0-01); Martin Brennan, Padraig de Róiste (1-01), David O’Callaghan; Darragh O’Carroll, Dale Dawson (0-01), Ruairi O’Hagan (0-03, 2f). Subs: Darragh Daly, Ben Twomey (0-03,1f), Daniel O’Flynn, Arlen Aherne (1-00), David Lardner, Liam Clancy.

HURLING LEAGUES

Fermoy open their senior hurling league campaign away to Newcestown on Sunday, March 13th at 12.00. A tough assignment but one we are looking forward to. We play Dromina in the Avondhu Junior Division 1 Hurling League in Dromina on Saturday, 12th March at 16.30.

RESULT Avondhu Division 3 FL round 1 - Fermoy 0-03 Doneraile 3-15. HISTORY MAKERS

History was made on Sunday, 6th March in our club when our adult camogie team took to the field for our first game in modern times. This is a huge achievement and great credit is due to all the volunteers and players for making this happen.

VOTES OF SYMPATHY

The club extends its deepest and sincerest sympathy to David Ryan and his children James, Eimear and Niamh on the sad passing of his wife and their mother, Mary, last week. We also send our condolences to both extended Ryan families on your sad loss. May Mary rest in peace.

The club was very sad to hear of the tragic accident that took the life of Declan McCarthy’s late brother Joe McCarthy, ‘Carbery View’, Dromusta, Drimoleague. We offer our sincerest and deepest condolences to Deccie and the McCarthy family on your terrible loss. May Joe rest in peace.

LOTTO

Results for 08/03 - jackpot €20,000. Numbers drawn: 04, 09, 20 and 32. No winner. Lucky dips - €40: Olan Hartnett c/o Sportsmans, €40: Joanne McCormack c/o website, €40: Seanie Cotter c/o Pat O’Brien, €40: Dylan Lacey c/o Gerry Galvin, €40: Mary Leigh c/o Pat O’Brien.

Next jackpot (Tuesday 15/03) €20,000. Next venue The Long Bar.